knitting

Over the past few weeks I have been trying with all my might to learn a new craft, one which I never imagined I could experience even the teeniest degree of success. Mum and Nana used to knit my brother and I jumpers and vests, and Oma was a super knitter, knitting dolls clothes and jumpers for all the grandkids up until arthritis set in a few years ago. As for me, I tried knitting during uni, and recall getting told off during a lecture for not paying attention (which is silly, because I truly absorb spoken detail better when my hands are busy) but aside from making a bottle green scarf the knitting thing ended soon after. 

After watching multiple clever Brown Owl girls knit adorable kids clothes, I plucked up the courage to try again and this time fight my fear of learning how to read the dreaded knitting pattern. I'm generally an optimistic person and can follow a crochet pattern quite well but the thought of following a knitting pattern almost almost brought sweat beads to my brow.

I chose to begin with a Panda baby cardigan pattern and it's been .... an interesting adventure. There has been lots of referring to borrowed library kitting books, watching youtube videos (repeatedly) on what the HECK to do for certain obscure instructions, and a knitting night at mum's, counting and re-counting, and attempts at drawing the pattern as a grid - which I found helpful.

I'm about 2/3 through and have one major problem - it's curling ...alot. The pattern asks for stockinette stitch and some garter at the cardigan edges. Perhaps I am a tight knitter, but its curling heavily and I can't imagine that it won't continue to curl once its sewn up and on a little body.

 I have read of a finishing technique called 'blocking', but can only find it's use to get the clothing size correct. I will definitely block at the end as it's VERY handmade looking lol, and it might reduce this a little... but can't imagine this curl flattening out.... any skilled knitters out there with any suggestions? x