[Nfb-krafters-korner] KNITTING

Fri Feb 15 07:41:35 CST 2008

Can you all believe, I can do plastic canvis in a car.  When ever I know
I am going to be out for an hour or more I take my project with me, just
in case I want to do something to keep me busy while riding along.  With
plastic canvis, you can make an error, but you can not drop a stitch
like in knitting.  Plastic canvis, in my opinion, is an inlarged form of
needle point or cross stitch.  Right now, I am trying to teach a totally
blind person by mailing her examples and e-mailing her directions.  I
also helped creat a book on plastic canvis that Virizons sells.  I think
I have the name right.  They also sell knitting paterns.  It has been so
long.  
Terry Powers

-----Original Message-----
From: sblanjones11 [mailto:sblanjones11 at sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 9:43 PM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] KNITTING

Dear Cindy,
I wish I'd known you were learning to knit--I'd have helped you, of
course!
I saw your question about knowing how much yarn to buy.  A lot has to do
with the size needles you are using, and how wide you want the scarf to
be.
If you're using size 8 or 9 needles, for example, and the scarf is 25
stitches wide, I would think one skein of knitting wersted would be
enough.
I am making T tops for young children for a project sponsored by
Guideposts Magazine, and they take 2 of the extra-large skeins you can
find at Wal-Mart.
BTW, the pattern is quite simple, basic knitting and perling, the front
and back piece are exactly the same.  If you wanted to do something like
this, you could check out their website:
www.knitforkids.org
BTW, they also have a crocheting pattern option for those who crochet.
These sweaters are sent to places where children live in poverty, or
where some kind of disaster has happened.  Many sweaters went to the
children of the Gulf Coast following the 2005 hurricanes.

I don't have a whole lot of time when my hands aren't busy doing other
things; but when I'm sitting by my mother's bedside, or attending a
meeting,or in a waiting room somewhere, especially when expected to be
conversing, I like having my hands busy, and knowing their fruitfulness
may be able to help and encourage somebody else.
I do not find knitting feasible while on the bus or in the car, as I
easily drop stitches in those situations.
I feel relaxed and productive when I knit.  I think it's very exciting
that so many kids and teens are eager to learn knitting.  
Regards,
Susan in Indiana

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of slery
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 3:09 PM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] New member introduction

Hey Susan!

Great to have you on list!  This is Cindy from Indiana/Kentucky.  I wish
I had known you were into knitting, we could have gotten together at
Washington Seminar and you could have shown me some of your techniques.
Currently, I am self teaching.

Audrey,

I believe the European style you are talking about is what I am using
(called Continental).  I still have some sight and on my home computer
in a dark room I am using knittinghowto.com and they have wonderful up
close videos that have descriptions.  Some may even be able to learn
from the descriptions alone.  The site lists three different versions of
knitting and details one that is blind friendly she has been told.
However, I actually found that the continental was easier for me.  I
finally figured out how to separate the stitches and feel each
individual one so that I stopped picking up and adding stitches when I
didn't mean to.  The only thing I was confused about is that in the
directions for the continental, it mentioned that this was backward for
American patterns and you had to make an adjustment.

So far, I have not really been bothering with patterns and just trying
out simple things that I can do to practice the stitches like a scarf
where I can decide how wide and long without a pattern and just stitch
until I'm done.

Would love any insights that others would like to share on or off-list.

Thanks for a great place to come Joyce.

Cindy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of AUDREY 
> WELLNER
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 12:30 AM
> To: List for blind crafters and artists
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] New member introduction
> 
> 
> Hi Susan, 
>       Nice to hear from you.  I don't have any magic answers for you.

> Although, I am sighted I am learning so much from those of you who 
> aren't.  I don't think any book could teach you what you need to know.

> It's definitely a matter of touch.  I'll tell you what I've done and 
> see if you can adapt it to your needs.
>      We have a wonderful group of knitters here in Connecticut started

> by your web monitor, Joyce Kane and I've been privileged to be a part 
> of the group.  I am definitely a basic beginning knitter and 
> crocheter.  I'm not so talented that I can do sweaters, armholes, 
> cable stitches, etc., but before I joined this group I started a 
> friend by the name of Henry learning to knit.  One day when I first 
> met him, he showed me some plastic canvas tissue boxes he created with

> the word "Love" on them.  I was truly amazed at the precision and 
> clarity in his stitches and I asked him, "How do you do this?", his 
> reply was, "I just feel them".  So from that I felt if he could make 
> those small stitches he certainly could feel a knitted stitch on big 
> needles with thick yarn.  We started on the new round looms called 
> "Knifty Knitters" from Provo Craft that you can get in any full 
> service craft store.
>  Henry had the willingness and determination to keep trying until he 
> got it (it takes a  little time to learn how to wrap the yarn on the 
> loom and be consistent with direction, tension and etc).  And he did!

> He makes beautiful hats off this loom now using a variety of two 
> colors and multiple yarns.  So he got bored with this challenge and we

> went on to straight needles that felt like Chinese chop sticks to him 
> when he started, but he has perfected the art of a straight knit scarf

> that he's doing famously on.  As the needles felt more comfortable in 
> his hands his stitches loosened up and his edges tightened.  So now my

> "little sponge" is learning to needle felt with me. I also helped 
> Joyce Kane start her felting and she's off visualizing all the new 
> things she can do with felting.  But I must caution all Blind 
> Krafters--there is only one needle felting tool that is somewhat safe 
> for you to use and I'm in the process of trying to contact someone 
> that manufactures the product before I feel safe in letting you know 
> what product it is.  If I get a chance to be at  convention I will 
> have them there and help anyone who wants to experience the technique 
> felting--but I must say again--they are only to be used carefully with

> a sighted person's guidance.
>      So, the advice I can give you is--find a friendly group to sit in

> with (there are many that won't help each other) and get a patient 
> person to guide your hands until you can feel what your doing.  Both 
> people I know have lost their sight later in life, so they have a 
> "minds eye" of understanding concerning what I'm trying to help them 
> with.
> I am presently helping someone with low vision and find it's harder 
> for them to solely rely on their touch.
>      I know both my friends will see this on line and I hope they 
> e-mail you with their perspective from a non-sighted view, because I 
> feel they can tell you a great deal more than I.  They say God works 
> in strange ways--I am a Lyme Disease sufferer to the point of being 
> partially scooter or wheelchair bound and many in my support group 
> have lost some of their sight due to this disease.  As hard as we 
> rally for support, the HMO's and doctors still want to ignore this 
> epidemic.
>      One final thing, in the new library where our knitting group 
> meets I found a staff member that does European knitting (a method of 
> throwing a stitch) which she claims is much easier for a blind person 
> to pick up or feel.  So when she shows me--I'll write you again and 
> try to explain.  She is also sighted and has successfully taught 
> people her method.
>      I know this doesn't explain much--but stick to a straight knit 
> and purl for awhile---there's so many new things you can make with the

> new yarns that use only a few stitches and will wow your friends at 
> what you have accomplished. Go to http://www.lionbrand.com  they have 
> lots of projects to get started on and they also have a section for 
> blind knitters patterns through a braille reader.  Then grab someone 
> to start teaching you to increase and decrease and leave the books 
> alone.  You'll learn more from a friend then any book written.  I tell

> you a secret---Joyce is knitting herself a sweater with sleeves and a 
> neck and everything.  It's looking great!  Sorry Joyce, your secret is

> out, HA!  I'm sure she could help. She's a cracker jack at it.  And 
> God Bless our little group of knitters--the ladies are so helpful!  I 
> was in another group before this that wouldn't give you the right time

> of day, yuk!
>      Have fun!  Hope this was somewhat informative. Please feel free 
> to email again.
>      Audrey Wellner
> 
> sblanjones11 <sblanjones11 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>   Dear Audry & listers,
> I am a knitter, and have had many people ask me to teach them how to 
> knit. I have seen several books on knitting in the NLS collection 
> lately. Can you or someone else on this list recommend a good book or 
> two that teaches the basics of knitting so I can get some tips on how 
> to explain? I also want to learn how to read and interpret knitting 
> patters. I have a book, but don't feel I understand the patterns well 
> enough to figure out how to follow them. Any help would be greatly 
> appreciated. Susan in Indiana
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner
> 
> 
_______________________________________________
Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner

_______________________________________________
Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner