How to Knit

Knitting involves a series of knots created by two needles and is believed to have evolved in Europe from the craft of making fishing nets. Knitting can create both a feeling of accomplishment and a sense of tranquility.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Browse through knitting books and decide on what you want to make.

2. Keep it extremely simple to begin. A good initial choice would be a neck scarf or simple squares that you can stitch together to make a baby blanket.

3. Choose the type and color of yarn that appeals to your senses. If the feel and the color of the yarn please you, you will be more likely to enjoy the knitting process. Thick yarn works best for beginners.

4. Purchase a pair of straight knitting needles. While learning, size 10 and larger needles work best.

5. Choose two different color needles to aid in keeping track of which direction you are working on your project.

6. Gather other necessities that you will need to begin: scissors, a tape measure, a yarn needle, a crochet hook, point protectors, a stitch holder and stitch markers.

7. Use a fabric-lined basket or a cloth tote to centralize your project for easy organization.

8. Roll the skein of wool into a loose ball to avoid tangles. Wrap the yarn loosely so that it will retain its elasticity. Begin by wrapping the yard around the fingers of one hand (about 20 to 30 times) and then use that as the foundation for the remaining ball.

9. Cast on next. Do this by using one straight knitting needle and creating knots by hand or by using both knitting needles.

10. Learn a basic knit stitch and a purl stitch initially. With these two stitches you have the foundation for just about every type of knitting that you will do.

11. Cast off using your crochet hook once your project is complete. This process separates the project from the needles.

12. Seam the pieces together using your yarn needle and one of the many types of stitches used in this process if you have created a project that has more than one piece.

Tips & Warnings

• By using larger size of wool and needles, you create larger stitches, which will help you complete your project in less time. This encouragement is often essential in the learning process of knitting.
• Knitting involves some very intricate stitches, which you can graduate to once you have mastered the basics. Initially, you will want to choose very basic knitting designs that involve only knitting and purling.
• Once you've gotten started, subscribe to one of the many knitting magazines such as "Knitters," join the Knitting Guild of America, or even attend a knitting camp in Hunt, Texas, or at the University of Pittsburg at Bradford.

on 3/10/2006 "Knitting for Dummies" and "Stitch and Bitch Nation" are great books on knitting. You can check them out at your local library!

on 11/22/2005 Choose something simple for your first project. Though you may be tempted to pick that great sweater (even if it's rated beginner), don't. Specifically, choose something that doesn't require you to increase or decrease stitches. You'll want to choose something that's knitted straight. A scarf or potholder is great for this. Some hat patterns are knit without decreasing. If you just can't resist a larger project, pick an afghan that uses simple stitches.

on 11/22/2005 I'm extremely new at this but with the help of a wonderful friend, I've begun to work on my first scarf. At first I would rip out all my rows each time I made a mistake or dropped a stitch. Instead of starting over, I finally just kept on going! My tip is to keep going with your first project and look at it as a learning experience. I have about a 4 foot scarf now and my progress is amazing as I work through the scarf and I realize what I did wrong in the early stages of the scarf. I know this is a really basic tip to share, but it took about 3 feet of scarf before I realized it and became relaxed with my newfound hobby! It's great to see my evolution throughout the length of this scarf!

on 11/22/2005 The first knitting projects I did were "capes" for my stuffed animals. These are small, easy, and quick. You can tie the cape with the piece of yarn left sticking out after you cast off, or you can use a safety pin.

on 11/22/2005 If you are desperate to knit, you can use pencils, pens, twigs, or other skinny, pointed objects in place of needles. Make sure to sharpen pencils before use. Don't use anything that will leave permanent marks on your hands, or have some soap handy.