What I Wish I Knew Before I Started Knitting: A Beginner’s Guide from a Fellow Yarn Addict
This post started as a letter to one of my good friends who wanted to learn how to knit. As I started writing out all the random things I wish someone had told me when I was starting out, I realized—why not share it with everyone? If you’re new to knitting (or still figuring it out), I hope this helps you avoid some of the early pitfalls and enjoy the process more.
How Most People Learn to Knit (and Why That’s Okay)
Most of us learn knitting the same way: watching someone else do it and mimicking their movements, then launching into a never-ending first project—usually a scarf. Mine was a ridiculously long, bright blue stockinette scarf that rolled up like a cinnamon stick (because I didn’t know blocking existed). It looked like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. I eventually taught myself to knit in the round, but my first sweater? A full-on disaster. I knit the whole thing on giant long straight needles like some sort of a cartoon charter and then I used the cheapest ( not very exciting yarn) all in one color from my local yarn store sadly it was dk weight so it took forever. It also had to be totally sewn together at the end which is how the sleeves got put on upside down making it the bat wing sweater. From that one project I can already come up with a whole list of things that I wish someone had told me.
The Batwing Sweater Saga: A Cautionary Tale and some thoughts on what type of knitting needles are best for beginners
I knit my first sweater using giant straight needles like a cartoon character, with a single DK weight yarn that took forever to finish. The sleeves ended up sewn on upside down. It was the infamous “batwing sweater”—and from that project alone, I can now rattle off a dozen things I wish someone had told me:
1. Use Interchangeable Circular Needles
If you're still using long straight needles, hear me out: interchangeable circulars will change your life. They knit just like straights, but the weight of the project sits on the cord, not your wrists. No more aching hands. No more stitches popping off the ends. Invest in a good set now and thank me later.
2. Know Where to Get the Best Yarn for Beginners
I’m a small business owner who sells handspun yarn, but I’m not afraid to tell you the truth: Knit Picks is unbeatable for affordable, high-quality commercial yarn. They source directly from fiber mills and cut out the middleman, which means you get better yarn for less. Their prices are so good it’s hard to justify shopping at big-box craft stores.
That said, my favorite projects mix handspun and commercial yarn. Try using something special—like neon or textured handspun—as a trim or feature, and pair it with affordable solids or tweeds from Knit Picks. One of my favorite sweaters cost about $30 in commercial yarn and looked like something out of a boutique.
Pro tip: their wood needles are amazing, especially if you’re a loose knitter like me.
3. Choose the Right Needles for Your Style
Needles matter more than you think. If you knit tightly, try metal tips to help the yarn glide. If you knit loosely (like I do), wood needles give you better control. If you’re a tight knitter metal needles will be easier. Test a few styles before you invest in a full set.
4. Start with the Right Yarn , best yarn for new knitters.
Avoid using cheap acrylic when you’re first learning. It’s slippery, doesn’t stretch well, and can be frustrating to work with. Go for wool or a wool blend instead. Same for cotton, silk, or linen—these can be beautiful, but they lack the stretch and forgiveness that beginners benefit from.
Also: don’t knit your first “real” project with anything smaller than worsted weight. Fingering or DK yarns take forever and can kill your motivation. If you want fun without fuss, pick a variegated yarn—it changes color for you, which adds interest without extra effort.
5. Get on Ravelry for patterns and groups
I didn’t even know Ravelry existed until a friend (thanks, Jamie!) introduced me to it. Now I tell every knitter: Ravelry can be super helpful.. It’s like social media for yarn people. You can:
Search patterns by yarn weight or yardage
Connect with other fiber lovers
Find local knitting groups
Track your projects and stash
If your family doesn’t “get” your yarn obsession, Ravelry will make you feel seen.
6. Join a Local Knitting Group (Even If You're a Hermit)
I know—this one can feel intimidating. But hear me out: knitting groups are usually full of introverts pretending to be social. You don’t have to be a people-person to enjoy them. Just bring your project, sip something fun, and chat (or don’t). These groups are where I learned most of what I know today.
Not sure where to start? Search for local groups on Ravelry or Facebook. Even if the Ravelry page looks inactive, many groups are more active on Facebook. That’s how I found mine.
Final Thoughts: Make Mistakes. Make Stuff. Keep Going.
New Knitter Tips
Knitting has a learning curve—but it’s also deeply personal, creative, and worth sticking with. Your first scarf might roll. Your first sweater might go full batwing. But each mistake teaches you something. Each project makes you better. And eventually, you'll knit something you love—something that makes all the awkward beginnings feel like part of the story.
Please let me know if I left anything out
