I learned to knit a little over a year ago. If you had told me then that I would be knitting potholders, I'd have said, "Pooh! Who knits potholders?"
Well, I guess I do. I picked up two skeins of this great Lion's Brand Cotton Yarn and I'm hooked. I love how it feels and the best thing is, they are really great potholders. I'm a notoriously messy cook and my potholders get pretty yucky. They get wet and then I burn myself using them for hot pans. But, these double thick cotton potholders really handle the heat. And because they're cotton, they dry really quickly.
I made two identically sized pads (37 stitches across, 42 rows) using a seed stitch (scroll down a bit to watch the video -- click the pink button for Contental knitting and click the blue button for American knitting). I like the waffle effect from this stitch. Then I lined them up and stitched them together at the edges with the cotton yarn. Voila -- a thick sturdy potholder.
Up next -- a tea cosy. I'm taking pattern suggestions.
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Another knitter joins the "fray"...how wonderful! So...are you Continental or American? I'm Continental.
ReplyDeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteI am Continental, too. I learned American, but could not ever feel comfortable doing it. I can knit much faster -- and neater -- using Continental (it's more like crocheting, which I learned when I was young).
I've said it before and I'll say it again - is there anything you can't do? So cool!
ReplyDeleteI would love to start knitting again - used to do it when I was in Ireland as a child, in fact it was a required class in elementary school! ;-) My Nana made the most amazing Aran sweaters, until the arthritis kicked in, but I'm sure she would still tutor me.
I didn't realize there were different geographical styles!? I've heard nothing but good things about that knitting help site, so will have to check it out!
Thanks, Deborah. I really don't have much time to knit, but I squeeze it in when (IF) I sit down at night. Sometimes when the kids are working on their school work and I'm just sitting at the table with them I can knit too.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the different geographic styles either until I learned Continental, and I don't know if they are true, but that's how they are identified on the website I referred to. To me the American style is very awkward, but I guess it's all in how you learn. The Continental style is also sometimes referred to as German or left-handed. I'm right-handed, but it works great for me. Do check out that website -- I taught myself casting on and off, and the Continental method using that video.