Does anyone know what a beginning knitter knows compared to an intermediate? For example a beginning knitter knows to knit, purl,cast on and off while an intermediate knows how to change color cable ect… I hope that makes sense…
Beginning knitter
I’d class myself as a beginner… I know:
knit
purl
cast on/off
increase
decrease
I know yarn over (not used it yet), but purely because I have a fantastic beginner’s book that shows it extremely well!
I know how to do quite a few things, but I haven’t done them very much just yet so I still classify myself as a beginner. I have done:
-cast on using long tail, backwards loop, and knit
-cast off knitwise, purlwise, and according to pattern (be it k2, p2 rib or whatever pattern I’m working in)
-a few different kinds of increases/decreases
-done a few cable patterns
-knit w/2 strands held together
-color changes (I’ve done intarsia and carrying over)
-used circular needles for both round & flat knitting
-used dpns
-done magic loop knitting
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]I believe that I’m an intermediate knitter. I went through the knitting [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][U][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=blue]glossary[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen] and found out that I know and have used most of the techniques there. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]I know how to: [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Cast on (Cable, crochet, e-wrap, long-tail, provisional)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Bind off[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Decrease[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Knit Purl[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Increase[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Knit thru the back loop[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Purl thru the back loop[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Knit 1 stitch in the front, then in the back[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Purl 1 stitch in the front, then in the back [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Knit two together[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Purl two together[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Make One[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Insert needle knit wise[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Insert needle purl wise[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Slip stitches (knit and purl)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Pass next stitch over[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Pass slip stitch over[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Pick up stitches[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Slip1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Slip1, purl 2 together, pass slipped stitch over[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Slip1, knit1, pass the slipped stitch over[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together or slip 1, slip 1 purl wise, knit slipped stitches together[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Slip, slip, purl[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Slip, slip, slip, knit 3 slipped stitches together[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]With yarn in back[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]With yarn in front[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Yarn forward[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Yarn over[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Color changes (Fair Isle, Intarsia, Striping)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Circular needles (flat and in the round)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Double point in the round[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]I cord[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]Cables[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
I think that as long as one continues to learn and try new skills and techniques labels really don’t make much difference.
i never pay attention to the difficulty ratings or decide what level i rate at. I take the patterns one line at a time if they seem difficult… I know that if there’s a part i don’t understand i can always ask on here and someone will try to help me out (my first knitting project had stockinette stitch and intarsia!)… I’m still fairly slow at knitting (although I can now do stockinette stitch without paying much attention to my needles!) and i’m really fast at crochet (i’ve also been crocheting for a number of years)… I know i’ll eventually get to the point where i’ll be fairly fast and as good at knitting as I am at crochet.
However, do not let me near a sewing machine unless you’re wearing full body armor… it never goes well (needles breaking and flying off in all directions, etc).
I still consider myself a beginning knitter—but I can do patterns marked up to advanced. 
I started out looking at the ratings on patterns, then started looking more closely to see what was required, and asked about a new skill (or watched the videos here!), and found that I was acquiring more and more knitting knowledge as I went along. It was only when a friend who was sort of “mentoring” me laughed when I said I was such a beginner, that I began to consider that maybe I’m not entirely that any more.
I figure, just check out a pattern you like, and if you can do it, you’re probably whatever the pattern is labeled. 
But then, I think you reach a point where you know enough to learn what you need to learn–what level is that? I read, or listen to podcasts from very experienced knitters talking about learning new things…so I’m guessing none of us know all there is to know!
according to the chart you posted, i fall in between intermediate and advanced… hrmmm…
One thing I have noticed, after looking at LOTS of knitting patterns and books and magazines, is that there are [B][U]no[/U][/B] consistent guidelines for rating patterns beginner, intermediate, or advanced.
One pattern designer may classify a pattern as beginner, and another would have classified it as intermediate. The same goes with intermediate patterns. Some of them are considered advanced by certain designers.
It seems that the classification just reflects the personal preferences of a specific designer.
Now, I’m sure the knitting guild has specific guidelines, but not every pattern designer is a guild member.
Wow, I’ve just realized I know more than I thought I did…lol…Still don’t quite know what I’d really “classify” myself as; never really thought about it, and I’ve never been one to classify myself. I guess [I]able[/I] would be the word…I know much, however, what more I need to know, I will learn
I try to ignore whatever category the designer puts on the pattern and first read through the pattern to see if I’m familiar with the techniques used.
What I really have a problem with is patterns being labeled ‘Easy’ or ‘Quick’ projects. These labels can be misleading. I think I’m an intermediate knitter but some of those ‘easy’ patterns aren’t well written. Also, I’m not a speed knitter so a project labeled ‘quick’, ‘fast’, or ‘1-hour’ may take me much, much longer.
[COLOR=“DarkGreen”][FONT=“Century Gothic”]I just started knitting a year ago, but I think I’m more than a beginning knitter. Mason (above) indicated that difficulty levels don’t really matter as long as you keep learning, and I would have to agree with that.
If you’re wondering so you can figure out whether you can do a certain type of pattern, I’ve done patterns that I would consider above my difficulty level, and by doing them I learn new challenges and new techniques. I’ve also looked at some patterns and said to myself, “maybe sometime in the future, but I’m definitely not ready just now.”
Also, I’ve learned a lot of different techniques on small practice swatches, but combining all of them into one big project is when you really prove your knitting prowess.[/FONT][/COLOR]