NEW KNITTER! I don't how to begin!

#1

I’m wanting to learn knitting so badly…but I don’t know where to start…I’ve gone to crafts stores and looked at what they have, but there so much(needles, looms, etc)…and I don’t know what to buy…[B]HELP[/B]!!

#2

Pick some inexpensive, light colored yarn and a pair of needles. I’d suggest worsted weight (Red Hear Super Saver is worsted weight and is readily available, inexpensive) and U.S. size 8 needles or larger and then start casting on. http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/cast-on There are some excellent videos on this site, after you know some terms you can search for other videos if you want.

Light colored yarn allows you to se what you’re doing more easily than darker colors will. I think a solid color would be better than a variegated yarn. Size 8 or larger needles will work well with worsted weight yarn.

I started with plastic needles that came in a kit with a book. You don’t need to spend a small fortune on needles before you figure out what you’re doing.

#3

Hi Jesa I just started knitting too. I actually just bought my stuff at walmart. It didn’t occur to me to go to the Fabric store where I’ve been so many times! I watched the cast on video on this website. The work is shown very close and done slowly. That’s where I started. I purchased a set of size 6,7 and 8 needles. The yarn will tell you on the back of the package what size needles are recommended for that yarn. You will see a pic of two needles on the paper of the yarn that will tell you. I didn’t buy a crochet hook because I didn’t know I would need one for knitting :slight_smile: I now know it comes in handy to add fringe to end of your scarf and fix certain mistakes. I couldn’t wait till the next day so I managed to use two other needles to “make it work” to add the fringe to one end so far. I hope this helps!

#4

Just for information… the needles shown on the yarn labels are more to classify the yarn into a weight group (sport, worsted, bulky). Many patterns use a different size needle than on the label so that’s not really the [B]recommended[/B] needle size, just an average. Tight knitters may like to go up in size, loose knitters go down. So you can use a needle larger than on the label and that will make the sts a lot easier to see and knit into, especially if you turn into a tight knitter. So it’s okay to go up a couple sizes on the needles.

I’d actually recommned circular ones instead of straights too. They’re easier to handle, even 10" straights can be hard to balance when you’re learning how to hold the yarn, the needles, wrap the yarn and make sts all at the same time.

#5

Hi, Jesagrace,

During a series of snow storms, while being stuck at home, I started knitting exactly one year ago by asking a similar question on this site. I’ve come back to thank Jan, Suzee and the gang. I’ve now done about 25 projects including 4 pairs of socks and a few things I’ve designed myself.

You don’t need to start on anything too serious. Maybe a scarf or a potholder, till you get the hang of the 4 basis techniques: cast-on, knit, purl, bind-off.
You go, girl!! :yay:

#6

Thanks for letting us know your progress in the knitting world. :happydance:

#7

Or you could do what I did, get the basics down, then knit an afghan :slight_smile:

#8

(I’m KatzKnitter at Rav too.)

#9

I think the size of an afghan might discourage a new knitter. :slight_smile:

#10

:guyknitting:

#11

It might discourage a new knitter, or it might not. If the new knitter [I]chooses[/I] to do an afghan, it’s not the same as being told you[I] will[/I] do an afghan…or dishcloth…or scarf. Afghans can be very small or extremely large too. I did a two color striped scarf, played with a textured stitch pattern that came with some cotton yarn, decided knitting wasn’t for me, then went right to a hooded button front cardi with set in pockets when my grandson wanted a new sweater from me. It all depends on what an individual chooses to do. There is always lots of help and encouragement here too.

Somewhere else on these forums, someone observed that new knitters are going for the larger and more complicated projects sooner than what had been the rule in the past. Maybe it’s because it keeps us interested? Now I like to knit wash cloths and dish rags. Fortunately there are no rules as to what one must do first and in what order things must be learned.

JesaGrace, whatever you decide to knit first, enjoy and know there is always a place to come to for help, support, and encouragement. Let us know, please how you’re coming along with your new knitting skills.

#12

I’ve been knitting over 45 years and haven’t done a dishcloth yet. I only made scarves about 6 years ago when I started up again after taking 10 years off, and have only done a few hats. My first project was a stuffed rabbit for my new neice, the second one was a top down raglan sweater with a cable down the front. I just practiced with string and leftover yarn in between, just playing around with it. For the sweater, I just followed the instructions - the cable definition tells you exactly how to do one, so that wasn’t hard, and I already knew how to inc and dec from the rabbit.