Anybody else a knitter?

Hey everyone!

I pretty much spend all my time when I'm not doing the whole law school thing knitting and I was wondering if anyone else on here also knits. I'm on ravelry as alisonreeder so come find me!

Anyone found any particularly good wool/haberdashery shops, specifically in South Wales or even in the London area?  I found one I liked in London called Loop in Islington, but never had much luck outside of John Lewis' haberdashery section besides that.

I'm a keen knitter, live in Surrey and buy all my supplies via the internet. There aren't any yarn shops near where I live and, although I like to browse in yarn shops when I come across them on my travels. the prices are better buying online. I'm pleased to see that knitting, and sewing, is enjoying a resurgence and no longer has the reputation of only being for grannies!

I'm a knitter, but live in the US.  I like to read Vogue Knitting and check out the many free knitting patterns online.  I sometimes buy my yarns online, if the local stores don't have either what I want or enough of it for my project.  I'm also glad that things like knitting and sewing are making a comeback.  I used to do a lot of both when my daughter was small.

I am a knitter too.   

I am in suburban London, and tend to shop at Mrs Moon's in St Margaret's (between Richmond and Twickenham) and I Knit London which is just outside Waterloo station for the wool. I like to see and touch before I choose yarn, but will buy needles and such off the internet if I want something and can't make it to one of the shops easily.

I'm still in the US as well. At least until August. I get most of my stuff online from Knit Picks right now, but they don't ship internationally. I may have to get my mother to forward me stuff when I need it.  I'm sure I'll find other yarn I like, but their needles and accessories have really grown on me.

I am a wannabe knitter!  My town has a fantastic knitting shop but they don't offer classes.  I start maternity leave this Wednesday and would love to try to pick it up while I'm off.  How did you guys learn?  Did you have someone who showed you or did you take a class?

Just use the Internet. There are to a and tons of you tube videos out there. The knit picks website has some tutorials and I think knittinghelp.com has some good stuff. I actually learned via books from my public library when I was about 16.  Nowadays though the Internet is the best place for learning.. Also, for beginning supplies you could check in our local knitting shop. The employees will likely be able to advise you on stuff to start with.  My best advice on starting is make sure you get yarn with good stitch definition so you can easily see what you're doing at the beginning. Usually something light colored that isn't fluffy. .

i forgot my most valuable resource, even as an experienced knitter, ravelry.com. It's like a social network for knitters with tons of free patterns and advice and just generally great resources. I left my username in my original post.

Thanks Alison, I'll check those sites out. 

I learned to knit at school when I was 8, which is a long time ago! But if I ever get stuck I go to Youtube and look for a video of whatever stitch/abbreviation is confusing me.

I love knitting; it keeps me sane some days! Crocheting, too. In fact, my when my stepbrother was young, he never knew which I was doing at any given time, so he would just ask if I was 'yarning'. I still use that term.

Anyway, for really great prices on yarn here, I go to Fairfield Yarns. They buy and re-sell surplus yarns that manufacturers aren't using any longer. It's family-run, and the fella who is always in when I go is very friendly and knowledgeable. It's in the Greater Manchester area (near Rochdale), but they will dispatch all over the UK, if you have some idea of what you want. I love it there; they have massive amounts of yarn, and since they buy whatever manufacturers are done with, every visit tends to be a surprise with something new. One time I walked away with 2 kg of Shetland wool for just under £25! They always have some really, really gorgeous wool, too.

Definitely give them a look sometime. http://www.fairfieldyarns.co.uk/

When I was 12, a friend of mine taught me how to knit right-handed.  I learned how to knit left-handed from the pictures in a "Vogue Knitting" article I saw in my 20s.  I'm left-handed, and knit faster that way.

There are a few threads about knitting (no pun intended!) over in the Sports & Leisure (hobbies, etc) board. Nothing for a while, though!

I tried to learn knitting a long time ago and gave up because being left handed it was all backwards to me 
I do crochet, not great, but enough to get by and keep my hands busy and make me feel like I am being all creative now and again haha!

I'm actually left handed as well. Somehow I managed to teach myself to do it right handed though. You can find left handed instructions. I've seen a few her and there on the Internet.