Last night went really well. Thank you all for your input. As it turned out, I only had 5 ladies come to learn how to knit, (there were a couple seasoned veterans along for the ride), and I taught them the long-tail cast on. I cast on that way, and I didn’t want to teach something I don’t do. I also taught them both the knit and purl stitch, and got most of them ribbing. (Thanks Maggie for the tip).

I started off the class by telling them about our conversation here yesterday, and about how much I didn’t want to hear any negative self-talk. And there wasn’t any.

By the end of the night, I was feeling a bit bad about assuming there would be a problem, but a friend of mine who was there said she was sure it was due to the what-for I gave them all at the beginning of class. She’s probably right, I can be pretty direct.

Lesson learned. Intimidate them before they have a chance to get out of hand. :-).

I also brought a wide variety of finished objects, along with all my Interweave Knits magazines, and a few books so they could see what was out there, and then I told them that everything they see is accomplished by manipulating the two stitches that they have already learned. I saw some eyes brighten at that, and that was rewarding.

I am still working on the socks, although they remain barely more than cuffs. After knitting a bit in the garter rib pattern, I decided that coupled with the color of yarn I was using, it looked too masculine. So I ripped it out and am continuing in the 2×2 rib of the cuffs.

I told you they don’t match.

Also, I’m thinking about getting a negative scanner. Any thoughts?