Knitting Machine

I am a knitting machine... no, wait... I have a knitting machine! Woo hoo! This machine, a 1950-60's KnitKing AM3 was owned by a gentleman who's wife had passed away and he didn't want to store it anymore. He tried to give it to the local museum, but they already have one. He dropped it off at the local fabric store and said that he wanted it to go to a home where it would get used. I know the owner of the fabric store pretty well, so she gave me a call.
Wow, I have wanted one of these for a long time, but they have been out of my price range.
It didn't come with a manual, but I managed to find on online. I also found some great instructional videos on YouTube.com. Diana Sullivan is just one of those wonderful teachers who posts her videos. The machine itself is a little greasy, but in good condition.
Now, to try it out...
I will try to show off my creations in future posts. ;)

Knitty.com's New Issue

One of my favorite knitting websites is Knitty.com. There are always great patterns and articles to read and try. Their site is easy to read and navigate. The patterns are created by the knitty community, so even you or I could contribute. I just love it.

Knitty just put out their new summer issue. There are some great patterns that will inspire you to get into the summer spirit. Happy Knitting!

How to Knit

There are many resources on the internet on how to... I myself spent many hours searching and learned to knit and crochet from these. I thought that it would be a good idea to share my knowledge with all of you.

The first site I went to was Knitting.About.com. It gives detailed, but easy-to-understand instructions. They also have a wealth of free patterns to learn from.

Another one that was really helpful was FreePatterns.com. This one was great for all different types of crafts; like sewing, quilting, crochet, cross-stitch and tatting. Also, if you are looking for conversion charts or how to substitute yarn; this site is great, too.

Now, for learning the terms and abbreviations, go to knitting-crochet.com. What a lifesaver this one was for me.

So, now you know the techniques and terms and you want to start on your very first "real" project. Not just another scarf or potholder. Here is my list of favorite sites for free (but still quite trendy) patterns:

FreePatterns.com
Knitting.About.com
Berrocco.com
Lionbrand.com
Knitty.com
Bernat.com
Craftown.com
Michaels.com

I hope this information is helpful to you on your journey to learn how to knit. Knitting is definitely one of my favorite forms of crafting. Good luck.