For a very long time now I have wanted to learn how to knit! But how do you go about learning it when your beloved grandmother, who by the way is a knitting-expert, lives in another country? It’s not like she can teach you over the phone?!

So what I did was firstly to consult with the fellow pica pica’s and were then presented with three different ways of going about it:

1. Knitting courses (evening classes)
2. Online video guides
3. Knitting handbooks

I then looked into option 1 and found a three week course close to me for the lovely sum of £65! Being a poor student I quickly decided to move on to the next option.

Option number 2 didn’t really suit me either – I found it quite difficult to keep up with the videos and couldn’t even imagine how I would be able to hit the pause button with yarn and needles all over the place.

This then left me with option number 3. I once again talked to fellow pica pica’s and were recommended a particular book:

‘Stitch ‘n Bitch – The Knitter’s Handbook’ By Debbie Stoller

Once I received the book I went out with pica pica’s Belinda to shop for supplies!

With my knitting book, nice large wooden needles and thick yarn I was finally ready to get knitting!

It took me a few tries but after an hour with the book I had mastered the art of casting on stitches…

Next up – Actual knitting! Once again after a few battles with the needles (like learning how to eat with chop-sticks!) I managed to knit a few rows!

However, a few rows is only the beginning and I have yet to master the arts of changing colours, threading a new ball of yarn and most importantly knitting other shapes – otherwise every member of my family will get a scarf next christmas!

If you want to learn how to knit too, and you don’t have your granny close either, I strongly recommend investing in a ‘guide’ book. Luckily there are several books out there willing to teach you how to knit and a very prominent feature is that the book can be as patient as you need it to be!

So what are you waiting for?

Love Marie