[Nfb-krafters-korner] learning to knit

[Deidre Muccio]

Hello Annette and others
I was eager for the first beginner's knitting class to happen yesterday. I
felt sure that I could learn. Right off I lost my slip knot off the needle
several times. I never successfully casted on. I was also totally perplexed
because the motions described for knitting were not what I had been shown
several times before by a neighbor. It turns out I had been shown English
not Continental, which is what we did yesterday. Btw, probably many of you
have taken this with Annette before, and you know she gives her all.
Today my neighbor came back over to try to help me get the hang of
Continental. I still didn't manage to cast on a first row of stitches, so
she did it for me. I can't wait to hear the recording to see if at some
point before the next class, I can figure it out myself.
	I now see the difference between English and Continental, it's the
same, except for where the long strand of yarn gets placed or picked up. I
can do that movement now except that a problem I'm having is that the
stitches get so tight that when I need to pick that stitch off that left
needle the stitches on both needles have to be right up near the tip and I
risk their sliding off. I was told the reason things are getting so tight is
that I am putting too much tension on the strand of yarn that is resting on
my pointer finger. I was also told that it is good for there to be tension
as the two needles are inside the stitch on the left needle, but I suppose
that is easy for a sighted experienced knitter to say! 
	I can't believe everyone in class yesterday was able to knit a few
rows without dropping stitches. At least 3 times I dropped stitches off the
left needle and my neighbor had to put them back on. I felt them and she
told me what to do to get them back on the left needle but I'm not 100% sure
I would have done it perfectly. I am not always even sure when I've  made a
mistake, so to speak, though often I can tell when something happens that
didn't feel right.
	What do you other beginners do if no one is around to help remedy
the kinds of problems I'm talking about? Start from the very beginning
again?
	This process of learning is quite remarkable. I'm trusting that I'll
get the hang of it, but I will surely need more help. I'm not willing to
give up yet.

	Deidre