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Adventures in Beginner Knitting

jennabee25 by jennabee25

Knitting on a Whim

My journey began when I was a child and my grandmother tried to teach me to purl. Emphasis on the try. It did not go well. Let's move ahead to October 2010 to that Wal-Mart trip.

I decided to knit out of boredom. I sit at the TV for quite a few hours at night and wanted to keep my hands busy. I was in the crafts department at my local Wal-Mart, and saw a teach yourself to knit kit. I bought it along with a skein of yarn, and started off on my adventure.

It was not easy. I tried and tried and tried to cast on, but after some Internet videos and instructions, I got it. Next, came the frustration of the knit stitch. I eventually got that down, and then onto purl. I could not teach myself this stitch, so I sought out someone at work, who was more than happy to help. I got it! I managed a stockinette stitch! Yay!

Since then, I have found a local yarn shop that offers knitting classes for everyone, from beginners who don't know the difference between sock weight and worsted weight yarn, let alone how to knit, to knitters so advanced the can do Fair Isles knitting in their sleep. I am currently on my second class there and am loving it!

I have completed quite a few scarves, including an intermediate pattern that included a lot of increases and decreases. I was very proud to give those scarves away at Christmas. Currently, I am working on a hat and am enjoying it immensely.

Please keep in mind this is not a lens on HOW to knit, but rather a place to get ideas and where to get help for the beginner knitter. I am not the best person to teach, as I am learning myself, but I have found a lot of great online resources, books, and veteran knitter advice and I want to share it with you.

Advice from a Veteran Knitter

Choose a long length for your needles, such as 14 inch, as these will give you more stability when knitting.

Knitting Books

Want to get ideas and instruction? Check out these books!
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Internet Resources

There are so many great places to get knitting instruction on the Internet. Check out these sites and see what you can find! many include beginner patterns, as well. A lot of the places are sites that are also yarn brands, so see what they have to offer. To access a lot of these resources, you may have to register on the site itself. Registration is usually free.

Here I picked three good sites to get you started.
The Learning Center at Lion Brand Yarns
This site includes visual aides as well as videos demonstrating techniques.
Knitting Help
The site name says it all! This site has a ton of videos with narration.
Knitting Basics for New Knitters
Not only are pictures provided of techniques, but there are links to other resources on the Web.
Crazy Aunt Purl
The true-life diary of a thirty-something, soon-to-be-divorced, OCD-germaphobe knitter who has four cats. Because nothing is sexier than a divorced woman with four cats.

Advice from a Veteran Knitter

It is beneficial to get your yarn from your local yarn store. The staff will usually help you out if you get stuck on your project if you bought the yarn from them.

Where to Get Your Yarn and Supplies

The Pros and Cons of Where to Shop

Now you've decided to knit, and now you need to get your supplies! Some basics you will need are: knitting needles, yarn, scissors, a crochet hook, and tapestry needles. All of these can either be bought at either you local yarn store, a craft store like AC Moore or Michael's, or even a department store where they have craft supplies, such as Wal-Mart. Let's go over the pros and cons of each of these places.

Your Local Knitting Store
PROS: Will help you if you get stuck IF you buy your yarn there. Offers classes. Staff is dedicated to the craft. Offers classes. Offers high quality yarn and supplies.
CONS: Can be pricey. May have hours that may make it difficult for you to get there.

Craft Store (AC Moore, Michael's, etc.)
PROS: Has some high quality yarn and supplies. Has a big selection. Decent pricing.
CONS: May not have staff dedicated to knitting. May not offer classes.

Big Department Store (Wal-Mart, Kmart, etc)
PROS: Great prices on name brand yarn. Great if you are in a pinch.
CONS: No help if you get stuck. Limited supplies. Not the best selection.

You can decide for yourself with where you want to shop for your yarn and supplies. No matter where you go, it's fun and enjoy!

Knitting Supplies on eBay

eBay can also offer a lot of knitting supplies for cheap. Make sure that the seller lives in a nonsmoking and pet free home, as odors tend to be absorbed into yarn.
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Kitnit Fine Yarns, my favorite yarn store!

Advice from a Veteran Knitter

Be careful where you get patterns on the Internet. Some patterns may leave out information or be full of errors. Or both!

Patterns!

You need something to knit!

Now that you've got the basics down, why not try a pattern? Knitting patterns are their own language, so read up before you try a complex one. Please also note the disclaimer above in the advice sticky. Knit at your own risk with a a lot online knitting patterns. Still, it doesn't hurt to look and get ideas, or even try one. Here are a few places to look
Blue Slate Scarf
A simple garter stitch scarf that knits quickly. Great for a first project!
Knitting Help: Hats
Another great beginner project is a hat.
Lion Brand Yarn Pattern Finder
Check out Lion Brand Yarn's extensive list of patterns for the beginner and advanced knitter alike.
Patons Yarn Free Patterns
Not as many patterns as Lion Brand has for the beginner, but this yarn brand offers some lovely things to knit.
Ma Cobb Free Knitted Hat Pattern
If you are a fan of the short-lived FOX show, Firefly, you will love this hat.
Free Knitting Patterns on About.com
Another collection of patterns suitable for beginners.
The Knitting Site Patterns
Has a few patterns, but also a lot links as to where you can get more patterns.
Not A Celebrity Scarf
This is an intermediate pattern, but it's a great introduction to increasing and decreasing.
Bernat Free Patterns
Another yarn brand that offers free patterns.
Two Old Bags - Knitting Patterns. Home of the Lucy Bag!
Welcome to Two Old Bags!Two Old Bags is a partnership of two women-Ann Swanson and Katie Nagorney. We write and produce patterns for handknitting. We began our association more than 15 years ago after participating in a multi-owner yarn and needlework store. Our goal has al

Some of my completed projects

My swirl hat! I love this hat and I loved making it. Unfortunately, I can't share the pattern with you, but I can tell you where you can. (http://www.paradisefibers.net/Ann-Norling-Pattern-56-Swirl-Hat-p/3119.htm)purchase it. I used two skeins of Noro Silk Garden yarn in creating the hat.

My swirl hat! I love this hat and I loved making it. Unfortunately, I can't share the pattern with you, but I can tell you where you can. (http://www.paradisefibers.net/Ann-Norling-Pattern-56-Swirl-Hat-p/3119.htm)purchase it. I used two skeins of Noro Silk Garden yarn in creating the hat.

My swirl hat! I love this hat and I loved making it. Unfortunately, I can't share the pattern with you, but I can tell you where you can. (http://www.paradisefibers.net/Ann-Norling-Pattern-56-Swirl-Hat-p/3119.htm)purchase it. I used two skeins of Noro Silk Garden yarn in creating the hat.
This is a beanie I made for a friend using Paton's Classic Wool yarn in Wedgewood. You can get the pattern for free here http://www.knittinghelp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28309
This is just a simple basket weave scarf I made and added a fringe too. It was my first knitting class project.
I called the yarn I used to make this scarf "the evil red yarn" because I always ended up frogging the project I was working on with it. Not this time! I managed to finish this double seed stitch scarf!

More of My Work

Some photos may be duplicates, but here are some of my finished and current projects on Flickr.
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Made a Mistake?

No one is perfect. Check out the link below to find out some quick ways of fixing common knitting mistakes.

Fixing Common Knitting Mistakes

Advice from a Veteran Knitter

Hold your needles and yarn in way that is comfortable to YOU. There is no right or wrong way.

Connecting with Other Knitters

There is a community out there!

Want to connect with other knitters? Here are a few places to do so.
Ravelry
I love this site. You can find a knitting pattern for anything and get connected with other knitters and crocheters on a variety of topics. I love doing the swaps there!
The Daily Knitter
Great forum! Also has a free knitting pattern of the day and a free crochet pattern of the day.
Craftster
Young and hip? You'll want to be connected to this community.
Interweave Knits Knitting Daily
Check this site out now! Sign up for their daily e-mail list to for great tips and ideas. Also, check out their free e-books, too.

Get some inspiration!

Check out the lovely knitted crafts on Etsy. Get inspired!

Brown Blended Gray Orange Yellow Socks | Price: $0

It is knitted with brown blended gray orange and yellow high quality wool-acrylic yarn that is soft and very cozy.

As it is flexible fits all thes... (full description)

| Price: $0

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| Price: $0

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Handspun Yarn - Tardis - 125 Yards | Price: $0

100% BFL (blue faced leicester) wool, hand dyed by dyeingforewe.etsy.com
About worsted weight.
125 yards, 3.9 oz.
Hand wash, lay flat to dry.

Th... (full description)

3 x 50g balls Noro Silk Garden Knitting Yarn 008 | Price: $33

'The textures and colours of Noro have no equal. The world's most exciting yarns'. Each ball of multi-coloured Noro yarn is individually d... (full description)

SUPERWASH MERINO wool yarn | Price: $7

Price is for 1 skein of spectacular superwash Merino sock yarn. Great Value!!! Lovely yarn, machine washable, great yardage and superior quality of ya... (full description)

GETTY FLOWERS 14 Superwash Merino/Bamboo Fingering Weight Yarn | Price: $0

GETTY FLOWERS 14 : Superwash Merino/Bamboo Fingering Weight Yarn
Colors: Purple, Green with a light & dark gray overlay
80% Superwash Merino wool, 2... (full description)

Tell me about your adventure!

Learning to knit? Advanced knitter? Let me know what you think!

  • naheedahsan Feb 9, 2012 @ 12:41 pm | delete
    thank you for all your little tips.
  • Ladymermaid May 28, 2011 @ 12:24 pm | delete
    I really enjoyed my visit. Lol...thank you for all your little tips. They are indeed important.
  • nightbear Apr 10, 2011 @ 7:19 pm | delete
    Loved your knitting adventures. You are doing very very well. And I loved your lens. Blessed and featured on my angel lens.
  • katforeman Mar 4, 2011 @ 10:14 pm | delete
    Love that swirl hat. nice lens. good rundown on places to buy yarn. Love to meet other knitters! Kat
  • poutine Feb 11, 2011 @ 11:17 am | delete
    Wow! I am impressed about the swirl hat.

    You are doing so good in your knitting and so glad you are enjoying it.
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This So Crafty page written by

jennabee25

I'm a knitting, nerdy photographer who loves dogs. video games, and tons of yarn. Hailing from PA, I am inspired by what I see around me.

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