Letter from an absolute beginner

Hi Friends,

We are all aware of the terrible impact of the Corona virus , and it has impacted on everyone’s lives in some way.

So I was delighted to receive this email from a customer who had really taken a positive outlook and decided to give knitting a try.

This is her email and I wanted to share :

The shut down prompted me to try some new things - one of which was knitting!

I had no idea where or how to start, so finding your website was great! I didn't really want to knit a scarf or beanie, so the toddler poncho was perfect!

I really enjoyed knitting it, your videos were clear and easy to follow and after only one false start (I kept accidentally adding extra stitches - oops!) I managed to create a pretty passable poncho for my little girl.

I've already ordered my next kit, taking advantage of the 2 for 1 offer on hand warmers.

Thanks for making getting started on knitting so easy and fun .

It’s a shame I’ve had to cover up this sweet face, but for privacy reasons, I understand.

My goal with What Jane Knits has been to create projects that are easy to complete, practical to use and also attractive with quality yarns.

So thank you, I feel I have achieved this and I’ve received a lot of lovely feedback from you all.

I shall share some more here another time.

The poncho kit is still available, however no cream left sorry, I do have beige and grey.

The handwarmer offer continues for this month and I have a beautiful range of 8 colours to choose from.

Stay healthy and happy knitting,

Jane

Is knitting meditative?

I’m often asked about the meditation benefits of knitting, and I’m afraid I don’t usually give the answer most people expect.

As someone who both knits and attends Yoga meditation, I don’t really see much similarity in the practices. Having said that – there are certainly benefits to knitting that will change your thought processes and level of mindfulness.

During our daily activities we often operate on an automatic level. We drive the same routes, shop in the same stores, read our social media updates and watch TV. Even doing the same daily exercises.

I think the perception of knitting as meditative is based on the belief that it is a repetitive automatic and a relaxing activity – a mindless activity.

Knitting in fact is quite a mindful activity because we are activating different brain processes.

Following a pattern, remembering stitches, using hand-eye co-ordination, tactile sensitivity to feel tension of knitting stitches – these are all connections that you may not find activated in your regular activities.

If you are new to knitting it is great opportunity to challenge yourself. Learning a new skill is the best way to be mindful.

As a beginner knitter you will definitely be in the moment as you focus on holding the yarn and making sure your stitches don’t fall off the needle. You may need to remember to breath, and also remember to relax your arms and shoulders.

Of course, as you practice more and become more experienced your will need less focus on your knitting stitches may even be able to look away and knit at the same time. But don’t expect this straightaway.  Even experienced knitters who are knitting a complex pattern will be very mindful.

Remember, all good things take time, and that includes your handknitted jumper that you started last winter!

Don't sweat the small stuff - 3 tips to help you learn to knit

When people learn a new skill it is very common to feel inadequate or unsuccessful.

What seems simple and straightforward at first glance is usually a little more complex when you attempt it yourself. However with a little perseverance you will usually be rewarded.

Usually you need to practice things, before getting them right - knitting is no exception. I'm yet to meet the person who can pick up knitting needles and yarn, read a pattern and finish a jumper first time!

When I teach knitting I find it much more useful to encourage people to just keep going, rather than stress about every small error. Yes the end result may be different from the plan, but you have given yourself lots of practice. Hopefully your next attempt will be more inline with your expectations.

The more you try to be perfect when you start a new skill the more disheartening it is when the results are less than perfect. Accept your new challenge for what it is - a learning curve, understand that the more you persist and the less you criticize your lack of perfection , the more improved you will be!

This is why all my kits are small projects. I want to give people the opportunity to practice a small range of new skills in a short period where they can see results.

Art by Amanda McCavour - Compound Tangle

My three best tips for learning to knit are:

1. Breathe

Often when we are focusing intently on something new we literally hold our breath! That deprives our brains of Oxygen and we think less clearly. So taking deep calming breaths regularly as you knit will really help.

2. Relax

If your hands are gripping onto the needles for dear life and the wool is sweating in your hands, you need to relax. Shake out your hands, shrug your shoulders up and down and breathe.

Don't pull your yarn as tightly - it won't jump of the needles!

By relaxing and creating a looser tension in your knitting you will find it easier and the yarn will behave as it should. Knitting will remain square instead of creeping into a triangle!

3 Don't panic

If you do make a mistake, it's not the end of the world. Don't scrap your intentions because of one small error. Everything is fixable.

Firstly take a look carefully and see where you went wrong, if you knitted a stitch wrongly only  a few stitches (or even a row) back you can unknit it. Known as Tink - check out You Tube tutorials for help online. I actually need to make one myself... so remind me if you need help!

Then maybe look again at the pattern, are you following correctly, when you are knitting in rib or moss stitch you can often forget which stitch you are up to - purl or knit. Just take a moment and find out where you went wrong. Again if it's not far back you can unknit.

If you've created more stitches, then  you can often easily just knit two together at the end of the row.

Not enough stitches, just make one or cast on another to make up the numbers.

If it all seems hopeless - unpull (Frog) your work and start again. Just call that previous knitting a test run. Don't dwell on it, just start again with renewed confidence.

So there you go, have the confidence to start and the persistence to continue without feeling like a failure if you aren't immediately brilliant!

You'll get there in the end.

Malvern Library - beginner knitting group