Knitting for Beginners

lc07 · August 2014

So, in therapy I've been working on finding new hobbies that I can do at home in the evening that are relaxing yet still include physical sensation (that are not eating and drinking alcohol!). I think I'd really like to take up knitting. I've always wanted to learn to do it and this is a perfect time. Plus I love blankets.

Any suggestions for a beginner? I'm thinking of heading to Michael's or Jo Ann's to pick up some supplies later today. TIA!

littlemushroom · August 2014

I took a knitting class once and I loved it. It was something I could do while sitting in front of the tv at night. My problem was I would forget things when I would set it down for a few days. I would really love to learn how again though. Start with a super easy project first. Like a potholder or a scarf with no fancy edges.

May I also suggest cross stitch? They make small pieces up to really big ones that you can buy at Walmart and craft stores. The instructions out of the package were easier to pick up on my own than knitting (where having a live person show me what to do was really important). You still get the hands on part, and can start with one of the small projects (think Christmas ornament size). The best part is, cross stitch is something that I can stop doing for months or years on end, and easily pick it back up when the mood strikes.

Kahlyla · August 2014

I think it helps to be shown some of the first few steps in person, but if that's not possible, I highly suggest checking out this tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONVQCK_-rKc

And then following this lady, cause she's awesome:

https://www.youtube.com/user/verypinkknits

I suggest starting with wool yarn, and wooden needles - metal are too slippery and you'll likely keep losing your stitches off the needle in the beginning (although you'll probably love using them later), and plastic needles are just way too grippy, I find. You'll be fighting with sliding the work up on the needles constantly. Bamboo is perfect.

Start with something square/rectangular, but don't get too attached to the idea of making a scarf right off the bat; scarves are long, and you might find yourself bored with the stitch or pattern you've decided to use long before you're finished. You can make dishcloths (not out of wool, though - cotton!), coasters, trivets (yes out of wool for those!), or just swatches to try stuff out, and you'll be able to finish something without it being an endless grind.

Good luck and have fun!

mrsmagicgeek · August 2014

You might want to think about crochet, I've always found that to be easier. Might just be me though.

A book for beginners is always a good idea. I know there are tons of videos on YouTube and so forth, but I always seem to go back to my beginners books when I haven't done anything in awhile. When you choose a pattern, stick with things like a scarf, or an afghan... something that isn't shaped. (Stay away from socks, sweaters... they're pretty but they'll frustrate you!)

A simple beginner idea for crochet is something like pot holders. They use a smaller hook, and crochet cotton rather than yarn, but they're small, and you can find very simple patterns. You get a sense of accomplishment pretty quickly with those.

On the subject of hooks, the pattern will tell you what size you need, If you can buy, a hook set that includes that size and others. I've always found my stitches are small (my tension is high) so I need to use a larger hook than the pattern calls for in order for the size to come out right.

If you have more questions, post! I love doing things with my hands.

lc07 · August 2014

Yay you guys! This is super helpful.

Is making a blanket right off the bat too ambitious?

missdelilah · August 2014

I recently took up knitting. I took a Craftsy class run by Stephanie Japel called Knit Lab. I actually take a ton of classes on Craftsy. I love the videos; they've been much more helpful to me than books have. Actually, the first thing I knitted was a scarf with fancy edging. It's really simple. I don't have any good photos of it yet unfortunately, as I haven't gotten around to blocking it yet. Really enjoyed the classes, the interaction, and being able to go back and forth on the video front.

I second what @Kahlyla said about real wool (so much nicer than synthetic, and if you're worried about all the hand washing, buy wool that says "super wash" on it, which means it's machine safe) and wooden needles. Mine are coated bamboo, and I love them to bits!

I also love embroidery and needlepoint, for at home hobbies, but you usually need to go online for good patterns/kits. Which is to say, I've never found anything I've loved in a store around where I live, although I did pick up a really cute cross stitch in a Bangkok mall several years ago.

I quilt too, which I do not recommend to anyone, because it's one of the world's most bloody expensive hobbies aside from car restoration. Everyone I know has a ridiculous stash of fabric because you just fall in love and buy it, even though you don't know when/if you'll ever use it. You can do some fun stuff by hand. I love English paper piecing. I generally buy the hexie kits by Tula Pink, because I have such a fabric crush on her stuff.

Keep us updated on how you go. I'd love to see some pics! I'll take a look at how to do the blocking and share some of mine with you.

wandajune6 · August 2014

Knitting is more complicated than my fat fingers could manage. I know exactly 1 crochet stitch but I find it incredibly relaxing. I've made basic blankets for babies, scarves for family, etc. More importantly, the combination of crocheting and tv occupies my mind better than anything.

lc07 · August 2014

I really want to make a cable knit blanket. Am I crazy?

Also, is this an expensive hobby?

hellosweetie1015 · August 2014

Yeah... a blanket is a wee bit ambitious. HOWEVER: little swatches that you then make INTO a blanket would not be.

I would definitely try crochet and knitting, though. I cannot knit to save my life, but crochet came easily. My mom was the other way around.

Also try cross stitch, loom knitting, beading (earrings or on Aida fabric or whatever), or just going into the craft store and finding something new to craft. I love going in and grabbing a bunch of crap and seeing what I make of it. It gives me something to do with my hands and I actually do well with having something to do with my hands.

missdelilah · August 2014

lc07 said:

I really want to make a cable knit blanket. Am I crazy?

Also, is this an expensive hobby?

Knitting is way more affordable than other hobbies.

I've never tried cable knitting, but it's on the list. I don't think you're crazy. I've seen some great patterns for cable knit blankets. You can easily keep the cost down by buying cheaper yarn, or buying on sale. I like the hand dyed stuff, so it's a bit more expensive, but I think my two scarves cost me about $12 in yarn each. I don't count the set up cost of needles etc, as I'll use those again.

missdelilah · August 2014

Oh, I totally forgot to mention that scrappy blankets look great. You can start with some more simple projects, then save up your left overs for the blanket.

mrsmorales2be · August 2014

lc07 said:

Yay you guys! This is super helpful.

Is making a blanket right off the bat too ambitious?

I'm super excited for you that you're interested in knitting. Once you get the basics down, it's fun stretching your legs and seeing what all you can do. Always good to have someone experienced that you can trouble shoot things with, because sometimes what you THINK the pattern means isn't exactly what you need to do, and figuring those nuances out only comes with practice.

I would definitely not start a blanket anytime soon. They take ages and are very repetitive. I'm an experienced knitter and have to make myself plow through them, because I can't stand them after the first few days. I'd start with small projects first. I, for one, loved scarves as a new knitter, especially working patterns with cables and lace. Doing one all in stockinette or garter stitch would get old really quickly, though. Can't wait to see some of your projects unfold! Hope you share them with us!

kaitlynmichelle · August 2014

I taught myself to knit a year and a half ago. I highly recommend bamboo needles. Use coupons at Michaels to save on your new hobby! I started with 6.5 mm needles. Thicker ones are easier when you are starting out.

I would say try a scarf or something smaller than a blanket for your first project. Blankets can take a long time. I made a lot of mistakes at first so I made a couple of scarves. They helped me to pinpoint what I was doing wrong and fix my errors. I made holes a lot at first or lost/made new stitches so my first projects were weird looking.

I started with cheaper yarn when I was leaning, and moved up to higher quality materials once I knew what I was doing.

Cabling is easy once you get the hang of it. I wrote down where I am in a pattern so I don't get mixed up.

Here's the project I made for my wedding... lace shawl to wear with my dress in the evening. It took a lot of work to get to this level and I'm thrilled with it!

theartistformerlyknownas · August 2014

Cable knitting is hard. Get stockinette stitch mastered on some washcloths first (the Cream & Sugar yarn works well for this and is really cheap), and then work your way up to baby hats (use the patterns that come inside the yarn label for the self-striping baby yarns; you can donate them to local hospitals if you don't have babies to give them to!), and then to larger items. I like Knit Witch's YouTube tutorials.

kaitlynmichelle · August 2014

I second wash cloths! There are hundreds of free patterns online for all sorts of projects too.

levioosa · August 2014

lc07 said: I really want to make a cable knit blanket. Am I crazy?
Also, is this an expensive hobby?
I second crocheting (but I'm a little biased because knitting was frustrating for me). And probably you should start with a scarf. It's a little less daunting.

Knitting can be an expensive hobby, but it's directly proportional to the quality of yarn you purchase (not counting "time" as money here). You can buy a skein of yarn at walmart for like two bucks, but it's going to be walmart quality. My cousin spends a considerable amount of money buying good quality yarns. But it's a serious hobby for her and she's very good at it. There's some pretty good mid quality yarns that you can wear without itching, but Joann's/Walmart are the lower end of quality. Start there though. You can get all picky with it when you've mastered the basics.

Edit: Because TK hates paragraphs

Kahlyla · August 2014

I agree with the above posters - it's not that a blanket is too hard to do early on, but, even though it seems exciting at first, it will get old fast. You don't want your first project to be something that might turn you off of the craft! Also, you will make mistakes (there are some great YouTube tutorials for catching and fixing them!), and they'll be much easier to fix on something smaller. You can also try out different stitches and find the one (or more) that you REALLY want to make a blanket in!

This lady posts a new stitch every week: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1he-q7dTSmN5p0UyVmrMfQ. It's pretty awesome.

But, don't get me wrong, you can conceivably make a gorgeous blanket very soon. I'm still a beginner myself but just did a baby blanket for a friend, all in seed stitch. But I would have been annoyed with myself if I had done a whole blanket all in garter stitch with acrylic yarn just because that's what I had and thought would be easy (*coughmyfirstscarfcough*). A whole world opened up to me shortly after the very beginner stage.

Inkdancer · August 2014

I recommend starting with wash cloths. Then move to hats and scarves. I am currently working on mastering the basic sock, and I hate my life (or at least my fingers). It looks easy but that is only when you're experienced. I haven't even attempted cable knit yet!

mysticl · August 2014

lc07 said:

I really want to make a cable knit blanket. Am I crazy?

Also, is this an expensive hobby?

A friend of mine has a crochet habit hobby. You would not believe the amount of yarn she owns. She makes baby clothes and baby blankets and sells them to support her habit hobby. She also makes a lot gifts for people. She made my son a beautiful blanket when he was born.

JasperandOpal · August 2014

Wow there are so many knitters/crocheters on here! I knit and crochet too. I think, as others have said, a blanket would be a bit ambitious but you could do the patch blanket or a scarf to start. If you decide to crotchet I think a blanket would be totally doable as a first project as long as you don't mind if it is pretty simple or if you want to use it as an opportunity to try out stitches. The great thing about crocheting is that if you mess up its pretty easy to undo the mistake but it is not so easy with knitting.

That said I love knitting and definitely recommend it as a hobby. You might have to start small with a patchwork blanket or a scarf, but it won't take long before you are knitting other things. I knit purses, hats, scarves, sweaters etc. They make great gifts.

While pp say to start with a washcloth, I would never use a knit washcloth so it is, for me, a weird and pointless thing to make, so I would suggest a scarf or just knit 4x4 (or 8x8, 6x6 etc) squares and sew them together into a blanket. If you do this you can experiment with different stitches, patterns and yarns and still end up with a cool blanket at the end of it. Each square is a new opportunity to try something out and if you find it overwhelming, no big deal, you just do something different with the next square.

You can definitely make this a cheap hobby by using acrylic yarns and sticking with one size of needles (buy wood, as PP said above, the yarn grips it better and you are less likely to lose stitches). You might find though that you become addicted to fancy expensive wools and you end up buying them all over the place (I go into knitting stores everywhere I travel to see what their selection is like and I always walk out with some yarn, its addictive).

missdelilah · August 2014

JasperandOpal said:

Wow there are so many knitters/crocheters on here! I knit and crochet too. I think, as others have said, a blanket would be a bit ambitious but you could do the patch blanket or a scarf to start. If you decide to crotchet I think a blanket would be totally doable as a first project as long as you don't mind if it is pretty simple or if you want to use it as an opportunity to try out stitches. The great thing about crocheting is that if you mess up its pretty easy to undo the mistake but it is not so easy with knitting.

That said I love knitting and definitely recommend it as a hobby. You might have to start small with a patchwork blanket or a scarf, but it won't take long before you are knitting other things. I knit purses, hats, scarves, sweaters etc. They make great gifts.

While pp say to start with a washcloth, I would never use a knit washcloth so it is, for me, a weird and pointless thing to make, so I would suggest a scarf or just knit 4x4 (or 8x8, 6x6 etc) squares and sew them together into a blanket. If you do this you can experiment with different stitches, patterns and yarns and still end up with a cool blanket at the end of it. Each square is a new opportunity to try something out and if you find it overwhelming, no big deal, you just do something different with the next square.

You can definitely make this a cheap hobby by using acrylic yarns and sticking with one size of needles (buy wood, as PP said above, the yarn grips it better and you are less likely to lose stitches). You might find though that you become addicted to fancy expensive wools and you end up buying them all over the place (I go into knitting stores everywhere I travel to see what their selection is like and I always walk out with some yarn, its addictive).

This exactly! And are you really going to want to use something you spent hours making as a wash cloth? Most people I know started on scarves, but I like the scrappy blanket idea suggested here.

daizeemaepa37 · August 2014

hi. i've also recently start knitting...with needles, but also arm knitting. lemme tell ya, arm knitting is way easier...and faster - i'e knitted 6 scarfs now using my arms and that's in 2 weeks.

i do like the bamboo needles tho for my regular knitting - the metal ones were too slippery.

Kahlyla · August 2014

missdelilah said:

JasperandOpal said:

Wow there are so many knitters/crocheters on here! I knit and crochet too. I think, as others have said, a blanket would be a bit ambitious but you could do the patch blanket or a scarf to start. If you decide to crotchet I think a blanket would be totally doable as a first project as long as you don't mind if it is pretty simple or if you want to use it as an opportunity to try out stitches. The great thing about crocheting is that if you mess up its pretty easy to undo the mistake but it is not so easy with knitting.

That said I love knitting and definitely recommend it as a hobby. You might have to start small with a patchwork blanket or a scarf, but it won't take long before you are knitting other things. I knit purses, hats, scarves, sweaters etc. They make great gifts.

While pp say to start with a washcloth, I would never use a knit washcloth so it is, for me, a weird and pointless thing to make, so I would suggest a scarf or just knit 4x4 (or 8x8, 6x6 etc) squares and sew them together into a blanket. If you do this you can experiment with different stitches, patterns and yarns and still end up with a cool blanket at the end of it. Each square is a new opportunity to try something out and if you find it overwhelming, no big deal, you just do something different with the next square.

You can definitely make this a cheap hobby by using acrylic yarns and sticking with one size of needles (buy wood, as PP said above, the yarn grips it better and you are less likely to lose stitches). You might find though that you become addicted to fancy expensive wools and you end up buying them all over the place (I go into knitting stores everywhere I travel to see what their selection is like and I always walk out with some yarn, its addictive).

This exactly! And are you really going to want to use something you spent hours making as a wash cloth? Most people I know started on scarves, but I like the scrappy blanket idea suggested here.

Well, it doesn't take hours to do a dishcloth (does that sound snarky? I don't mean it to be snarky!), though. Dishcloths are great when you want to use up leftover yarn or knit while watching TV or something. I'm still a beginner and can knock one out in maybe half an hour.

That said, I never thought I would use them either. I'm kind of a sponge/scrubby person, but they're actually awesome. I don't like big ones, I make tiny ones that fit in my hand. You can then launder them, and you've got dishcloths forever - no need to buy any more sponges (and I say that as someone who loves sponges). You can keep reblocking them to get them to be a perfect shape or just let them be wonky.

But I love the scrappy blanket idea as well! That's very appealing to me, but I'm not great at joining/sewing pieces together.

VulgarGirl · August 2014

I started knitting by taking a class at JoAnns. I need to be shown in person how to do something. After I got the basics down (how to cast on, how to do a knit stitch, how to do a purl stitch) I was able to learn a lot more through different youtube videos.

I love to knit. I also have ADD. So long projects...not always the best for me. However we have a shit ton of washcloths I've made! And I can make some simple hats and scarves. I'm still wanting to take on a blanket project, hasn't happened so far.

I'm trying to take up crochet, but I have the hardest time with it. Knitting is easier for me for some reason.

BrandNewJ · August 2014

I just started crocheting myself! Knitting was too much for me to keep track of. I agree with PP who said try out both if you can, one may come much more naturally. My first project actually is a blanket, however, I'm making a crazy amount of granny squares and will be stitching them together. I feel way more productive this way. Have fun!

mysticl · August 2014

Kahlyla said:

missdelilah said:

JasperandOpal said:

Wow there are so many knitters/crocheters on here! I knit and crochet too. I think, as others have said, a blanket would be a bit ambitious but you could do the patch blanket or a scarf to start. If you decide to crotchet I think a blanket would be totally doable as a first project as long as you don't mind if it is pretty simple or if you want to use it as an opportunity to try out stitches. The great thing about crocheting is that if you mess up its pretty easy to undo the mistake but it is not so easy with knitting.

That said I love knitting and definitely recommend it as a hobby. You might have to start small with a patchwork blanket or a scarf, but it won't take long before you are knitting other things. I knit purses, hats, scarves, sweaters etc. They make great gifts.

While pp say to start with a washcloth, I would never use a knit washcloth so it is, for me, a weird and pointless thing to make, so I would suggest a scarf or just knit 4x4 (or 8x8, 6x6 etc) squares and sew them together into a blanket. If you do this you can experiment with different stitches, patterns and yarns and still end up with a cool blanket at the end of it. Each square is a new opportunity to try something out and if you find it overwhelming, no big deal, you just do something different with the next square.

You can definitely make this a cheap hobby by using acrylic yarns and sticking with one size of needles (buy wood, as PP said above, the yarn grips it better and you are less likely to lose stitches). You might find though that you become addicted to fancy expensive wools and you end up buying them all over the place (I go into knitting stores everywhere I travel to see what their selection is like and I always walk out with some yarn, its addictive).

This exactly! And are you really going to want to use something you spent hours making as a wash cloth? Most people I know started on scarves, but I like the scrappy blanket idea suggested here.

Well, it doesn't take hours to do a dishcloth (does that sound snarky? I don't mean it to be snarky!), though. Dishcloths are great when you want to use up leftover yarn or knit while watching TV or something. I'm still a beginner and can knock one out in maybe half an hour.

That said, I never thought I would use them either. I'm kind of a sponge/scrubby person, but they're actually awesome. I don't like big ones, I make tiny ones that fit in my hand. You can then launder them, and you've got dishcloths forever - no need to buy any more sponges (and I say that as someone who loves sponges). You can keep reblocking them to get them to be a perfect shape or just let them be wonky.

But I love the scrappy blanket idea as well! That's very appealing to me, but I'm not great at joining/sewing pieces together.

My mom loves knitted/crocheted dishcloths.

lc07 · August 2014

I love this community so much. I'm so impressed with all of your knowledge, you guys! Thank you for helping me. I'm going to look into a class to get started and use your tips for purchasing my supplies and with getting started on projects. SO glad I asked you guys about this! Thanks again!

ninkasi · August 2014

Craftsy.com is the best. Wait for the classes to be on sale (almost every weekend) and if you want to learn to cable, it seriously is not hard. It looks super complicated and I was really intimidated until I tried the craftsy class on cabling. I could barely even knit and purl when I tried it. I worked through each of the little swatches and now it's super easy. Plus the lady teaches you how to do it without a cabling needle. Now I am on to lace knitting, also super intimidating but surprisingly simple as long as you pay attention at first.

Oh, and do yourself a favor and learn to knit with your yarn in your left hand, it ends up being so much faster as you get better and you won't have to reteach yourself when you want to knit faster. I'm dreading the day when I will make the switch from right to left. Ugh.

missdelilah · August 2014

ninkasi said:

Craftsy.com is the best. Wait for the classes to be on sale (almost every weekend) and if you want to learn to cable, it seriously is not hard. It looks super complicated and I was really intimidated until I tried the craftsy class on cabling. I could barely even knit and purl when I tried it. I worked through each of the little swatches and now it's super easy. Plus the lady teaches you how to do it without a cabling needle. Now I am on to lace knitting, also super intimidating but surprisingly simple as long as you pay attention at first.
Oh, and do yourself a favor and learn to knit with your yarn in your left hand, it ends up being so much faster as you get better and you won't have to reteach yourself when you want to knit faster. I'm dreading the day when I will make the switch from right to left. Ugh.

Do you mean Continental as opposed to English knitting?

ninkasi · August 2014

Yes! I wish I had started knitting that way. It's so much faster!

missdelilah · August 2014

ninkasi said:

Yes! I wish I had started knitting that way. It's so much faster!

Yeah, I was taught to knit English when I was a child. I'm having a really hard time converting. I count myself as a new knitter though, considering I only made two scarves when I was a child, and haven't done it in years.

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