I am well aware this is a strange question.

[jackandahat]

I learned to knit as a kid, so I don't remember that much about it. Now I'm writing a character who has suddenly decided he's going to learn to knit. So. Assuming a fairly intelligent adult who does stuff with his hands (drawing, sewing), with the usual book/internet resources - how long would it take someone to learn to knit things? How long before being able to do a scarf you could wear in public, or learn to knit in the round and start on socks?

I know it's going to vary hugely from person to person, but I'm curious about guesstimates.

Comments

[moonbathe_skin]

They say that you can either sew or knit but not both. I think this may be true about 90% of the population.

Some people could learn to knit a scarf in an eavening, it's quite easy. Others could end up dropping stitches and not knowing how to pick them up (wtf I don't understand that!)

Whatever you do, make the knitting experience really suit the character because knitting is part of our personality (I am a bit obsessive and enjoy repeating patterns for example)

[jackandahat]

Huh. I've never heard the "you can sew or knit" thing before! I know a lot of knitters who seem to hate sewing - I hate sewing up knitting, but I like sewing other stuff.

And yeah - I have a fair idea of how he'll go about it (there are Harry Potter scarves...), I was just wondering about ballpark figures because I'm awful at guessing timescales.

[aedifica]

But everyone I know who knits also sews! (Most of us work at the renaissance festival and sew our own clothes for it.)

[holyschist]

I guess the other 10% all do historical reenactment?

[moonbathe_skin]

Yes! I like this answer!!