Tuesday 28 February 2012

Road testing!

Last week I was fortunate enough to get the chance to learn a whole new skill and road test a new way of doing it. You all know that I test and sample knit for 'Yarn addict Anni' but last weeks challenge was totally different I was testing the new on-line class for Continental knitting a skill I have wanted for ages and after 5 days of classes I can say it is an amazing way to learn and if you fancy learning then you should give this class a go!

I really love that I was able to play the classes at any time, 6am seemed as good as any, I could revisit each video as many times as  I needed to, in fact after a couple of days I went back again and replayed each stitch as I found that the revisit showed me things I had missed first time around. I practised on a couple of my 'sushi shawls in progress' as they had the stitch combinations I was after

and today I have cast on the Rams and Yowes blanket that I have been waiting to have a go at. By learning to do continental knitting I am able to combine it with English knitting and use both hands for the colour work and that is what I call a total result. I am still getting quicker the more I practice but I am more than happy with the pace I have achieved in the few days since I began learning. Bearing in mind I have been knitting on and off for more than 30 years I am almost as quick as my normal English knitting pace - I just need to learn how to do it without looking and I will be over the moon!


Having said I have been knitting for a long time I have never done colour work like this - years ago I made my young sister a care bear jumper but it was  intarsia  not fair isle knitting. In short I have revolutionised my knitting and had a ball in doing so! Would I recommend this on-line course absolutely I would without hesitation. What are you all knitting at the moment and are you having more fun with it than me? Hopefully more on the blanket progress soon, Sxx

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ooh ooh! I'm so excited! I have signed up and I can't wait to be whizzing through my stash quicker than ever! I can't wait to try fair isle either - I have a pair of fair isle socks in mind - well I would have wouldn't I? ;)

busybusybeejay said...

I must look into this.Sounds exciting.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Sarah, for those lovely comments. I'm so glad you enjoyed it and learnt something. It was great to test the course and get some feedback. I hope you don't mind me pointing people in your direction to read this. Great promo! lol. Thank you x

Auntie Noo said...

ooh so excited to read this review as I've signed up for the course (bring on tomorrow!) I'm 43 and have been knitting for 35 of those years, so it'll be hard to change but I do love a challenge. Am now even more looking forward to the course after reading your review.

Claire said...

My challenge is being left handed, which means that videos confuse me because everything is back to front to the way I knit :)

I'm currently knitting ... Alpaca finger puppets, Alpaca scented hearts, an Alpaca 50s style cardigan, an Alan Dart Chess Set, the back of a cushion cover, a Colinette throw, a pair of fairisle mittens, and a fairisle DPN needle book that I am designing. I've also got a sleeveless top waiting to be started and I'm working on a design for an Alpaca handbag. On top of that I've got to finish my module 2 of my City & guilds handknitting course, and get my plywood chair designs completed for my OU course.

And tomorrow I'm off to hospital for an outpatient operation - time for a rest ...

SewIknit2 said...

snap! I have that same project/kit too and have been setting time aside to practice "knitting" with both hands - be interested in how you found the "Norwegian purl" vs. "continental purl" as a technique.
I have tried the Norwegian but find my knitting needles get in the way somehow and I need to "lift" them/my hands up which is tedious after a short while! maybe I'm not doing it "right".
I shall look for the class in the future and consider it.
Sue x

picperfic said...

Hi Sarah, I would love to learn continental knitting, I can sort of do it I think but prefer to fling my yarn round with my finger of my right hand..haha, that sounds messy! I use the continental knitting for colourwork but I am very slow at it. I can also do the purl row backwards for entrelac. I love doing that. Do you have a link for the continental knitting course?