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The Story of Knitting
Knitting, as defined by Wiktionary, is "Combining a piece of thread with two needles into a piece of fabric." The word is derived from knot, thought to originate from the Dutch verb knutten, which is similar to the Old English cnyttan, to knot.[1] Its origins lie in the basic human need for clothing for protection against the elements. More recently, knitting has become less a necessary skill and more a hobby. [1](Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_knitting)
Wikipedia History of Knitting
History of Knitting
Ezine Articles: An Early History of Knitting
About.com: Knitting
The Story of Crocheting
Crochet (pronounced /kroʊˈʃeɪ/) is a process of creating fabric from yarn or thread using a crochet hook. The word is derived from the Middle French word croc or croche, meaning hook. Crocheting, similar to knitting, consists of pulling loops of yarn through other loops. Crochet differs from knitting in that only one loop is active at one time (the sole exception being Tunisian crochet), and that a crochet hook is used instead of knitting needles.
History of Crochet
Wikipedia History of Crochet
About.com: Crocheting
Many knitting and crocheting groups are making items for vets, chemo patients, hospices patients, and soldiers. Check out some of these sites:
Knitted afghans for vets or hospice patients
http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/afghans.php
http://knitting.about.com/od/knittingpatterns/p/lapafghan.htm
Hats for Chemo patients – Head Huggers –Crochet and Knit
Crochet Afghan for Vets or Hospice Patients
Prayer Shawls –Crochet and Knit
Knitted helmet liner for soldiers
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There are lots of books (fiction and non-fiction) about knitting itself and knitting groups. See the HCPL online catalog:
Non-Fiction Titles
HCPL online catalog has many books on knitting and crocheting at all skill levels, including the "For Dummies" series. Search here.
Fiction Titles
Debbie Macomber
- The Shop on Blossom Street
- A Good Yarn
- Back on Blossom Street
- Summer on Blossom Street
- The Friday Night Knitting Club
- Knit Two
- Knit One, Kill Two
- Needled to Death
- A Deadly Yarn
- A Killer Stitch
- Dyer consequences
- Fleece Navidad
- Died in the Wool
- The Knitting Circle
- Knitting Under the Influence
- The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society: A Novel
Exercises:
1. Check out the above knitting and crocheting websites and discuss your experience with knitting or crocheting on your blog. Do you knit or crochet now? Do you think you will? Would you rather make a prayer shawl, chemo hat, or lap blanket?
2. Does your branch have a knitting group? Think about how you would start one and discuss it in your blog.
Optional: Choose one of the instruction websites given above and cast on 10-20 stitches and knit 10-12 rows and check your gauge as instructed before continuing on to complete a project. Or choose one of the crochet websites and learn to chain stitch. Find a pattern on one of the websites above and make a scarf, hat, or blanket.
HCPL Staff: Have you completed this exercise? Then Submit your Registration of Completion
This post is brought to you by Valerie Sandham and Shawn Howes.
2 comments:
One site that might be of interest to knitters and crocheters is www.ravelry.com. It's a social networking site for knitters and crocheters. You can keep track of your projects, share them with other users, and download free patterns from designers. Check it out! Darla, ATA.
I like to do these, but with a long no post gap, a person can loose interest. I've checked for new posts weekly, but don't know if I will be back after this.
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