Yesterday I attended Stitch & Story’s beginners’ knitting workshop hosted at the Harris + Hoole coffee shop on Cannon Street London. It was a two-hour session dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of knitting. Suitable for beginners, the session aimed to teach newbies like me all the basics – how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off. I booked it through Groupon for the bargain price of £12.99 and all the equipment we used (needles and wool) and cake were included in the package.
Stitch & Story is an online shop which was founded by friends Jennifer Chan and Jen Hoang in 2012, I love that they aim to kick the old stigma associated with knitting by offering kits and tutorials to reflect current fashion trends and lifestyle products.
My biggest fear was that I would be absolutely hopeless at knitting, I had never tried before! But I needn’t have worried at all, the tutors explained clearly what we needed to do and they were so patient when we needed further instruction and help. The group consisted of absolute beginners who’ve never touched a knitting needle (like me!), a lady who attended the previous week and wanted to learn more and those who wished to reignite their knitting skills. I did have to stand up and knit a few times as my fibro pain was a bother but I was determined to keep going because I loved it! I learned how to cast on, knit, purl, rib stitch and how to cast off. It was so much fun, what could be better than a group of 12 ladies learning to knit whilst eating delicious cake?
I really enjoyed learning to knit and I’m going to try and knit my first scarf. I’m hoping that knitting’s peaceful, relaxing repetition will help me unwind after a busy day teaching and that it will be a distraction from the pain of Fibromyalgia. Also it will be a welcome retreat from a technology-saturated world.
Have you ever tried knitting?
Keep smiling :)
Claire
x
I have never tried knitting before, but i do like to crochet while watching telly
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I’m hoping it will be relaxing x
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I have been knitting and crocheting for many year I learnt when I was junior school and loved it, I find it very relaxing and therapeutic and takes my mind of my pain, I take a break from it every now and then as if I do to much in the day my hands can be very painful, so I try and limit how much I do it the day, I have made some great baby clothes over the years. Trying to teach my daughter now, she’s left handed so it more difficult.
Youtube is a good place to look as you can watch and learn
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Thanks for the tip x
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Ah I wish I could knit so badly, I have tried many times and I just can’t seem to wrap my head around it!
MadeFromBeauty.co.uk
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Don’t give up, look for a local group and I’m sure that they will help you x
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One day I would love to learn how to knit. My grandmother knew how to knit but didn’t want to teach me. Oh well. There is always Google! Lol
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Or there might be a knitting workshop near you x
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My grandma and my mum have both tried to teach me to knit, but I’m absolutely useless at it. This post has inspired me to give it another go.
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If I can learn anyone can x
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I really want to give Arm Knitting a go with some thick wall to make a super cosy blanket!
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Go for it! x
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My mum never stops knitting, she can literally knit anything x
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I would love to be like that! x
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oh wow my grandmother taught me to knit when I was young not sure if I remember may have to try it out now
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It’s very popular at the moment x
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I have a friend that enjoys knitting. She finds it relaxing and I am sure it is.
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I hope it helps me to relax too x
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I love knitting. It’s very relaxing, but I wish yarn wasn’t so expensive! I tend to pick up bits at the charity shop.
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It can be but friends have told me to try charity shops, online or Wilkinsons x
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I have never tried knitting – sounds like you had a bargain session! Good luck with your scarf :) Ka z x
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It was great Kaz :) I loved every minute of it x
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I love knitting!!! I used to be obsessed with it when I was younger but I haven’t done it in a while now. Hope you make some cosy things :)
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I hipe so too :) x
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I tried knitting when I was at school my Nanna taught me and I picked it up quite well, then didn’t for a while and now I’ve forgotten completely
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It’s never too late to start again x
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Oh wow that looks great! I really want to learn to knit, but have had no one around me to show me how yet!
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It’s really worth booking and going :) It’s on every Saturday x
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I have just restarted knitting again,and thoroughly enjoying it its very relaxing Im making a blanket for my niece who is pregnant, because of my fibro I didnt think i could cope with loads of stitches so am making one that is made up of 4 small squares stitched to make one bigger square and then you put 12 of these together in a 3×4 pattern, most stitches on the needle is about 34 at any one time, i started out having to keep re reading each line as i kept forgetting what ti was doing now with 20 of the 48 small squares needed i can knit to line 17 without the patteren but have to count as from 17 to 34 i need to follow it again then can knit the last 29 lines again with out the pattern so now am down from hour and half per square to an hour each but i only do one or on a really good day 2 squares and take a day off as well.once you feel more confident you may likes to try it its a sirdar pattern called the princess blanket you need to be able to kint purl and to know how to do yarn forward slip one pass one over which is justr as it says instead of knitting the stitch you slip it to the other needle then knit the next stitch and pass the one you slipped over the top its away of decreasing in the middle of a pattern and knit 2 together, with those few things you can make a lovely blanket and of course you can make it as small or big as you want because its made in squares
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I’m going to start with a scarf and hopefully some day I will be good enough to make a blanket. You are right, it’s best to pace yourself and do what you can with fibro :) x
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I did some knitting when I was pregnant to try and keep my cravings at bay as I had gestational diabetes but I’ve not done any since. I’ll have to try again some day X
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You have to x
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