I finished up the lap quilts I needed to make for Christmas and have NOTHING (well except presents) to work on. At night I usually sit and quilt! So last night I tried my hand at knitting....its something I want to learn and I had a few minutes. Couldn't work on presents cause dh came in and went to sleep and my sewing "nook" is in our bedroom. I am ALL thumbs! I did manage to cast on the stitches the video told me to but when I went to do the next row my hands just couldn't hold it all together. Stitches kept coming off the needles early, and of course by then all of the kids were sitting around watching offering me "helpful" suggestions! So today I'm going to plan my next quilt! This one will be for ds. He likes Overhaul Sam and nine patches. I just ordered some cute fabric that will work perfectly for this too. I'm going to finish my Christmas presents ( I work best under pressure it seems) and get this drawn out. then when Christmas is over I get to start on it! yay!

I love to crochet, but never got the hang of knitting

I can knit, but forget crocheting - can't do.

I can't do either. I love to embroider though. Ginny, I like your idea of trying something new when you can't sew--may have to dig out some embroidery for over the holidays.
Bev: if I forget how I may ask for your help!

thanks for the link! I'm trying to find someone close to me who knows how to knit but so far I'm striking out! So I found a video and am hoping that I can pick it up that way.

I have been really busy with Christmas parties and dinners and life, and my quilting is on hold right now, too. I had ordered three 'barrels' I think they are called of red, green and white cotton yarn from JoAnns to crochet dishcloths. I give them out for Christmas and for our Church bazaar. So if I have a free moment or get a chance to sit down and watch a Christmas TV show, I am crocheting. I need something to do when I'm not doing anything!

I can knit and am trying to learn to crochet. I also love to do hand embroidery and hand quilting.

I finished up all my machine embroidered towels yesterday evening and I, too, feel lost. However, I do have several good books waiting...and then there is a whole cloth mini quilt and the chocolate-raspberry swap and the one block a month swap and gee, maybe I better get busy..... :D

It is so funny how everyone has a different opinon on which is easier. Knit or crochet? For me it's crochet. Knitting has too many stitches to keep on the needle and too hard to quit in the middle of the row.

If you are teaching yourself, try these sites.

http://www.nexstitch.com/index.html

http://www.knittinghelp.com/

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/index.php

http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/

These are excellent free sites with videos and patterns for both knitting and crochet. I taught myself to doboth last winter with the help of these sites and a few YouTube videos and now have 3 large afghans to show for it.

Keep at it. You'll get the hang of it.

I crochet all the time - I used to teach 'How to Crochet' and 'How to Read Crochet Patterns' at 2 different Michaels stores. I taught all 4 of my children to crochet. My sons don't crochet now, but they know how. lol My youngest daughter learned at the age of 3. She is very good and fast now at 18.

I wanted to learn to knit, but when I realized how long the process is to 'unknit' if you've made a mistake, I decided to pass on knitting. Some differences between the 2 - crochet works up faster but takes more yarn. It is easier to take out crocheted stitches than knitted stitches. The fashion yarns - i.e. Fancy Fur ... can be difficult to crochet - harder to see the stitches. I usually run a thin smooth yarn along with the fashion yarns when I use them. IMO I think crochet can look 'homemade' and knitting looks more 'professional'.

Funny how crafters always have to be doing something. I can't stand to be without a project or a good book - It keeps me awake at night and I wander around in circles during the day. lol. It's good to know I am not alone --- my DH thinks I am 'hyper and restless and a wee bit crazy' - my friends don't understand this need to make stuff - my kids are just used to it (I used to take over every school project they had to do at home if it involved making something) I am sooooo relieved to find out I am not the only one with this obsession.

my DH thinks I am 'hyper and restless and a wee bit crazy' - my friends don't understand this need to make stuff - my kids are just used to it (I used to take over every school project they had to do at home if it involved making something) I am sooooo relieved to find out I am not the only one with this obsession.[/quote]

My husband says, "You always have to be doing something, don't you?" Well, yes, why just sit and do nothing... I am either quilting, doing embroidery, hand work of some kind - - - cannot stand to just sit and watch TV for hours - ours is off all day long, but at 5:00 Glenn Beck is turned on and the TV is on for hte rest of the night - EGAD!!! I do not like it.. I LOVE GB - but after he is done, I'd turn it off... oh well... I'll just keep being busy.. I DO relax by reading - alot