WANT TO LEARN TO KNIT BUT DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?

If you want to take up a new hobby, knitting is a great choice.

Long gone are the days when knitting was associated with grandmas, itchy sweaters, and awkward handmade gifts. Nowadays, knitting is a trendy hobby with lots of benefits. It’s creative and meditative, it helps reduce stress and anxiety. Knitting fulfills.

If you know how to knit, you are able to create one-of-a-kind items with your own two hands, using the yarn and the pattern you have chosen yourself.

For beginners, knitting may seem confusing and difficult at first, but don’t worry – everyone can learn to knit. With a little patience, practice, and commitment, you will be knitting in no time.

I have prepared a guide with useful information for new knitters, so keep reading to find out, where to begin if you want to learn to knit!

Let’s dive in!

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GET YOUR KNITTING SUPPLIES

To start knitting, you don’t need a lot of fancy supplies, you just need a ball of yarn and a pair of needles.

Yarn

Check your local yarn store or craft store. It is very easy to get overwhelmed by too many yarn choices, so I suggest you focus on the following:

Fiber – You want to look for acrylic or acrylic blend (acrylic is not too expensive, and it is easy to work with – it slides nicely and is pretty easy to unravel). Don’t go for the expensive yarn when you are just starting out, skip mohair (that’s the very thin and fluffy yarn), linen or cotton (these are stiff and would be hard to work with for a beginner).

Weight – Yarn comes in different weights, in other words, thicknesses. Thinner yarns are used to knit doilies, lace shawls, light socks, and other delicate things, thicker yarns are for hats, sweaters, blankets, etc. As a beginner, you should look for a medium-weight yarn. It is also called worsted weight or marked with #4. You can find the weight stated on the label.

Color – Choose a nice light color because you want to see the stitches clearly, dark colors tend to hide them.

Knitting Needles

There are many different kinds of needles. They can be straight or circular, they come in different sizes and materials. The size of the needles depends on the chosen yarn – take a look at the yarn label again and you will find the recommended needle size. For the medium-weight yarn, it is usually 7 (4.5mm) to 9 (5.5mm).

As I mentioned previously, needles are made of different materials, such as metal, wood, plastic. Which to choose is a matter of personal preference, however, keep in mind, that metal ones can be a little too slippery for beginners and wooden ones are quite pricey.

A pair of straight plastic needles is a good beginner choice.

You can also order your supplies from an online store.

WEBSITES THAT SELL YARN:

• LoveCrafts.com
• LionBrand.com
• WoolWarehouse.co.uk

HOW TO LEARN TO KNIT

When you have your supplies ready, you want to figure out how you’re actually going to learn.

One way is to learn knitting in-person. You will need to find a tutor for that – ask your family member, friend or relative to teach you the basics. You can check your local yarn store for knitting classes or join a knitting group in the neighborhood.

You can also sign up for an online knitting class. The good thing about classes and courses is that information is structured and organized for you.

WEBSITES THAT PROVIDE ONLINE KNITTING CLASSES:

• Craftsy.com
• Blueprint.com
• Udemy.com

Another way is to become your own tutor. This can be a little harder because you will need to look for the information on your own and make your own learning plan (and stick to it!).

What to look for?

Definitely THE BASICS. You need to learn the very basic techniques first: how to cast on stitches, how to do a knit stitch, how to do a purl stitch, how to bind off. Later you can learn how to make yarn overs, how to increase and decrease stitches. Then move on to the basic patterns: The Stockinette Stitch, The Garter Stitch, The Seed Stitch.

As soon as you will learn the knit stitch, you will be tempted to knit a scarf or a hat but hold on! When you are still very new to knitting it is better to stick with plain squares. You need to get comfortable with the process and allow yourself to make mistakes, otherwise, you will feel pressured to knit every stitch perfectly and may want to quit the whole thing.

When you will be confident enough, you can try your hand at more complex patterns.

Where to look?

There are plenty of online resources to guide you, some are paid and some are free.

CRAFT WEBSITES WITH BASIC KNITTING TUTORIALS:

• Craft Yarn Council
• The Spruce Crafts
• Knit Picks

Yarn manufacturers often have the basic stitches and patterns covered on their websites. You can also read their blogs for more useful information and follow them on social media for inspiration.

YARN MANUFACTURER WEBSITES WITH BASIC KNITTING TUTORIALS:

• Lion Brand
• We Are Knitters
• Wool And The Gand
• Yarnspirations
• DROPS Design

Don’t forget to browse YouTube for free knitting tutorials and how-to’s. For many people, it is easier to understand visual instructions, than to figure out the written ones. YouTube videos are very helpful when you want to learn a specific thing or have a question.

Another useful resource is a good knitting book, that you can refer to. If you prefer learning from a book, here are some good beginner-friendly choices:

Stitch ‘n Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook
by Debbie Stoller

From the tools of the trade to the knitty-gritty of techniques and patterns, all with easy-to-follow step-by-step illustrated techniques.
Stockinette stitch, rib stitch, seed stitch. Increasing and decreasing. All the bells and whistles: fringes, tassels, cables, intarsia, crab stitch, and Fair Isle.

First Time Knitting: The Absolute Beginner’s Guide
by Carri Hammett

Learning how to knit has never been simpler! Enjoy this beginner’s guide that takes you by the hand like a personal instructor and teaches you how to knit. Filled with detailed descriptions of materials and tools, the easy step-by-step instructions for all the basic knitting techniques will have you creating projects like scarves, hats, and blankets in no time.

Knitty Gritty: Knitting for the Absolute Beginner
by Aneeta Patel

There’s a new generation of knitters out there, turning the traditional image of granny-knitters on its head. Everyone has heard the mantra ‘Knitting is the new yoga’ but not everyone is lucky enough to have someone to show them the ropes and get them started on their very first row. Unless they have a friend or relative to teach them how to start, often would-be knitters turn to the so-called ‘beginners patterns’ but these can be confusing, difficult to follow, and more often than not written in ‘knit’ rather than English.

Knitting for Beginners
by Mary Nabors

This book will teach you one of the most popular methods of making clothing – KNITTING. One of the most interesting facts about knitting is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get started. With this book and a few tools, you are good to go.

Knitting (Idiot’s Guides)
by Megan Goodacre

Knitting is one of the most popular crafts among people all ages, but if you’ve never picked up a set of needles before, it’s hard to know where to begin. Geared toward the absolute beginner, Idiot’s Guides: Knitting teaches the basics of knitting in a series of lessons using full-color, step-by-step photo-rich instructions that enable you to clearly see how each stitch, finger movement, and yarn movement is executed. Lessons are accompanied by practice projects, allowing you to try out your newly learned skill.

Keep in mind, that there are 2 main knitting styles – English and Continental!

There is no right or wrong way to knit, the main difference between the two styles is the way the yarn is held. When you are just starting out don’t be confused by that. Some people prefer the English style, some – Continental. Choose the one, that feels more comfortable and stick with it for a while. You can always learn the other one later!

HOW TO COMMIT TO LEARNING TO KNIT

New things can be intimidating but please don’t get discouraged when you’re just starting out. The stitches won’t be perfect at first, the yarn will probably tangle and knitting instructions will seem confusing but remember – you are learning, so give yourself time to learn. 

Set some time aside to practice two or three times a week. Pretty soon you’ll be able to knit and watch TV at the same time.

Stay inspired. Create a free account on Ravelry (it’s a huge knitting social network with forums, yarn database, patterns), follow knitters on Pinterest and social networks, read knitting blogs (like yours truly ) and knitting magazines.

Trust me, knitting will seem fun and easy once you get the hang of it. This is just the beginning of your knitting journey!

I hope you found this how to learn to knit article useful,

Mirella.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links and I may make a small commission on items purchased through links in this post at no extra cost to you. You can find out more in my Disclaimer.

HELPFUL DIY KNITTING HACKS TO SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY

There are sooo many different knitting tools and accessories, that make a knitter’s life easier and the process itself more delightful. Not only they are useful, but they are also beautiful – all those hand-made stitch markers, elegant knitting needles, exquisite yarn bowls… The list can go on and on!

Unfortunately, we don’t always have them at close hand – things get lost, break, or are just not suited for our budget. That’s when creativity, DIY, and hacks can help out.

Below I have listed 6 knitting tips and tricks, that I personally use and find very useful.

Enjoy!

You might also be interested in:

• How to start knitting?
• What is a gauge swatch and why it is important

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#1 Stitch markers

Stitch markers are very handy, especially if you are working in the round or in a complicated stitch pattern, they save you the trouble of constantly checking your stitches.

Whether you don’t want to spend any extra money on the markers or you have run out of them (they tend to disappear one by one, just like hairpins) you can replace them with your DIY yarn markers, that are super easy to make.

Just take some leftover yarn, cut 10-15cm | 4-6 inches (this really depends on how long you want your markers to be), fold the yarn in half and make a loop to hang on your needle. Ta-da, you have just made a stitch marker! You can make as many markers as you need at any time of the day or night. They are free (except the cost of the leftover yarn, but I’m personally glad, I can make at least some use of it). Besides, if you take a different yarn color, you can make a color-coding system with your markers.

You can also replace stitch markers with paper clips, but be careful with them – they can catch the yarn.

#2 Needle caps

Needle caps are there to protect the stitches from slipping off the needles when you aren’t knitting. They are also a safety net when you are casting on stitches on the circular needles or double-pointed needles. I must say, I  have never owned them… If you have rubber bands in the house you can get by.

So the idea here is very simple – take one rubber band and wrap it around your needle. It will secure the stitches and keep them in place. It’s better to take the small elastics, the big ones make to many unnecessary loops on the needle.

#3 Yarn bowl

Yarn bowl keeps your yarn in place, so it doesn’t roll around and occasionally get onto the floor, under the table, etc… You get the idea. Furthermore, your yarn stays clean and untangled, and the whole knitting process is more smooth and comfortable as well. These bowls are beautiful and often have original designs but they are pricy, so before you invest in it, you can make something similar. Not as good looking, but if you aren’t sure you need one, first, try the DIY version to make up your mind. All you need is a bowl, that you aren’t using and a binder clip. Yarn goes into the bowl and the clip guides the thread. You can downgrade and ditch the clip if you don’t have one.

#4 Too long or too short tail

Estimating how much yarn you need for your cast on can be tricky, particularly if you have a lot of stitches to cast on. The tail tends to be either to short and there is not enough yarn or too long and you have to cut it off and let the yarn go to waste. Usually, you unravel and start again. And again… There is a good way to measure how much yarn you’ll need before you start your cast on. Take the tail of your yarn and wrap it around your needle 10 times – that’s how much yarn you will need for 10 stitches. So one wrap is about one stitch. If you need 20 stitches – wrap the yarn around the needle 20 times. If you need to cast on a significant amount of stitches, then it is better to measure how much yarn you need for say 10 stitches (or 20, 30…), secure that place with your fingers, unravel and double the length – that’s where you should start casting for 20 stitches, triple the length – that’s for 30 stitches, etc. Add about an extra 10 cm (4 inches) for the tail and start casting!

#5 Determining needle size

Unfortunately, not all needles are marked with their size. That’s when the gauge ruler comes to the rescue – you take your mystery needle and try to find the matching hole with the corresponding number (this really reminds me of those “match the shape” toys for toddlers). If you don’t have the ruler at hand you can try this trick. Take a little piece of paper, an ordinary ruler and your needle. Carefully poke a hole through the paper (please, don’t poke your finger) and measure the hole’s diameter. The number you get is the size of the needle in millimeters! If you are used to US/ UK/ Canadian sizes, you can use a metric conversion chart to determine the size. You can use this one found at the Craft Yarn Council’s homepage.

#6 Loose cast on

If you are a tight knitter or you need a loose cast on so the ribbing is more elastic, then you can cast on over two needles. That way your edge will be stretchier and it will still look neat. If you’ll just cast on very loosely over one needle, then it can look messy, because the space between the stitches is likely to be uneven since you don’t tighten them. Just do the usual cast on and when you’re done take out the second needle. I use this hack when I cast on for socks or a hat so the edge is accurate and the first row of the ribbing isn’t too tight.

I hope these tips were helpful and will make your knitting life a little easier!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links and I may make a small commission on items purchased through links in this post at no extra cost to you. You can find out more in my Disclaimer.

HOW TO CHOOSE YARN FOR SOCKS?

Yarn plays a very important role in any knitting project. It affects both the knitting process and the finished result.

Will your new socks fit? Will the size be right? Will you be satisfied with the pair you have spent hours knitting? The answers to these questions highly depend on your chosen yarn and it’s content.

When I just started knitting, I didn’t pay much attention to the fiber the yarn is made from. I just choose the one that looked nice. Not the best criteria, right? So poor yarn choice led to obvious results – disappointment.

For example, I knitted a pair of wool socks that ended up in the trash in 2 just weeks – they tore, and I couldn’t understand why. When I did some research I understood, that pure wool is not the best option for socks. Since then I’ve started to pay more attention to fiber.

I’m no yarn expert, but I’ve learned some useful things, that I would like to share with you.

RELATED POSTS:

• Elevation yoga socks | Free knitting pattern
• Knitting tutorial: how to knit basic socks
• Lavender Lane socks | Knitting pattern
• Sunset Safari socks | Knitting pattern
• What is a gauge swatch and why it is important

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We want our socks to be pretty and cozy, but we need to remember that, first of all, they need to be durable and stretch well. Sadly, not every yarn that looks soft and warm will serve our purpose. We need to look at the content of yarn to determine whether the fiber suits us or not.

Delicate fibers

Luxurious fibers, such as cashmere or silk may be amazing, beautiful, and what not (definitely expensive), but you don’t knit your socks from 100% delicate fiber yarn. Simply because the finished item will not serve long.

These socks will never survive daily usage and are not worth all the hard work. Delicate fibers can be used in yarn blends in small amounts, but not on their own. You can either buy a blend or make it yourself by adding nylon or acrylic fibers for durability.

If you really want to pamper your feet with cashmere, then you can knit socks to sleep in. This way they won’t be exposed to friction that much and you will be super comfortable falling asleep on the colder nights.

Linen, cotton, bamboo

Same as with delicate fibers, it is not recommended to knit from pure linen, cotton, or bamboo. Although they are natural and breathable, they are not as elastic as we need.

These socks will lose their shape quite fast– they will not hug your foot and will tend to droop. The ribbing will also be less stretchy than you’d like. Yarn blend is the best option, if you want to knit summer socks – cotton and nylon would be a great combination.

Synthetic fibers

When it comes to durability nylon and acrylic fibers are way more durable than the natural ones. That’s why you will see them in many yarn blends – they ensure your socks won’t get holes too quickly, but… these fibers aren’t natural. Pure synthetics will not provide warmth and can make your feet sweat.

Wool

This is the most widely used fiber for knitting socks. It is natural, has the best bounce and memory, keeps your feet warm, absorbs moisture. Amazing right?

Unfortunately, there are also downsides – pure wool isn’t that durable (remember my two-weeks-old socks?), can feel scratchy and some people are allergic to it. Once again – blends are a great option.

A wool and nylon blend is a very good choice for classic socks. Many knitters who are fond of pure wool add a nylon string when knitting the heel for durability.

Sock yarn

Yep, you can find yarn balls that are labeled … sock yarn.

This yarn is not made from one specific fiber but is a special blend developed for socks. Isn’t it great? A pre-made blend of different fibers to give you the best results.

Usually, it is a mix of wool and synthetics that results in warm, elastic, and durable yarn. It is common to add more fibers to the blend. Common additions are angora, alpaca, or something similar to make the yarn more delicate or warm, because in the end – it all goes down to personal preferences.

Another nice thing about sock yarn – you will likely see the word “superwash” on the label. It means you can wash your socks in a washing machine. Technically speaking wool in the yarn was processed in a special way and will not felt!

Let’s sum up this little fiber talk:
– Sock yarn is a safe choice for durable and elastic socks;
– Wool is the most popular sock fiber but should be used in a blend with a more durable fiber;
– Delicate fibers are great in small amounts in blends and they make great bed socks;
– Cotton is good for summer but still better to choose a blend.

I hope you found this post on how to choose the right yarn for socks useful! Be sure to check out my sock knitting patterns.

Thank you for stopping by,
Mirella.