Top Tips for New Knitters
New Knitter Tips
Introduction
The knitting world can seem like a scary place, with all its terminology and gadgets. But it doesn't have to be! If you're just starting out, here's a list of tips that will help you get started now:
Start at the beginning!
The first step to learning knitting is the cast-on. It's the first thing you will do before beginning any project, and it can be a little tricky at first. Fortunately, there are a lot of online tutorials that teach you how to cast on. Once you have mastered it, casting on will become second nature and easy!
Cast On
Just as it sounds, this is how we start off our work by creating loops for our stitches to go into when we begin knitting or crocheting. In order to create this loop (or line), we need something called a "stitch marker", which acts like your guide while making your stitches.*
There are two different methods used for casting on: long tail or thumb method.*
The basic technique of both methods involves making loops with your yarn until there are enough loops for all of the stitches needed in your pattern.* * The difference lies in how many loops make up one stitch: do you want more than one loop per stitch? Or do you just want one loop for each stitch?
Find projects that are simple.
The trick to learning how to knit is finding a project that is simple and forgiving, so you can focus on the technique. It's like learning how to drive: if you're practicing parallel parking when there are other cars around that could run into your car while you're trying not to hit the curb, it's going to be stressful and frustrating. Likewise, if your first project involves knitting lace or something else that requires lots of attention and careful counting, it might end up being too much for new knitters who are just getting their feet wet (pun intended).
Pick yarns you love.
When you're picking yarn, keep these things in mind:
Pick yarns that you like the feel of. You'll be spending a lot of time with this yarn and its texture matters!
Choose appropriate yarns for the project. If you're making socks, maybe don't use lace-weight cotton—it's not going to make good socks (unless they're just decorative).
Pick easy-to-work-with fibers. Silk or alpaca are great for projects where you want warmth but won't need much stretch; wool blends are nice when you want more give than pure wool. Cotton will be most useful for summery garments like tank tops that you might wear untucked over pants or skirts—just make sure it's machine washable so it stays fresh!
If there are other considerations (like cost), think about those too. But don't let budget get in the way of what feels good on your needles!
Knit in the round as a beginner (the knit stitch only!)
Knitting in the round is a great way to learn. The simplicity of the knit stitch alone means that you can practice it over and over again, with no need for purling (unless you want to). It also means that it takes less time than flat knitting. Try making something small like a hat or scarf using circular needles so you don't have to seam the edges! Then mix up your materials and see what happens: use different types of yarns, patterns and stitches until you find something you like!
Choose the right needles, depending on your project.
Needles come in a variety of sizes and materials, but for beginners, steel needles are the way to go. They're durable and long-lasting, and they'll take you through many knitting projects before they need to be replaced.
If you're more advanced or working on a very large piece (like a blanket), try using bamboo or wood needles instead. These materials are lighter than steel, which makes them easier to maneuver when your hands start to hurt from holding onto something so heavy for so long!
Needles come in sets—usually five pairs per set—but if you shop online, you can buy individual ones too! It's best to get whatever needle size is recommended by the pattern you're following; otherwise, your stitches may not fit together properly when it comes time for seaming them into place at the end of your project.
Have fun with it!
When you're learning something new, it's easy to get overwhelmed and discouraged by the sheer number of steps involved. You might find yourself thinking "There's no way I can do this!" or "I'm going to mess up." So many things have to go right before your project comes together—the yarn has to be tensioned correctly, the pattern has to be read clearly, all the stitches have to be picked up evenly and without holes in between them—that it seems nearly impossible for anyone who hasn't done it before.
But don't let this overwhelm you! The more you practice knitting techniques and basic skills like casting on and binding off, the more familiar they'll become. Before long, you'll be able to focus on actually enjoying what you're doing instead of worrying about getting everything just right.
If at any point during your knitting journey something feels difficult or confusing (and remember: everyone starts somewhere!), ask questions until everything clicks into place for you. If someone tells me they're having trouble with a pattern/technique/skill that I've already mastered myself, here are my suggestions:
Ask someone who knows how! There are plenty of resources available online through sites like Ravelry or YouTube tutorials from expert craftspeople (like me!). You may also find that asking friends or family members who knit could yield helpful advice as well; many people love sharing what they've learned over time with others who are interested in learning too!
Don't get discouraged.
Take a deep breath and remember that everyone makes mistakes. It's normal to make a mistake on your first project, or even over and over again. We're all human, and we all can't help but mess up sometimes. If you happen to make a mistake, don't worry about it too much; just try again! The more you practice the stitches you need more comfortable with, the better you'll get at them.
Figure out what kind of knitter you are.
The first step to being a better knitter is figuring out what kind of knitter you are. Do you love knitting hats and mittens, or do you prefer sweaters and scarves? Are you a speed knitter or a slow knitter? Are mistakes ok with you, or are perfectionism your thing?
Once you've got that sorted out, it's time to put the knowledge gained from this article into action!
Give your work away.
Give your work away.
There are so many ways you can give your knitting away!
Give it to friends, family and neighbors. Secretly, I love the idea of someone getting a scarf or hat from me and then being able to see me in it at some point in the future.
Donate it to charity if you aren't going to use it yourself (donate hats for cancer patients, knit toys for kids who've been through trauma—there are lots of options). This is also a great way to get rid of those small projects that you've already completed but don't feel like keeping around but don't want anyone else looking at either: donate those tiny mittens or booties!
Local yarn stores usually have annual charity knitting projects that might be looking for donated items (like hats). Some also sell unsold items every year as part of their "Stuffing Our Stockings" sale around Christmas time... this is another good way to use up some extra yarn without taking up space in your house!
Try new things out of your comfort zone.
Try new things out of your comfort zone.
Try different stitches and techniques.
Knit with different types of yarns.
Knit with different sizes of needles or looms, etc.
Use a hook that's smaller or larger than what the pattern calls for!
Remember to have fun!
You've got to learn to enjoy the process. Don't get me wrong, it's important to have a goal in mind for your knitting project, but sometimes we can get so focused on that end result that we forget about all of the steps along the way.
For example: when I first started learning how to knit, my mom taught me using one of those little kits where all you do is put your fingers through some holes in cardboard and make loops with yarn. It's pretty basic stuff! But it was still so much fun for me because she was there with me every step of the way and even helped me pick out some fancy yarn at our local craft store afterwards.
She kept saying things like "I'm so proud of you!" or "You're doing great!" which might seem kind of silly since I wasn't doing anything complicated yet (just pulling strings). But it made me feel good—and also motivated me!
So don't forget: don't let yourself get caught up in being too serious about this whole thing. Stay positive, keep practicing what you know now until you're ready for something new...and most importantly...enjoy yourself along the way!
A mistake is an opportunity for creativity.
Mistakes are a part of the process. Don’t worry about them; embrace them as an opportunity to try something new and be creative!
When I was learning how to knit, I made a lot of mistakes. I dropped stitches, twisted my needles around and dropped them on the floor (and then had to pick them up with my mouth), got confused about where I should start casting on for a new row—the list goes on. None of these mistakes were bad or embarrassing; they just helped me learn how things work!
Once you have become more confident in your skills as a knitter, it can be intimidating when you make a mistake because people might think less of your abilities or call into question whether or not they want their project made by someone who has such poor attention to detail. However, instead of focusing on making fewer mistakes now (which isn’t realistic) consider why they happened in the first place and what could have been done differently so that next time around doesn’t end up being nearly as frustrating!
Learn a few basic stitches.
Learn a few basic stitches.
You don’t need to learn every stitch, just a few of the most common ones.
These are:
Knit stitch (k)
Purl stitch (p)
Yarn over (yo) - this is the loop you make by wrapping the yarn around your needle twice and pulling it through. It makes it easier to increase and decrease stitches later on in your project.
Get some needles and yarn, stat!
First things first, you're going to need a needle. Check the label of your chosen yarn to find out which size needle it recommends for gauge (the number of stitches and rows per inch). There are several different types of needles available, including bamboo, metal and plastic. Let's talk about each one briefly:
Bamboo is a good choice for beginners because it’s light and flexible, making it easy to control when you knit. It also doesn't tend to split as easily as some other varieties of wood; however, bamboo can sometimes splinter if you're not careful when using sharp objects like crochet hooks or bunches-of-needles (also called “knitting pins”). If you're using a lot of different sizes of bamboos in your project then this may not be an issue; however if you only need one or two sizes then we suggest sticking with something else (like metal or plastic). Metal needles come in both wooden handles and plastic ones; either kind will work fine but they tend not last quite as long as bamboo since they are more rigid than wood so it's harder on both sides - especially when used by beginners who don't yet know how much pressure they should apply while knitting! Plastic needles are often cheaper than either type above but this isn't always true since many manufacturers sell them at higher prices simply because they look nicer than most plastics do...
You're not alone — there's a whole community of knitters on the internet ready to help you out or just listen to you complain about how long it takes to finish a sweater (it'll be worth it in the end, I promise).
If you're feeling frustrated, anxious or overwhelmed, there is a whole community of knitters online ready to help.
There are lots of online knitting communities where you can talk about your knitting problems and share pictures of your latest project. You can also find help from other knitters in person at local yarn shops — this is a great place to get advice about the best fibers for your next sweater or how to fix mistakes in your current project.
If you'd rather learn by reading books than interacting with other people, there's a wealth of information available at libraries and bookstores as well. Knitting magazines contain patterns that will teach you new techniques while providing someone else's perspective on which tools work best for certain projects (and why).
If neither of these options sound like they would fit into your lifestyle right now but could be something worth investigating later down the line, consider contacting local knitting teachers who offer lessons on everything from basic stitches all the way up through complex lace patterns and colorwork techniques.
Use these tips to learn how to knit!
We’ve all been there. You want to learn how to knit, but you don’t know where or how to start. Your best bet is a local knitting group! These groups are usually free and will give you the opportunity to meet other knitters and get feedback on your technique. Many of these groups also host workshops that teach different techniques and tricks so that you can get started right away.
If you don’t have access to a local knitting group, here are some great online communities where people share their knowledge: Ravelry (free), , YouTube videos, Pinterest boards and blogs by experienced knitters who make patterns available for free or purchase through Etsy shops
Of course our super friendly facebook group!
Conclusion
It's not as hard as it looks, but it can take some time to get used to. The best thing you can do is just get started! Once you have the basics down, there are plenty of great patterns out there for any level knitter. And if all else fails, just look up some tutorials on YouTube. Here are some channels I recommend.
Twice Sheared sheep for Knitting
Little Monkey Designs with Angela Pluckett
Crafty Housewife Yarns YouTube
