Can I teach myself how to knit. Where do I start?

[ScreamandYellowFeathers]

Is it that easy?!

I have a pair of needles upstairs and a little bit of wool. My nan tried to teach me a couple of years back but she made me knit a baby jumper and it was a bit faffy to say the least. She also never showed me how to start off which I guess is the most important bit!

So is it as easy as just getting a ready to knit pack like a scarf or something or will I need supervised tutoring lol.

[PumpkinMilkshake]

I learned in a day and a week later had two lovely scarfs. Although I can't follow paterns. Basically you loop round the needle and keep casting stitches on till you have the number you want, then just knit until you have the length you want or run out of wool an have to add another ball.

Tthick needles and chucky wool that hides mistakes are good to start with!

[Marina]

I have the previous edition of this and find it still helpful even though I'm now quite good - and a self-taught left-hander.
Actually, although the fashionable chunky yarns are great fun and fast to knit with, I'd be honest and say the best way to build up a confident technique IME is to use good quality, smooth dk (cotton or wool, whichever you want) and knit some squares for a blanket or shawl. You can see where you are going wrong and if you want to improve tricky things like neat casting off and on that really helps!

[ScreamandYellowFeathers]

Thats great. I really want to get into it.
So are the ready packs no good then?

[Marina]

No, I think they're great (have bought them as presents) but not specifically for learning technique IYSWIM

[NotQuiteCockney]

This is the site you want. Clear little videos that show you how to do everything.

I wouldn't buy a ready-to-knit pack, I'd just do what Marina suggets ... or make a scarf, but choose the pattern/yarn yourself, it's much more interesting that way.

(If you are a lefty, or fairly ambidextrous, I'd recommend trying "continental" [sic] style knitting. It's included in the videos.)

[ScreamandYellowFeathers]

NQC thats brilliant. Thank you