Expert Knitter reacts to Questionable Knitting Scenes 

What a great memory for you! Thanks for sharing.

That's so cool to inherit.

I know it's not related but this just proves how the perception of certain hobbies changes over time. When he was a child it was normal and necessary for boys to learn to knit, and nobody thought it was a solely feminine activity. But at some point Knitting and Crochet became a women's hobby and men started to abandon it. Luckily now us guys are finding their way back to it.

@@jupitersnoot4915 💯 Same with sewing; a man- in the army or navy- would be expected to keep their kit in good order (no one's got the money to just get new uniforms), so having sewing kits & even suitable scrap fabric/ extra buttons would be extremely beneficial {I believe there was a scene in 'Gone with the Wind' where Scarlett puts together what was called 'a housewife', for Ashley} - in pre-later 19th-20th c armies (the changeover period depended on where you were) after which, where many of the logistical areas (previously semi-civilian elements)- were integrated into the forces-proper - before then, you _might_ have someone's wife/ girlfriend/ sister/ daughter, or maybe even a paid servant help out in this regard, but you also might well have to take care of it yourself- & if it wasn't, you'd suffer the consequences (anything from fines, extra duties, potentially all the way up to flogging- depending on varying factors like the severity of the issue, the time, the circumstances, & the commander- some being more fastidious than others). The idea that most people in the past were super-shabby is not really accurate {yes, there were costs, long operations & many other limitations- but there was almost certainly an attempt/ regulations}

I second this! My sister taught me this way for a long tail cast-on. It helps tremendously even if there is still somewhat of a long tail left over.

That is a very generous explanation!

Yes! I’ve heard he actually knows how to knit too.

with all the leftovers I have, that would be pretty handy to try out...thanks

That was my first thought as well

There’s a good video of Stephanie Pearl McPhee cottage knitting fast as the wind! Learned from her grandmother who knit for a living and needed to be as fast as possible.

My Mum used to knit this way, but I can't get to grips with it. I tend to 'swoop' the yarn over, which is probably why I have carpal tunnel issues!

This is how I knit. My Irish mom taught me and it was a cardinal sin to let go of either the yarn or the needles. Until you were ready to put your knitting down.

my grandmother knits like this! Ive been planning on getting her to teach me the same motion as it looks so interesting! but she definitely is fast as the wind when she knits 😂😂

That sounds great but what about knitting in the round on something small to medium sized, like leg warmers?

You officially have the coolest job!

They abuse it. 🤣

@@LittlePrairieLibrary it is mostly incredibly cool, but my chiropractor dreads seeing me after a bout of marathon knitting/ crochet 😂

What an incredible jo. Although it must be so stressful!

That's exactly what I thought!

Ms Marple also uses the yarn balls for an excuse to be there, dropping them on the floor and picking up, while she secretly listens to the conversations.

Miss marple Is 100% an accomplished knitter. I can knit, talk watch tv and just glance occasionally have even fallen asleep knitting 😬

All the actresses who played Miss Marple could, and did knit in their respective movies or TV shows. All, but one, used the pencil grip while knitting English style. The one exception was Helen Hayes who knit continental style. She is also seen knitting in a scene in Airport. She was a very fast knitter, and didn't look down while knitting.

I love Joan Hickson's Miss Marple

@@bdarci that's amazing, as a beginner knitter I can only hope to get that experienced!

Yes I was particularly impressed that she was genuinely knitting, with fine yarn and acting at the same time

The actress in that version of Miss Marple is Joan Hickson, Miss Marple was an avid knitter in the books, I'm glad they got an actress who could actually knit.

The actress is Joan Hickson. I believe she is actually seen wearing the pink project in later episodes of the series, as well as other beautiful knitted items. Other Miss Marple actresses who actually knit are Geraldine McEwen and Julia McKenzie. And I believe they all knit parlor style.

If I’m just doing a straight knit or purl row I can do this too, and it just shows how good a knitter that actress is-that level of skill comes from practice and experience!

@@tammybrassard2395 Joan Hickson is my favorite Marple. She has an inimitable face! And great knitting skills!

Lol.

You can use a cheap knitting machine to make a sweater in the round very quickly

Funny that such a random metaphor is apparently so prevalent. Might they be mollified with a crochet seam? I know the effect is different, but maybe? Being commissioned to make unraveling sweaters for media honestly sounds delightful.

Oh same! I work in theater and there have been so many times a directors has seen me crocheting or knitting in the house and has asked me to pull off one or both of two impossible tasks: 1. make a sweater that will unravel from the bottom, usually on cue. 2. Teach an actor to knit like a pro by opening night, usually 2-4 weeks away. Once we were in tach week, opening night was in four days and this dude wanted me to teach an actress to knit by opening AND wanted her to be able to deliver lines in time to her needles movements. I said that was not going to work and he said "It's just knitting. my grandmother did it for years. How hard could it be?" 🙄

It’s how I knit - taught by my Irish Grandmother

Honestly, im just impressed you learned to knit just for a part! You have all my respect!!

@@oldasyouromens: Working class people's knitting styles tended to be those that they'd learned from their parents or grandparents and were strongly regional. Unless people had contact with a foreign community I would be very surprised at the idea of Victorian English people knitting in the continental style.

Young Ian, my favorite Outlander character. Love that he can click it, as he says.

Knitting was a male guild profession. Also, many sailors could knit.

Yes, my father taught me how to knit when I was 5 and it was such a special moment that I'll never forget. He's 83 now 😊

Oh Claire, you poor dumb wildflower, you.

I remember those scenes. Outlander inspired me to learn knitting and now I can't stop.

Yes I forgot that! Although I think some of the knitting in that was a little questionable. Something for part 2 😅

I saw that, too! As a knitter and a crocheter it looked pretty silly. But my memory has them quilting with knitting needles...!

It was knitting needles 😊

Not just Wallace and Grommit; the creators had authentic knitwear for the farmer in Shaun the Sheep as well.

It makes me want to rewatch Chicken Run and check out the knitting hen as well.

​@@emccormack4209 my fave line from Chicken Run: 'are those my ONLY choices?!

Many people seem to think fiber arts are all sorcery and beyond mortal ken, or they don't pay attention and think no one else will either, one or both.

Oh my goodness, I saw that too. An afghan square on knitting needles. I remember thinking Sister Monica-Jones had some serious skills! 😂😂

Mum and I laughed out loud when we saw the call the midwife scene

Wow!! This video wins the prize for“ geeking out” 🤓This might be a bit too over zealous. 😂 ❤️❤️😛❤️❤️

The Frasier episode “The Devil and Dr. Phill” has a “knitting” scene; it’s a crocheted piece with knitting needles stuck in across the top.

Me too. The knits in that show have become such a major part of the show's wardrobe. I just love Claire's shawls and the fingerless gloves as well as Brianna's caplets. They're so beautifully done

There were some rustic garments worn that I love from the Susan Sarandon and Halle Berry scenes of Cloud Atlas. But those clothes turned out to be hand woven - and I LOVE weaving. [in addition to crochet and knitting].

I'm working on a triangle shawl right now

In Japanese manga and anime, young girls often try to make handknit sweaters/scarves for boys whom they love to show their affection and devotion.

Oh man I haven't thought about that show in forever. That unlocked some highschool memories

It was an Upper Class English style before WWII, to differentiate them from lower classes while knitting was patriotic.

@@bcase5328 can we just say that is a very classist thing particular to the English.

When I was taught, it was considered not ladylike to have one's elbows up. It was required to keep elbows down, and that meant needles point up in the centre down at the sides.

@@marvellousmrsmoller I knit continental so my elbows are at my sides. Does that count as ladylike? Holding the straight needles like pencils is both awkward and becomes painful one there is a heavy garment that needs support. For me that is a very odd way to handle knitting but us Finns may not be as classy as those Brits.😄

@@bcase5328: I didn't realise that class came into it. I did know that styles varied regionally - I work with the "receiving" needle tucked under my arm, so I don't have to hold it up, which frees the right hand for manipulating the wool and the left hand is also an active participant in the process, so that it would be more accurate to say that I impale each stitch as I knit it, rather than stab it. The right hand generally doesn't leave the needle completely, unless there are a lot of stitches needing a bit of a helping hand with being shuffled along.

I started to knit Portuguese style 6ish years ago. It's such a great method I always wonder why it's not more popular.

And the yarn advances from the ball of yarn on the floor which, of course, jumps up a bit as the yarn is unwound!

It also looks like it's actually crochet! I paused this video and I'm not entirely sure but the way the colour-changes look and the fact it has stitches in one colour dipping down over and into another colour looks like crochet to me. (Around the 12:38 mark)

I'm going to look that video up - sounds super interesting. Thanks for the lead!

Hidden messages in fiber arts are nothing new, there have been love notes knotted into carpets and hate mail embroidered onto trim for centuries. These are often women's crafts, so the secrecies tended to be women's issues that require discretion and the avoidance of male scrutiny.

@@l.m.2404 And/or kept the messages "under the radar" as mentioned in the video. Don't underestimate the ladies!

My great aunt used to mention how her friends had so much fun chatting that one forgot to knit a heel into their sock! So knitting without thining is possible!

It might be able to be done technically. But it would have to be like a double knit sort of project. I mean you can have your socks first cast on like normal, get it done to the ankle and after the heel. Ten change to a single needle and just double knit to make the cuff.

I've heard that the Japanese typically knit in the continental style.

Didn't Kiki's delivery service show knitting, too? The woman who was letting Kiki live with her, or maybe her husband, I want to say?

Yes, and you can see the projects change in length throughout the episodes!

Not just slow, BEGINNER knitter AND, work was torn back because Izzy stole it to reknit it correctly. So it’s like finishing 2 sweaters in a day while working full time as medical interns. What?!?

That's a good possible explanation! I was wondering why so many of the examples she encountered were English style; I found myself wondering if continental was really that much less common, or if UK-based shows were the only ones likely to have accurate depictions of knitting? I knit continental too, and it just feels so much more efficient to me in terms of eliminating extraneous movement.

Were they?

@@j.s.1816 Yup! They were knitting 'British'. My sister laughed when I told her to rewind and pause it so that I could check.

Absolutely not, in the scene I looked at. Plus they switched projects partway through. Maybe some of them knit, but not every actor playing a knitter did.

@@LizzysSesameStreet I was just happy that some of them were!