Quote:
Dear Featherfinder:
I have been teaching people to knit for years and I am a professional knitwear designer. My BEST tip for new knitters: use wooden or bamboo needles. Don't try to learn on those awful aluminium needles in the learn to knit kits at the craft store. Begin with US size 8 or 10 needles and a smooth yarn - worsted weight if using size 8 and chunky if using size 10. This way you will be able to SEE the stitches clearly and get to know what you are doing.
The best thing is to find someone local who can teach you but if that isn't possible try the links that others have shared. Also try meetup.com and type in your city or area and that you are looking for knitting. Lots of people use this site to find others in their areas with similar interests. I started a group 5 years ago because many women expressed their interest for a knitting group on that site. I found them because someone suggested I search meet up.com once I moved into the area. Give it a try.
I agree about the circular needles. When I learned to knit I used straight needles but once I got more confident I switched to circular needles and have never looked back because they are very versatile and comfortable to use.
A good project to begin with is a dishcloth because they are small projects that you can finish in a short amount of time and can feel a sense of accomplishment. They are also forgiving projects because you are just washing dishes or counters or tables with them. I recommend that you learn the knit stitch first. Using size 8 needles and sugar and cream cotton yarn (if you crochet you may know what this is) cast on 40 stitches and just knit, knit, knit every stitch, every row until the length is as long as the width and then cast off.
The second project I recommend is the bias dishcloth because it teaches several new skills and it is a nicer project with edges that are very elastic. I can email you a pattern for that project when you are ready.
Here is a detail of a square shawl I finished 4 years ago and I had only been knitting seriously for 3 years at the time I began that project.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/34537_border_and_edging.jpg
I just knit all the time and each project that I knit included new techniques that I would have to learn. That way I was/am always pushing myself to learn new skills or to improve my abilities.
Knitting is so good for all of us, so is crochet - there are so many benefits that we can gain from these two wonderful needlecrafts. Here is a link to two articles that I wrote, one about the Many Benefits of Knit & Crochet: http://www.seektheancientpath.com/index.php/at-home/in-the-home/knitting-and-sewing/knitting/63-knit-together-in-love
and the other Tips for New Knitters: http://www.seektheancientpath.com/index.php/at-home/in-the-home/knitting-and-sewing/knitting/16-tips-for-new-knitters
I hope this helps
.
Blessings,
Posey
Thank you for the info I will deffinitly put it to use and i love to crochet as is and i love the look of knitting more. Thank you for helping out and that really is a beautiful shawl!
Dear Featherfinder:
I have been teaching people to knit for years and I am a professional knitwear designer. My BEST tip for new knitters: use wooden or bamboo needles. Don't try to learn on those awful aluminium needles in the learn to knit kits at the craft store. Begin with US size 8 or 10 needles and a smooth yarn - worsted weight if using size 8 and chunky if using size 10. This way you will be able to SEE the stitches clearly and get to know what you are doing.
The best thing is to find someone local who can teach you but if that isn't possible try the links that others have shared. Also try meetup.com and type in your city or area and that you are looking for knitting. Lots of people use this site to find others in their areas with similar interests. I started a group 5 years ago because many women expressed their interest for a knitting group on that site. I found them because someone suggested I search meet up.com once I moved into the area. Give it a try.
I agree about the circular needles. When I learned to knit I used straight needles but once I got more confident I switched to circular needles and have never looked back because they are very versatile and comfortable to use.
A good project to begin with is a dishcloth because they are small projects that you can finish in a short amount of time and can feel a sense of accomplishment. They are also forgiving projects because you are just washing dishes or counters or tables with them. I recommend that you learn the knit stitch first. Using size 8 needles and sugar and cream cotton yarn (if you crochet you may know what this is) cast on 40 stitches and just knit, knit, knit every stitch, every row until the length is as long as the width and then cast off.
The second project I recommend is the bias dishcloth because it teaches several new skills and it is a nicer project with edges that are very elastic. I can email you a pattern for that project when you are ready.
Here is a detail of a square shawl I finished 4 years ago and I had only been knitting seriously for 3 years at the time I began that project.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/34537_border_and_edging.jpg
I just knit all the time and each project that I knit included new techniques that I would have to learn. That way I was/am always pushing myself to learn new skills or to improve my abilities.
Knitting is so good for all of us, so is crochet - there are so many benefits that we can gain from these two wonderful needlecrafts. Here is a link to two articles that I wrote, one about the Many Benefits of Knit & Crochet: http://www.seektheancientpath.com/index.php/at-home/in-the-home/knitting-and-sewing/knitting/63-knit-together-in-love
and the other Tips for New Knitters: http://www.seektheancientpath.com/index.php/at-home/in-the-home/knitting-and-sewing/knitting/16-tips-for-new-knitters
I hope this helps
.Blessings,
Posey
Thank you for the info
I will deffinitly put it to use and i love to crochet as is and i love the look of knitting more. Thank you for helping out and that really is a beautiful shawl!
