How do I learn to knit?

[Turnipsoup]

Sorry I know this has probably been asked many many times before, but how do I learn to knit? And what do I start knitting?

I don't have anyone to teach me, and can't go to any of our local knit and natter groups as they are held on nights that I work.

Please help!

[impty]

Dd1 and I are learning to knit! We started by buying some dk yarn (we choose self striping) some 4mm needles and watching demonstrations on you tube. Currently we are knitting a snood/ cowl/ long scarf. We watched how to cast on, cast on 40 stitches. Now we are just knitting using knit or garter stitch. We will knit for 2 100g balls. Then cast off, sew the ends together and when we wrap around our necks twice have a scarf/ snood thing.
At the end of this project we will be able to cast on, add a new ball of yarn/ wool, knit keeping a fairly good and even tension, cast off, sew together. All by watching people on you tube.
Our back up was going to be textiles teachers at dd's school but we haven't needed help yet.
The self striping wool is helping make our first piece of knitting much more interesting, and clever than we are!

[Dothraki]

Sign up to ravelry, for lots of ideas and free patterns. If you get stuck you can just come back on here and ask specific questions. There are also lots of good books, I saw several in my local library yesterday. They might have a daytime knitting group.

[ClaireandGeorge]

I had a how to knit book, which gave you different stitches and explained how to follow patterns. It also had little projects to do which gave you something to achieve.

[Dutchoma]

If you get yourself some dishcloth cotton and some 4mm knitting pins you can make yourself a really useful discloth.
There must be somebody you can ask to show you how to cast on, but if there really isn't YouTube videos are really good.
One of the advantages of making a dishcloth is that it doesn't mater how many stitches you drop or how many unwanted holes there are, it will still be useful.
Another advantage is that you can quite easily see what you are doing, because the yarn is quite smooth and handles easily.
Definitely second the suggestion of joining Ravelry and searching for groups in your area.
If you have a local yarn store they will help you. Knitting is so much more easily shown that taught in any other way.
Whatever you do as a first project, don't do a scarf. The beginning of it will always show that you are a beginner and it will take a long time to finish and never be quite perfect. If you want to do a scarf do a doll's one.

[Andromaca]

I just started knitting last week. I bought myself a book (knitty gritty) but because my brain is mush after work and 2 kids I ended up using you tube: lots of videos showing you how to do it.

What I have done so far look rubbish but I'm soooo proud of it!!!!

[sadeyedladyofthelowlandsase]

Oooh, Turnip, I was about to ask the same question! I learnt to crochet from the stitch and bitch book, youtube videos just didn't work for me.

Has anyone tried the stitch and bitch knitting book? Is is as straightforward as The Happy Hooker?

[tribpot]

Do you have Mumsnetters near you? We are always willing to help out a newbie knitter.

I would have a look at Knit Freedom for a fab set of videos. There is a video e-book if you want to shell out but perhaps see how you get on.

[BarbaraWoodlouse]

I would get a book to lead me through it stepwise (I also have Knitty Gritty which I found great to encourage me to try things other than knit and purl stitches and to make something useful but I wasn't a complete beginner) and then go to You Tube to look at some of the stitches you are seeing in pictures in action.

Or as Trib says, let us know where you are and somebody might be able to help out in person.

[sadeyedladyofthelowlandsase]

I have Mumsnetters near me - I'm in Norwich - but I don't know if any of them can knit, and TBH I'm so cackhanded that the length of time it would take me to pick up the basics could fill AIBU I am still the nine year old girl who painstakingly completed her sampler only to stand up and find out she'd sewn it to her knitted Chelsea Girl striped leggings.

[Madratlady]

Get some 4mm needles and some double knitting yarn.

See if there are any classes near you. Or knitty MNers who might help.

Join ravelry.com

Youtube was easier than books i found, although I do have a book. I would recommend staying away from the 'stitch and bitch' series, they explain things badly and the patterns are hideous.

I taught myself mostly off youtube but i found people at a local knitting shop and knitting group I went to really helpful if I got stuck.

[forbetterorworsted]

I'm learning from YouTube! I found using bigger needles and chunky wool really helped at the start as mistakes are forgiving and I prefer chunky knit scarves.

I also make a lot of bookmarks to practise new techniques like cables, lace etc.