What better way to celebrate
Australia Day on the 26 January than with a giveaway of some Australian made
yarn. This is a 100gram skein of hand dyed mohair boucle from Mollydale in
warm earth colours. Make a hat, make a scarf or anything you fancy with this
lovely soft yarn.
1. To be included in the draw for
this giveaway you need to join this site as a follower by clicking on the blue tag on the right that says 'join this site' (if you have not
already joined), and leave a comment about when you first learnt to knit, who taught
you and if you can remember, the first item you made. That's it!
2. Remember to include your name and your email in your comment or a link so you can be contacted. I can't reach you otherwise!
The name of the lucky person who wins the draw will be announced on Friday 27 January and contacted by email. This giveaway is open to all Australian and International followers who leave a comment and will be posted by airmail to the winner. Good luck!
2. Remember to include your name and your email in your comment or a link so you can be contacted. I can't reach you otherwise!
The name of the lucky person who wins the draw will be announced on Friday 27 January and contacted by email. This giveaway is open to all Australian and International followers who leave a comment and will be posted by airmail to the winner. Good luck!
I learned to knit in high school from my mom, who knits left handed. Despite our handicaps I learned well and knitted an afghan for my boyfriend.
ReplyDeleteThis follower was taught to knit by her mother when I was about seven; the first item I can remember knitting was when I was in sixth class: a red cardigan - I never got past the first few rows; I didn't know you were supposed to move the yarn backward and forward in ribbing so I made great yarnovers. My mother finished the cardigan herself! And I gave up knitting for five years! The first item I knitted was an aqua and white striped sleeveless jumper in Cleckheaton 5ply when I was in Year 11 (5th form). I think I still have the pattern!
ReplyDeleteI was lucky to have my English grandmother teachin my from age five. I adored her so it was great fun to spend afternoons knitting with her.
ReplyDeleteI'd leave you my email link but I don't know how.
What a lovely idea for celebrating Australia Day!
ReplyDeleteI was taught to knit by my great aunt when I was 15. My Mum was expecting and I wanted to give my new little brother a special gift. My aunt however found me a trying student and so I only got so far as knitting garter stitch squares for a blanket.
Once the blanket was complete, I didn't knit again for years. I couldn't do much and didn't want another blanket or a garter stitch scarf. Then a couple of years ago I decided I wanted to learn how to knit properly. I remembered how knitting had kept me occupied while I waited for my baby brother to arrive and wanted to give it another go. This time I taught myself... I couldn't even remember how to do garter stitch any more. The first item I knitted when I found knitting for real was a cowl (I had wanted one for a while). It was garter stitch boarders with a stockinette stitch centre. I threw myself in at the deep end and had to start again more times than I care to remember... it drove me crazy, but I was so proud once I cracked it. Now my favourite knits are hats and lace shawls and I am very proud to be a knitter.
I have subscribed by email and a message has come up, "Follow-up comments will be sent to (my email address)". I hope this is what you mean by leaving my email link.
well i follow you through my google reader, so i don't know if that counts or not... but the yarn is gorgeous - happy early australia day to you!
ReplyDeletei learned to knit when i was 26 from a brochure called, "i taught myself to knit!" but i am terrible at reading things and visualizing them in my head, so my husband would read the parts i was stuck on (he's a theoretical mathematician and really good at the visualization) and then he would tell me what to do. in this way i learned to knit and he became a theoretical knitter :)
What a lovely and very appropriate prize . As to the learning to knit, even though both my mother and Nan knit, I was mainly self taught (due to them being lefties) by watching and books . Books were my main inspiration. First project was a very plain stocking stitch scarf, except I decided to try some Intarsia (not that I knew that was what I was doing :-)))))
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea. My Scottish grandmother taught me to knit and crochet when i was 5 not long before my parents took us to live in australia. She wanted me to have the same skills she had taught my mother many years before me. Sadly she is not around anymore, every time i pick a hook or needles I am transported back to my grandmothers knee.
ReplyDeleteA very lovely idea! When I was 6 or 7 they taught us to knit at school and although my mum used to knit all my doll clothes, I ended up with pain in my hands and a very stiff and askew dolly blanket :-) More than 20 years later my mum suddenly died and when my brother and I cleared out her house we found some wool and needles. I didn't know she still sometimes did knit and obviously had started a sweater for one of her doggies. Two years later I found my self in a LYS with needles an wool. I used books and internet to learn myself how to knit.
ReplyDeleteI learned crochet from my mom when I was about 7 or 8, but she didn't knit. I tried to teach myself as a teenager and in my 20s, but found it caused tension, not relaxation. Then I picked it up again at about 50, and loved it right off the bat. First I made a scarf that curled because I didn't know to do a border. Then I scoured the net for tips and tutorials, and within 3 months I'd finished a dozen scarves and two or three sweaters. I sent you an email about having problems commenting and getting around your blog, but obviously that's been resolved. Thanks for the great giveaway.
ReplyDeletePS: I love Swampy! and the story of Gunnister man, and your bag. Also, your Chullos are great. I just made my first one.
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to win something!
ReplyDeleteI stated to knit when I was about three (finger-knitting) and then around four with needles. I was taught by my wonderful mother, who was so patient.We both still love anything that involves colour and yarn/wool. I think the first thing I made was a doll, green with yellow hair ! She slept with me for many years and I still have her !
My Mum started teaching me at about 6. My mother said I was very creative at that time and made holes and extra stitches with no special effort!The first garment I made was a rosy pink cardigan for myself at about 8 yrs of age assisted by my mother who did much "fixing" of my masterpiece. It was made in what we thought was the new thick wool and large needles. Think it was totem!! Thanks for your fun competition.
ReplyDeleteI first learned to knit from my mother when I was 4yrs old
ReplyDelete- just garter stich. Knitted myself 2x plain 8ply jumpers when I was 15yrs old
and knitted for my baby neice, then my kids, grandkids, K4C a blanket for a
resident where I work and now knitting for another neices baby which is due in
May - then back to knitting for K4C
kind regards,Harriet
harriet_youl@hotmail.com
I was taught how to knit when I was 5yrs old by a lady who used to mind my brother and I while my mother went to work. The first thing I made was clothes for my teddy. Now 45yrs later I still have the bear and the pattern book and have fond memories of her patience in teaching me to knit and often think of her when ever I see the book on my shelf.
ReplyDeleteLoretta
ltrounce@ozemail.com.au
My Dad was injured in World War II - a spinal injury which affected the use of his hands and legs. Knitting was prescribed to keep his hands and fingers working - so that is how I learnt to knit at the age of about 4 - I am left handed but knit right handed because Dad was not going to bother teaching me any other way but right handed! I remember we started off with a dolly's scarf - but it ended up as a blanket.......
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother taught me starting about age five. It was such a great gift that keeps her close to me today. Now I teach every chance I get.
ReplyDeleteHello Marion, my Mum taught me to knit when I was about 5 years old, and I can remember knitting a V necked cardigan with yellow flecked wool, as my very first complete item, although as that was quite a task, I guess I must have knitted smaller items before that. I taught myself to crochet some time ago, and am only now attempting to enhance my crochet skills by reading books on fancy patterns and stitches. I would love to be included in the draw for the giveaway, but as I am in UK maybe you dont want to consider the amount of extra postage if I were to win.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, Joy xx
Hi Marion, the yarn looks gorgeous. I was taught to knit when I was about 6 or 7 years old by my mum and nana. I think I made a scarf for my Cindy doll! I'm left handed and found the process of learning to knit (and crochet) from right handed people a complex frustrating pass time! I picked up a sewing needle and then a sewing machine and never looked back until more recently in my adult years when I discovered knitting can actually be relaxing and enjoyable!
ReplyDeleteBest regards
Julia
mail@handknittedthings.co.uk
I was 15 and was taught to knit left handed by my Mom who's lefthanded ... but I'm NOT. I knit a scarf and decided I was too slow and put down my knitting until I taught myself from a book how to do it right handed when I was 23. I knit a baby sweater set & carriage blanket and still I thought it was a slow process so I went back to crocheting until I was 51. I needed a new challenge so learned to knit socks. Now I LOVE to knit!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting to see how young a lot of people were when they were taught to knit. My favourite aunt taught me when I was 5 or 6 though I do remember figuring out how to cast off all by myself and being so proud. For many years I tried to teach my daughter, but she was 25 and in a wisdom-tooth crisis before she took it on board.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to all for Australia Day from Pinkshoes on http://www.knittingforums.org.uk
I learnt from my grandmother who knitted cotton face washers the basics of knitting at around the age of 6, and when I was in primary school grade 5 and 6 had knitting, sewing, embroidery classes at a primary school in Brunswick on the Friday afternoon each week. My school was Moonee Ponds Central.
ReplyDeleteBy the age of 8 I was knitting clothes for my doll and then I knitted a jumper for a little girl in the street where I lived. At High School the girls were asked to knit for Berry Street Babies Home and 3 ply yarn was donated. I knitted lots of baby things in my early teens and won first prize every year in each category.
I taught myself to crochet with my Great Aunt's help androcheted a dress that had treble for until the waist and an open pattern for the skirt and sleeves. You could say it was a disaster as when I wore it to a dance, the skirt got longer and longer and ended up around my ankles. I tore it out and knitted all of it for the "poor" family in my street.
After that I took off with knitting doing aran, colour work with simple fairisle and lacey knitting.
I did crochet myself a suit for a friend's wedding and that didn't drop!
I don't do much crocheting now as I find it too difficult to hold the hook and pass through the stitches.
I lost my sight when I was 27 and my daughter was 18 months old. I was devastated as I wouldn't be able to sew or knit. However with the help of an elderly neighbour who read me the pattern, I managed to knit my daughter a red Bluebell V neck cardigan and when I showed my mum, she was apart from being surprised, a little tearful. From there I just knitted. I have knitted for a couple of Wool shops-when there were almost one in each suburb!, and now I am a test knitter for Australian Country Spinners and I do stuff for my daughter's craft market.
I knitted a pair of dungarees for my grandson and a blanket and beanies and boottees, and I have a few patterns ready for the next couple of winters.
And of course I knit for K4C.
Lindy lindyjoy@bigpond.net.au
i learned how to knit from my friend, Cana, in my early 20s. i made a few scarves and then didn't touch my yarn and needles again for about ten years until my sister gave me a crochet kit for christmas. well, i couldn't for the life of me figure out how to crochet, so i just started knitting again :) and here it's been six months since i've knit anything!
ReplyDeletethanks for the chance to win :)
I can't remember how old I was but it was certainly my mother who taught me to knit. My first item - an egg cosy - which I still have. Strangely it is knitted in fisherman's rib - not the easiest stitch for a beginner, but I've always enjoyed a knitting challenge!
ReplyDelete