[IndigoSpinner]

My elusive goal is to read (a book, magazine, e-book) WHILE knitting.
Knitting without eyeballing every stitch is something I just did without really thinking about it. Crocheting without watching every stitch is beyond my abilities.

Knitting backwards took a bit of trying, but is very handy for potato-chip scarves and ten-stitch blankets. I can’t seem to maintain even tension over more than 20 stitches though.

One time, I was working, and the IT technician made me get off the computer while he updated some things on it. I moved to another chair, plopped a book on my lap, and started knitting. Then I noticed him staring at me. He said, "You can't juggle while you're doing that, too?"

Knitting is a spinal cord reflex, and when you've done it enough, you don't have to look at it most of the time. You still have to glance at it from time to time.

Crochet is a different matter. You do that with your vision and your brain, not your spinal cord, so you really have to see what you're doing.

I like knitting backward for doing entrelac.

 

[riversong200]

Well done you!! I can knit and read at the same time as long as the pattern is pretty simple. That will really come in handy if I join the two new book groups I'm considering.

 

[knit4t]

I have to ask, were you tempted to practise while you were writing this thread? Good on you! Looking forward to hearing how long it took you to perfect!

That's funny & yes! all of a sudden I felt a bit guilty looking down at my hands...and couldn't wait to be able to turn out the lights & try knitting in the dark...but then if I do so too early, it would throw my cockatiels timeclock off..if I wait until bedtime I might be at risk of having some freak knitting in bed accident...but seriously I'm truly excited whenever I can learn something new.

 

[knit4t]

I can only do knits without looking, purling I have to glance at what I'm doing. A stockinette tube is less boring when I watch something on the screen. I don't know how people who say they read while knitting manage it. It's not something I can do. Crochet without looking at the work? Not me.

Choose a video and see what you think.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+knit+backwards

I learned to do it for sock heels. With two socks on a long needle turning for heels was horrible. Doing the purl side without turning makes it much, much easier. I can do the purl side of stockinette and an occasional purl on the side facing but mostly I just do the purl side without turning. When I did potato chip scarves it never occurred to me to work in purls instead of knits. Then I could do them without turning.

Wow! Thank you for the info! I think learning to knit backwards is a great technique to master for my socks & possibly doing flat knitted colorwork? Thank you so much for the links.

 

[knit4t]

Knitting backwards is knitting another row without turning your work. Set a mirror up behind your work and you can the the motions you need to replicate to knit in reverse. There are you tube videos on the subject. I’d love to learn it for items like side to side scarves and afghans, but haven’t really worked to learn it yet.

Ahhh....amazing! I have to make a point to learn this....oh my goodness..another list to add to my bullet journal.
Thank you

 

[knit4t]

Knitting backwards, at least for me, means NOT turning at the end of the row. I just change direction of knitting. I was driven to break my grandmother’s stern admonition that going backwards was WRONG! when going crazy knitting the first of my potato-chip scarves.
Turning so often was awful!
*k20, turn.
k8, turn; k8, turn.
k6, turn; k6, turn.
k4, turn; k4, turn.
k2, turn; k2, turn.*
Repeat ad infinitum!
After about eight inches of that, I studied my actions - twisting my hands around to see what the motions were (think yoga), and finally got it.
I wish I had thought to use a mirror! That would have been so much easier!!
Essentially, I knit normally Continental style on the right side, then knit ‘lefty’ English style in the return direction. It probably isn’t any faster, but it’s a boon on such short rows as on the Ten-Stitch blankets, and if I’m ever tempted to knit another potato-chip scarf.
Potato-chip: Ravelry: JessicaJean's Curly Ruffly scarf - a helix
Ten-Stitch: Ravelry: JessicaJean's Projects

Both patterns look very interesting.

 

[knit4t]

Hi knit4t, be sure to let us know of any tips that help you to succeed. I aspire to knit without looking, too.

I'm so glad I posted this. I started not to, b/c most seasoned knitters know these things & new knitters seem to be able to hit the ground running (so to speak). It takes me awhile to catch b/c I am my own guide through knitting & I don't personally know any knitters to glean from.
I'm not wanting to run a race, so it's a slow fun journey for me...I just always want to challenge myself to learn something new & take my time to master that new thing.
I learned a lot from this thread, I didn't know...so I'm glad I chose to let everyone in on my tiny victory.
Happy knitting...let us/me know when you start to knit w/o looking, b/c I believe you can & you will when you're ready.

 

[knit4t]

I guess I am a whimp!! I count and recount, look at my work, it is obsessive. Someday if I grow up, I'll try your style. Congratulations to you!

Au contraire...you're not whimpy at all. I will still enjoy watching my hands. I'm mesmerized by what I see happen w/ the yarns & hooks & needles. It's also meditative way to just zone out...no matter what's happening around me or in my life.
I see knitting w/o looking as an alternative for being able to multitask...i.e. watch my fav programs or youtubers or talk to friends& family & now I can watch my dog in the park & take my knitting along w/ me & still get some extra rows done.

 

[knit4t]

I can knit while reading and have been able to for a long time. The book has to be a hardback so that it stays open.

Wow...I didn't really think that was possible. I'll have to try it.

 

[GrumpyGramma]

Wow! Thank you for the info! I think learning to knit backwards is a great technique to master for my socks & possibly doing flat knitted colorwork? Thank you so much for the links.

Since I'll only work stranded knitting in the round it's not helpful there for me. Other colorwork, maybe. My knitting backwards is currently limited to purls, p1tog's, and slipped stitches. I did have to pay really close attention to gauge at the start and still remind myself to not work the WS too tight.

 

[Jessica-Jean]

Both patterns look very interesting.

They are!!

 

[knit4t]

Well done you!! I can knit and read at the same time as long as the pattern is pretty simple. That will really come in handy if I join the two new book groups I'm considering.

This reminds of the time I joined a knit/crochet group at my local library. Everyone was able to have a normal roundtable conversation which was obviously b/c they were able to knit & talk at the same time. I, however, had to stop whenever I had anything to say or was asked anything...b/c I was taught it was always polite to look directly at a person you're talking to & also when someone is talking to you.
Needless to say, I hardly got anything done at that group, b/c I love to talk more than I love to knit. I was a crocheter at the time, which I guess is understandable.
Even when I'm among family I still want to give them my undivided attention & will stop knitting. I want them to know I do value what they have to say more than I do finishing another row of knitting.

 

[MaryCarter]

Well done.....I can do it for a stitch or two here and there, but could never watch television while doing it. Funny because I can touch type (used to do 60 words a minute) fairly quickly using both hands, so you think it would be easy for me. You have peeked my curiosity though, so I am going to try and do it later today.

 

[ivyrain]

And then there are the people that can knit, not look and walk down the path!

 

[knit4t]

One time, I was working, and the IT technician made me get off the computer while he updated some things on it. I moved to another chair, plopped a book on my lap, and started knitting. Then I noticed him staring at me. He said, "You can't juggle while you're doing that, too?"

Knitting is a spinal cord reflex, and when you've done it enough, you don't have to look at it most of the time. You still have to glance at it from time to time.

Crochet is a different matter. You do that with your vision and your brain, not your spinal cord, so you really have to see what you're doing.

I like knitting backward for doing entrelac.

This was a very interesting to me...until now, I thought sometimes we do repetitive things so often we can pretty much do it blindfolded. When our electric power went out I kinda got used to walking around my home in the dark b/c I pretty much know where everything is & I usually walk through my house in the dark anyway when it's easy for me to just go through a room rather than switch on lights.
One of the previous post meant a lot to me, Carlavine said & I think she was joking...she told someone who was astounded by her ability to knit w/o looking..."I can see w/ my fingers what I'm knitting"...well, maybe not too farfetched b/c I think in our minds' eye we can see what are fingers are doing if we concentrated on it.
That said, Crochet being done w/vision & brain may be necessary imo b/c of the variety of movements & loops & hooks & splitting of the yarns, etc.
Some knitting is simple & you can probably do it blindfolded, but I think whether it's spinal cord reflex, I don't know..knit or crochet,we benefit from a certain level of vision & brain. However, there are blind/visually impaired crocheters (& knitters too)...some who have never seen yarn nor hooks. Here's an interesting blog: Crocheting Blind
&
Marcie Brink-Chaney article:

Handmade: Knitter is guided by Braille and technology

Learning to double-knit can be a real challenge, and even more so if you’re blind, like Marcie Brink-Chaney

www.detroitnews.com

 

[Jessica-Jean]

And then there are the people that can knit, not look and walk down the path!

I can knit while standing in slowly moving lines: Ravelry: JessicaJean's golfbaba’s Stained-Glass Afghan

Since I have a penchant for tripping over tiny obstructions, I don’t try walking while knitting. Reading is somehow different. I always used to stroll home (from school or work) with my nose in a book. Never a fall, though I didn’t notice I had walked onto a newly cemented bit of sidewalk one time in seventh grade. Oops!! I never went down that street again!

 

[knit4t]

And then there are the people that can knit, not look and walk down the path!

hmm knitting on the treadmill or stationery bike...oh lawd...this might make exercise worth the investment.

 

[knit4t]

I can knit while standing in slowly moving lines: Ravelry: JessicaJean's golfbaba’s Stained-Glass Afghan

Since I have a penchant for tripping over tiny obstructions, I don’t try walking while knitting. Reading is somehow different. I always used to stroll home (from school or work) with my nose in a book. Never a fall, though I didn’t notice I had walked onto a newly cemented bit of sidewalk one time in seventh grade. Oops!! I never went down that street again!

That is such a wild idea! You created this afghan while standing waiting in lines?!!! lol I love it! I like this better than a temperature blanket....your afghan has history!
It looks like you worked on it for about 4 yrs? I like that.

 

[run4fittness]

Good for you! I can do simple lace without looking also. I can also read and knit at the same time. Keep practicing!

 

[Jessica-Jean]

That is such a wild idea! You created this afghan while standing waiting in lines?!!! lol I love it! I like this better than a temperature blanket....your afghan has history!
It looks like you worked on it for about 4 yrs? I like that.

Best was reducing odd balls of individually pretty yarns!