A Taste of Knitting

[kerravonsen]

The absolute minimum you need in order to start knitting. Part of a series.

Knitting in progress

I think most people know what knitting is, but, hey, I'm going to describe it anyway. Knitting is a craft where you use a pair of knitting needles to turn yarn into cloth items such as scarves, beanies, mittens, socks, sweaters and so forth. Knitted cloth is best suited for items which you want to be stretchy, so it is especially good for clothing. Knitting with straight needles creates flat panels. To knit in the round requires another type of knitting needle, choosing from "circular" needles, "interchangeable" needles, or "double pointed" needles.

Mind you, needle-knitting is not the only way to knit (there are other tools that can create knitting) but it is the most well-known.

What You Need For Knitting

Yarn, knitting needles, yarn needle, scissors

• One pair of (straight) needles
• One pair of scissors.
• One ball of yarn.
• One yarn needle.

While circular or interchangeable needles may seem more value-for-money, since one can knit both flat and in the round with them, I don't recommend them for beginners. It is easier to learn on straight needles. I tried learning on interchangeable needles, and they drove me bonkers.

As with crochet, if you want to work with more than one thickness of yarn, you'll need more than one size of needles. But you can buy those later, if you just want to give yourself a taste of knitting before you decide whether to continue with it or not.

A "yarn needle" is used for weaving in the loose ends of yarn you get at the start and end of your knitted piece (and also sometimes in the middle). Also known as a "tapestry needle", it has an eye large enough to thread your yarn through. What you do is thread the yarn-end through the needle's eye, then you use the needle to drag that yarn-end through the body of the work in order to hide it.

Where To Start

I recommend Very Pink Knits as a good YouTube channel for learning knitting.

What To Make First

Probably a small scarf; a flat panel, no increases, no decreases, very straightforward. And also useful.

Comments

[vilakins]

That's very clear. I was feeling stressed so started some new knitting yesterday; it's so relaxing and satisfying, especially with self-striped or colour-changing yarn.

Very Pink Knits is great. Liat Gat's Knitfreedom is also a wonderful resource, also very clear and helpful.

[kerravonsen]

Oh yeah, colour-changing yarn makes things so pretty without having to put in a lot of effort.

Oh, a new YouTube channel to look at!

[vilakins]

She also has a very good - and encouraging - website (knitfreedom.com) which has a lot of tutorials and classes for new knitters. I did join up to get her exhaustive list of cast ons and bind offs. Her videos are slow, clear, get right to it without any faffing about, and she covers both knitting styles. Very Pink I also like; they're both so good for techniques new to me.

[vera_j]

I have tried knitting many times. Not that I would not manage it - but I am too restless. But I like every craft like that!
And this is very nice here.

[sallymn]

I really must get to and do more knitting...

[kerravonsen]

Last year's cold winter had me loom-knitting so many pairs of fingerless gloves...

[nocturnus33]

Every time I try it, I have to ask someone to teach me how to do that.

[kerravonsen]

Videos aren't helpful to you?

[nocturnus33]

Not for knitting. It's difficult for me.

[kerravonsen]

Ah, that's a pity.