Encouragement and Testimonials

Here you can read or submit your own humorous stories and bits of encouragement, whether they be nostalgic, mirthful, or thought-provoking. Any memorable, true-life knitting story qualifies, so sit back and relax to read--or submit!

Thursday, July 19, 2007Name: Marie

Subject: Rewards

Comment: Ivy S., thank you for mentioning Proverbs 31. This is my favorite Bible story, and it reminds me to send encouragement to mothers who knit. My son is young, in third grade now, and I taught him to knit. He has ADHD, and some days are hard, but to him, knitting has a calming influence. However, when I find balls of yarn missing, or my favored size 8's have disappeared, I have to remind myself that it was a good idea to teach him to knit.

Thursday, July 12, 2007Name: patti

Subject: pearl stitch for left handed people

Comment: i'm also deslexia or mirrored vision. everything looks backwards to me. i have lots of knitting yarn. i'm having trouble with the pearl stitch. i'm not going to give up.

Thursday, July 12, 2007Name: Alison - from Birmingham UK

Subject: Socks

Comment: I am new to knitting socks, but am already addicted. Here is a brief history of how I got going, including the patterns I used and where I found them. KNITTER BEWARE - family members watching your halting efforts may be scathing, but they are very quick to demand the pair you are just finishing (or starting).

1. I started with Bev's Quick Knit 2 Needle Socks, by Beverly Qualheim, which I found on KPC. These knitted up really well. I still wear them, and I love the way the heels and toes fit (my first experience of short row shaping).

2. My next pair were from the 2 Needle Kid's Sox pattern, also on KPC, by A Bunch of Crazy Kiwis. I knitted these up with 2 strands of DK in 2 evenings for my 4 year old grandson. I liked the pattern, which also uses short row shaping, and is really easy. The only drawback is that the seam runs the length of the sole of the foot. This is OK for bed socks, or lounging around the house socks, but wouldn't do for serious walking.

3 & 4. My next 2 pairs were from Elizabeth Allen's Sox on 2 Stix pattern, published in Knitty.com, but also on the KPC pattern directory. I knitted a blue pair (immediately taken over by my 11 year old granddaughter), and a green pair (appropriated by my daughter, before I had even finished the cuff of the first one). These socks are lovely and I might have used and adapted this pattern forever BUT everywhere I looked were other gorgeous patterns using double pointed needles, so eventually I had to try. Also, I didn't like sewing the socks up, and my 'mattress stitch' didn't look anything like the tutorials.

5. So as a natural progression, I looked for a pattern I could make in any yarn with DPN's. In the UK we can't get most of the yarns specified in American patterns, so I needed an adaptable pattern. I came across Nancy mcMullens pattern on www.socknitters.com/patterns/anyweight. This is more a method than pattern and really taught me eveything I needed to know abour knitting socks on 4 needles. I knit my first pair in a variegated lilac (my mother took those); the next pair I kept for myself. I now have 2 knitted pairs of socks, and I love them.

So far I have knitted socks in double knitting wool, mainly to be worn as bedsocks or with slippers around the house.

Some ideas for my future projects are:
- a lacy pair
- a pair in cotton for summer
- a pair in fine wool to be worn with shoes
- I also want to try the magic loop method with one circular needle, and patterns that use 2 circular needles.
- a toe up pair

I would really be interested in reading about the sock knitting exploits of others.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007Name: Gramma Meemee

Subject: you can teach an old dog new tricks

Comment: In my late 50's I decided to teach myself how to knit. These cloths are so rewarding for a beginner, thank you for sharing!

Monday, July 09, 2007Name: Louise

Subject: dishcloths

Comment: I have made countless dishcloths from the patterns found on this site. It is so relaxing and I can't seem to put those needles down. Dishcloths seem to be the only thing I finish, with the exception of one baby blanket (my biggest project every finished)

Thanks.

Sunday, June 24, 2007Name: MousieWoman

Subject: something new

Comment: Hi Guys, I haven't been here in a while, but I just had to come back. I just finished what I call a "pearl Tea Purse" There is a new cool drink out called "Pearl Tea"(asian favorite) I started to love that Tea, so I invented a "Pearl Tea Purse" its a small (wallet sized) purse with "pearls" at the bottom, I finished one and working on another, in fact as I type this the finished and not finished ones are on my desk right now! Like I said before.....
NEVER GIVE UP YOUR DREAMS!!
MOUSIE WOMAN 2006

Tuesday, June 19, 2007Name: Becca

Subject: I LOVE knitting!!!

Comment: i luv 2 knit! about a yr ago, i was trying 2 decide how 2 spend sum b-day $ wen i went 2 the craft section of wal-mart w/ my mom 2 get sum thread 4 a blanket she was sewing (my mom does cros-stitch) when i saw a book on kniting. id been curious but wasnt about 2 commit. well, i bot the book, a set of 10 needles, and some nasty (as in feel) multi-colored purple yarn. i havnt been able 2 stop since. ive made 2 scarves ( 1 4 me n 1 4 my bff), useless clothes that have very cut designs on them( which i'm joining 2gether 2 make a blanket), n a bag (that failed miserably). i'm bout 2 try n make my own messenger bag. i just need 2 figure out the measurements. well g2g knit!!!

Friday, June 08, 2007Name: josie

Subject: wow..

Comment: as i am reading some of these stories i am amazed at how lucky most of us are...look at Hannah, Anonymous, and June...they all had troubles, but they all still knit...i am honored to know that those people who are brave and strong enough to survive their troubles share the same hobby as me...i know that all other knitters should feel honored ao well...Hannah, Anyonumous, and June i am eternally gratefull to know that you share the same hobby as me and countless others...my aunt had stage 4 breast cancer, and yet she is still knitting...she has been an inspiration and you three are as well...keep dreaming about everything that you want to do and it will happen..don't let reality settle in and tell you you cant do it or you are not strong enough...you will find strength in the oddest of places, places you never knew existed...i knit for a few reasons, one b/c i cant stop(i have OKD:obsessive knitting disorder, but it is not a disorder at all...i wouldnt stop if i had too)and b/c of people like Hannah, June, and Anonymous..thank you for the inspiration.

Josie Goodwin
Age 13

Tuesday, May 29, 2007Name: Hannah

Subject: Inspiration

Comment: Anomous's comment inspired me to teach myself how to knit. I am 12, and when i was seven i fell off a pony at my first horse show. I was trampled. A large pony stepped on me and shattered the bones in my arms. The last thing i remember from the accident was the terrible pain. I was taken by helicopter to the hospital and put to sleep (temporarily) so they could operate on me. They tried everything, but they could not get rid of the bone fragments deep in my arm and they amputated from my elbow down. I was devastated. The biggest thing in my life was horse back riding, and i could never do it again. I had other interests, but i got bored with them and by age 11, i became depressed. I was surfing the web when i cane across your website. I looked at the testimonials, and anomous's popped out at me. I looked at the patterns, and i have taught myself how to do the garter stitch. I am currently working on a fuzzy scarf in fun fur. I have knitted only an inch, but it took me a week because it is very hard to knit one armed. anomous, if you are reading this, thank you!

Tuesday, May 22, 2007Name: Anonymous

Subject: Knitting

Comment: In 2003 i was in a car crash. I loved to knit, in fact, i was coming home from a knitting club when i was hit. I was in a coma for 3 weeks, and i lost my left arm. Since then, i have been in rehab. I just taught myself how to knit (one armed) a few months ago. I love your site and i visited it often from my laptop while laying in bed, dreaming of what i could knit once i taught myself how. Several of the patterns on your site motivated me to teach myself how to knit. THANK YOU!!!

Saturday, May 19, 2007Name: Joy

Subject: Knitting?!

Comment: Like the other gals comments about knitting, I just hate to put mine down. I knit all the time, in the car, in meetings, on the plane, just anywhere. And I truly love this site! I have made many items from patterns I have found on your site. THANKS!!

Thursday, May 17, 2007Name: valerie

Subject: knitting rules

Comment: When i was teaching myself to knit, I thought "who invented this masochistic craft??" Now, I fall asleep designing the perfect sweater in my mind. Its all I want to do, its empowering, creative, and SO addictive. Keep at it but beware, you will become obsessed!

Monday, May 14, 2007Name: Becka

Subject: Freeforming

Comment: I made my own wide brimmed hat from the top down without a pattern!!!!!I am 16 and I have only been knitting for about half a year.I can't put down my needles. I knit every day!!!!! It is so much fun!!!!

Sunday, May 13, 2007Name: knitcrazy

Subject: Knitting is awesome!

Comment: I've been knitting about a year now, all thanks to my best friend. She's always buying books that teach you how to do cool stuff, and she never uses them!
So I got her to lend me a knitting book, and she learned to knit with me (even though she always unravels whatever she knits!) I've made a ton of stuff: a white hat for me, a green one for my little bro, a tiny teddy, a scarf, a poncho and a couple of useless pieces of cloth! I just can't stop!

Friday, April 20, 2007Name: Jilly

Subject: Re: Yarn Addict

Comment: Im a yarn addict too. I have a large shelf thing that i keep my unused yarn on and two shelves are full of it. I spent $30 in yarn in the past two weeks.

Notice: If you want to send me (the webmistress) a "thank you" using this form, that is fine (I appreciate it). However, I may not be posting it publicly for all to see, and I have no way of responding without knowing your email address.

Name Provide Your Name Subject Subject of Your Testimonial Comment What is your testimonial? Type In the Letters/Numbers Submit

Notice: By submitting your content, you are agreeing to have it displayed on this page. I retain the right to edit and/or refuse unsuitable content. (Unsuitable content includes questions and help requests.) All submissions are checked before being published.