Tonight, I actually took a class. Ya, I know right. The always delightful @Jules lead a group of us who couldn’t even fathom how to make the proper knot - into people who could knit a small square in the window of an hour. Lots of laughs. Lots of strange stress over yarn and lots of wondering why this was so complicated when it looks so easy. Thanks to @missydee1206 for saving my square from the brink. Highly recommend taking the class! While mine looks like I might have skipped a few stiches I was assured that I just was adding advanced decorative stiches.
Absolutely loved the class! I came fearful and hesitant, having absolutely no knitting experience, and left fearlessly ready to knit up a storm! Well… might not quite be at the “knit up a storm” level yet, but hopefully with some practice
Thank you @Jules for being so helpful and patient with us and @missydee1206 for assisting us straggling students. And really enjoyed getting to know more people in Creative Arts!
I took @Jules knitting class tonight. I was the ONLY student in the class although there were several others scheduled for the class. It was a shame that these folks didn’t notify Jules so she could invite others to take the class, but I received 1 on 1 instruction. Actually, @missydee1206 was there, too to provide help and instruction should we have had more than a few students. I had a great time, although I confess it was one of the more challenging classes because it was definitely unfamiliar territory for me. Jules taught me how to cast on, knit, purl, cast off and a number of other very interesting techniques. She taught the basics of how to buy yarn and brought some beautiful examples of her work. We are very blessed to have Jules and Devin teaching classes.
I learned a lot in class and it was very enjoyable evening. For those of you who scheduled to attend and didn’t you missed out. For anyone wishing to learn the skill of knitting I highly recommend you take one of the knitting classes these ladies teach.
Thank you again Juliana for a great class! I appreciate the 1 on 1 instruction very much. You were very patient with me.
Awwww. Thank you! You were a fantastic student!
I would like to ask instructors put their contact info in, if they are ok with that. We had someone call the DMS phone line and ask if there was an opening. I would have responded to the caller but had no way of asking the instructor.
I agree wholeheartedly. Jules is an excellent teacher, and I kind of wish that I had learned things from her instead of learning steps one and two from a relative and wandering YouTube for the rest.
Generally, fiber classes are okay with extra people. I typically hang around for classes where I know the subject in case the instructor needs a hand. The only problematic topics are things like kumihimo where we really need to plan ahead for there to be enough tools.
I’m really upset that you only had one class - the first one was packed. I’ve taken up a new hobby-ish because of it. If I didn’t have my son I would have attended. What can we do to promote attendance?
I doubt I will ever achieve the level of skill that @missydee1206 or @Jules have, but I too gained a new appreciation for the skill. I’m going to get a little yarn this weekend and start to practice. It seems like the kind of hobby you can do simultaneously while watching TV or even holding conversations WHEN YOU GET PRACTICED at it. I was amazed at how Jules and Devin could knit while talking to me.
In any case, my wife knitted with her mom when she was younger and she was amazed when I started using words like purl, knit and casting on and casting off instead of dado, rabbet and dovetails. Ultimately, I’d love to take another class to learn other stitches, but first I’ve got to “walk” before I can “run”.
Thanks again for the class. It was fun!
I wanted to be there, but a family calendar event was in my way. I will learn to knit. It’s like a part of me is missing without knowing how…
I think it threw people off that this class was on a Thursday, because the norm has been Tuesday for so long. I don’t really know what kind of social media posts were made, but that’s where I would start.
I blame you Jules.
I went home with my little bitty knitting from your class and thought this could be one of the cheapest hobbies ever. How much could a little yarn cost? So, I went to Hobby Lobby today and bought five skeins of acrylic yarn, much like the one I picked for your class. (7 oz weight) I know five really five what am I going to do with five?, They were outrageously expensive at $1.85 each on sale.
I bought some wooden needles because you told me the yarn would hold onto them better and that this would help me as a beginner. I also bought this: http://www.hobbylobby.com/Yarn-Needle-Art/Needle-Arts/Needle-Point/I-Taught-Myself-To-Knit-Kit/p/80642606. I got it home and opened up the book to the first few pages. Guess what? It was exactly the lessons from your class, except your instructions were clearer Casting on, knit, purl and casting off.
In any case, I have a new hobby now and the total cost was about $20. My plan is to practice and practice some more until I have the knit and purl down pat, or until I take another class at DMS.
I really don’t blame you at all. I want to thank you for teaching me a new skill and one that costs a little less than woodworking, stained glass, leather crafting, or ceramics which I also do. You can knit without making a lot of noise or a big mess, too.
Thank you again.
Awesome! If you need help or assistance with new skills, there’s a lot of videos on YouTube and the fiber people are always available to help, give advice, cheer you on and enable more yarn purchases
Hey Dan, sounds like you caught a good sale! I’m excited to see that you like knitting!
Just wait until you get those skills down and introduce yourself to luxury fibers! (evil laughter)
Instructors could type out numbers or “at” to make their info less spammable. Nine-seven-two -555-1212. johndoe at gmail.com
Dan, don’t discount the basic stitches. You can do 80 of knitting projects with what you learned in class.
And ditto what @missydee1206 said; knitting is a cheap hobby, collecting yarn can be pricy. Lol
A fun new addiction! And you’re very welcome to join us on the Fiberfrolic nights (see schedule, 1-2x mo, usually falls on Tuesdays but may do occasional thurs) where the Fiberarts SIG has open project night and it’s a great way to hang out, get help, inspiration, etc.
Well, I’m determined to be prepared for the cable knitting class coming up so I’ve been practicing my knitting at home. I gotta tell you, it is so much more challenging than I thought. The stitches seem simple enough, but keeping them together and not dropping one or managing the yarn while you’re knitting, well that is another story. Knowing how to fix your mistakes is an art, too.
I cast on and knitted the first few rows at least a half a dozen times and started over before I decided what the heck I’m just going to keep knitting. I made a lot of mistakes but I finally finished my first little piece. I have no idea how many stitches or rows are in it because I was just practicing. I decided to cast off the piece and below is what I ended up with.
It is not very pretty and it isn’t even very useful but I’m just proud that I learned to knit a little. This is way out of my comfort zone, but it has been fun. I now have to tackle the purl stitch before the cable class.
Thanks again to @Jules for your instruction. Maybe the next piece will be better. I almost gave up a half a dozen times.
Make it a bit longer and you have the makings of a door snake to keep drafts out.
This looks fantastic! You have very even stitches! Way to go,
J
Please excuse the spelling mistakes. Big thumbs typing on tiny keyboard.