Wonderful knitting experience

Hi

Today was a good day for me knitting wise.

DH took me to Michael's so that I could look at the yarn as I'm looking for baby green worsted weight yarn. (hard to find here in Toronto)

While I was looking a heard an employee tell a customer that the only way to hold your yarn was in your left hand if you knit right handed. After standing off for a few minutes and listening to her I had to interrupt. I know that there are two different ways to hold yarn if you knit right handed, one in the left hand and the other in the right hand (like I do). I walked over and said I hold my yarn in my right hand and was immediately told I didn't know how to knit then.

I explained to the sales person that depending on how you were taught to knit you would hold your yarn different. I quickly showed her how my MIL knits (she is German and taught the europeon way, holding yarn in left hand) and then I showed her how I knit (being taught the british way, holding yarn in right hand). The sales person quickly left the customer to me so that I could help her with the problem she was having.

I walked away after helping the customer feeling really good but frustrated that the sales person believed that their was only one way to knit and it was her way. Hopefully I will be able to help this lady again if she needs any help.

Even with my hand problem it left good being able to help someone else.

Take care Darlene in Toronto

Well, I, for one, am really glad that you were there. Just imagine if you hadn't been - how would that other customer have felt?? Good for you, standing up for what it right!

Higs, Katherine

Darlene ,, so good you were there ,, and what a `strange` reaction the sales lady had ,,,, Knowing that there are other methods always pleased me and chalenged my curiousity ,,,,maybe you could give the sales lady a [paid] lesson .. mirjam

Hi Darlene:

This aptitude that the sales person showed is exactly the reason I no longer shop in my local Michaels. Not only do they have the know it all aptitude--but they will tell your wrong even if they know your right. Than walk off in a huff.

Heaven for bid if you ask them to check in the over head to see if they have more of the same dye lot of a yarn. How could you be so rude as to ask for help.

I did one return there. Made the mistake of writing a check. 8 days after the check was written, 5 days after it had cleared my bank. Was told the Company policy was that I could only do an exchange or get store credit. Unless of course I wanted to come back in two days. Than I could have my money back. Well I went back in two days--and have never stepped in another one of their stores since than. And will never give that company another penny of my money.

Nasty sale people, bad customer service and rude cashiers----Joann's is just down the street, Hancock's is just up the road and of course there's the internet. I don't need to be treated rudely and be expected to support their family.

Dorsey In VA

This individual is probably the sister of the one in my town in Italy who rudely told me that F hooks "don't exist". When I politely told her that they DO exist because I have got one from the USA she told me "go to the USA then!".

I didn't go to America but she hasn't seen me since then.

Hugs,

Anna Maria

OCCCCHHHH Anna - Maria i have the same problem here in many shops, only my friendly neighbourhood shop tells me the truth ,, that the Importer doesn`t order it,, all others say : without a blush of shame ,, " Nobody ever manufactured such a needle !!!! " if they don`t have it in store ,.,,,, it makes me MAD ,,, mirjam

Dear Mirjam, we really can understand each other... Another one from my town... There's a nice shop in my town where I buy buttons and other stuff, but around past Christmas it was closed for "family reasons" (I didn't sort out which ones, hopefully nothing serious), so I went to another one I had never tried before. I asked for a 8 cm large ribbon and she told me: it doesn't exist, max 7 cm. Me:- Ok, it's for a baby blanket. Which colours do you have? She: - The choice is not wide, white, blue or black.. Me: - Well, it's for a baby blanket, I would exclude the black one... She (shrugging): - I don't care, the blanket is yours...

I really really don't understand how such people can last in business. Ok, I am a once in life client, but I have may many professional taylors friends in my town ;-)

Hugs,

Anna Maria

Hi Anna Maria,

That's terrible to tell you the ribbon doesn't come wider when you know and it does and the crochet hook is funny. Don't they think people know what size they need to use.

I very seldom go to Michaels either as where I go the clerks aren't helpful when it comes to yarns. Now, AC Moore is a great place as they know what they are talking about.

Darlene, good for you for telling the sales person that there are other ways to hold the yarn. Maybe she learned a lesson herself yesterday.

Hugs,

Nora

Maybe you should teach knitting? I am somewhat turned off by our local instructors, But, I would take lessons from someone that understood the craft of knitting. I think that many of the finer points of knitting are not in books. The only way to lean them is from a really good and experienced teacher.

I really think that there are distinct advantages to the different styles of knitting. The continental seems to be faster, particularly knitting soft bulky fabrics. I think the English method give better tension control. And, I am comming to believe that the English method with a knitting stick puts less stress on the hands and wrists when knitting at high tension. Although I am still very much in experimentation on this last point.

Why do I have to reinvent the wheel? Why can't I find local knitting instructors that know all this stuff? Those who can -- do. Those who can't -- teach.

ANNA Maria, I had to laugh aloud ,,, We could not write up this Stories if we wanted ,,,, Where do this people come from ???? Don`t they care about Business ??? I am alergic to man made threads , thus preffer pure wool , I go and ask if they have it , they say yes and give 100 Acrilyc ,,,, arcghvhjjmjklm [you know what that means ,,,,,, ] mirjam

I could go on for pages writing stories about rude shopkeepers in my hometown. It's so absurd that the best remedy is a good laugh :-D

Hugs,

Anna Maria

Hi

I would love to teach knitting and crocheting as I do enjoy helping others. The fun thing is I am an instructor professional so I guess that is part of why I stood up and said what I did yesterday.

I have been thinking about designing a knitting and crocheting course and offer it at the community centre near where I love. Now I just need the time and energy to actually work on the course and then approach the centre to see if I could do it.

I knit actually the english method and hold the right needle under my arm.

Take care Darlene in Toronto

Just like you Anna -Maria , i laugh about it , because it is such a strange behaviour,,,, getting angry just ruins my day. Just like those people who reamrk unkindly about my knitting ,,, Of course we can and should enjoy those who Compliment us !!!! Yesterday in the dentist waiting room i knitted and a young woman set watching me with admiration , telling me she didn`t know how to do this `Complicated technique`, i told her it is easily learned. She told me her Grandma knitted , her mother didn`t. Yes there is a whole generational gap!!!! She asked me if it was worth my while economicly as well as Aestheticly,,,,she admired the look , uniqueness and softness ,,,, i said to her to calculate my time in the waiting room versus her time , as economic value ,,,, hahahahhah that got her ,,, mirjam

Darlene , my friend Haya Mayerowitz in Jerusalem , did just that , and she has a lovely group going ,, You Do it Darlene ,,, there is great satisifaction in doing it , mirjam