knitting question

**McD** · 08-07-2008, 10:34 AM

If I want to learn how to knit--what are my options?

I mean what's the best way to learn? What all will I need? What should I start on first???

HELP!

**Missy** · 08-07-2008, 11:00 AM

Go to your library and check out a few different books. I swear by "knitting and crochet for complete idiots". It shows in illustration and such EXACTLY how i was supposed to do each step. And it made sense to me. a skein of yarn. Get something cheap for your first project. and a set of size 8 or 10 straight needles. (if you know someone who knits, they'll likely share some of their stash with you. Be prepared. soon it will be out of control. You'll be stalking new skeins online and in stores. You'll know all the ins and outs of new needles and technique...

just be patient with yourself.

**Missy** · 08-07-2008, 11:01 AM

oh! oh! and scroll back through the different threads here in this board about it. all kinds of nifty info here.

**YankeeMom** · 08-07-2008, 11:11 AM

First you need to know what kind of learner you are.

Do you learn well reading about something from a book? Do you need pictures? Or do you learn better by seeing someone actually do it?

Me I couldn't learn from a book. I tried several. I couldn't get it. The flat two-dimensional pictures did not allow me to see around the other side of what the picture was showing me (this was especially difficult learning to cast on). So I can't recommend any books.

My favorite resource for learning to knit has been knitting videos free online. Knittinghelp.com has GREAT videos on just about anything. You can also search YouTube.com for knitting videos. I've taught myself everything I know about knitting using only resources available free on the web.

For your first try, I would get a light colored, not fuzzy and not cotton, yarn and wooden needles. The yarn should be light colored because dark colored yarns make it hard to see the stitches and see where you are putting the needle. Not fuzzy because fuzzy yarns are a b*tch even when you know what you're doing. No cotton because it's hard to get decent tension/gauge with cotton because it has zero give. It's also very hard on the hands. Plus new knitters tend to be tight knitters. Tight knitting plus cotton equals disaster. Wooden needles because the wood has a bit of a "grab" and the stitches won't slip off the needle as easily as they do with metal or plastic needles.

**AmyBoz** · 08-07-2008, 11:44 AM

As a fledgling knitter myself, I can tell you that I bought myself one of those Klutz books for kids and taught myself with that. The better I got, I started finding sites online to help me.

Good luck! I've found it quite addicting!

**Missy** · 08-07-2008, 11:45 AM

It's all individual really. I couldnt' get it on wooden needles because I couldn't get the yarn to move smoothly over them when i was learning. the grab of the woodens were uncooperative for me. BUt give it a try with different needles. we all learn differently. No one way will work for everyone. So if one way doesn't work, don't throw in the towel. Try a different approach. When all else fails, go to a yarn store and ask for classes.

**cab54** · 08-07-2008, 12:11 PM

EXPECT your knitting to look like hammered

for awhile---everybody's does! It takes a little practice to get your knitting to be fairly smooth and neat.

I learned from my mommy (

) when I was 9 (she taught me KNIT and PURL, the main two stitches) but then I DID learn a lot from books about techniques and complicated stitches and patterns, as time went on.

Knit shops will often offer lessons, if you can afford it, and if books don't do it for you.

I would also do it when Wesley goes to bed, if you want to keep your sanity! LOL!! ( I had two little boys).

**sunshine** · 08-07-2008, 12:33 PM

youtube is a great resource for craft videos . . .I've been watching the continental knitting ones, and giving that a try.

**TexasPeanut** · 08-07-2008, 12:36 PM

I have knitting books out of my ears along with needles and looms. I have found the only thing I can knit on is a loom because I am left handed and I can not comprehend the instructions for knitting on the needles when they are all written for right handed people.

I have tried, I can do a small amount but I have to work upside and backwards most times. I've come across a couple of left handed guides but then I was confused from my feeble attempts at the right handed way. So for me it's the loom until I feel like after 35 years learning how to reverse everything I know and switch and become right handed lol.

**McD** · 08-07-2008, 12:58 PM

Okay ladies! I went and bought a set of wooden needles and a ball of pale green worsted weight 75% acrylic and 25% wool yarn. It was 20% off at the local knitting store--which I LOVE!

I am using this site: http://www.learntoknit.com/instructions_kn.php3

And I currently have 15 little things for my cast-on row out of 30. I am on a roll! WOO!

**Michelle** · 08-07-2008, 01:32 PM

www.knittinghelp.com was a big help to me when I first started.

I also love a kids' book that I borrowed from the library called "Kids Learn to Knit" by Lucinda Guy & Francois Hall. There were little things mentioned in that book that gave me "light bulb" moments in trying to understand things from other sites/books.

**YankeeMom** · 08-07-2008, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by MrsMcDowell

Okay ladies! I went and bought a set of wooden needles and a ball of pale green worsted weight 75% acrylic and 25% wool yarn. It was 20% off at the local knitting store--which I LOVE!

I am using this site: http://www.learntoknit.com/instructions_kn.php3

And I currently have 15 little things for my cast-on row out of 30. I am on a roll! WOO!

Mmmm...wool. I'm knitting with the same blend (LionBrand WoolEase) it feels yummy

I'm totally jealous. We have no knitting store. I'd love to open one though...

WTG casting on! For me, that was the second hardest part. The hardest part was figuring out that when going from a knit stitch to a purl stitch I had to bring the working yarn to the front. None of the books I was trying to use told me that

You're going to be so addicted lol!

**pldesigns** · 08-07-2008, 02:20 PM

Good luck Nichole!

As a wanna be, but scared beginner.. thanks for the link to the site you are using to learn. I read through the directions, but i guess with not having needles & yarn in front of me, i just got WAY confused! LOL!

off to check out knittinghelp.com