Knitting hamper for a beginner - what to include?

[Flippingnorah]

I'd like to make my DM a little basket of things for knitting. She's never knitted before but has mentioned a few times it's something's she's always wanted to do.

I have no experience either. Can anyone recommend stuff to go in the basket? A knitting magazine, needles and wool?

Some things I have immediately to hand and always appreciate doublers of are needles in a fairly average size, so 4mm or 5mm and nice wooden or bamboo ones - they feel nicer and warmer than metal. Some fancy wool, I like Countess Ablaze, Purl Soho and Garthenor. Good hand cream. Sharp snips or small fabric scissors. A yarn needle for sewing up finished items. An Etsy or Ravelry gift certificate for buying patterns or accessories. Other things you could consider are project bags, a yarn bowl, a pattern book. You might also add a notebook to keep track of projects, or a list of links to YouTube tutorials or even a paid online class if she is tech-savvy.

Bamboo or plastic needle sets with a variety of sizes (the kind you find cheap on Amazon) are the best for beginners. As is using thick wool - remember to get washable wool! Suggest you also go to John Lewis and ask for free beginners patterns (they will let you take them from their books).

My DM is quite down with the kids but some of the names or colour ways of Countess Ablaze yarn might be too out there for her. John Lewis haberdashery departments or your local wool shop will be good for wool and pattern recommendations to suit her taste and your budget, if you have one close by.

What a lovely idea. Your DM will need to start with something easy, but have a think about what she would like to make. A scarf is the obvious first thing, but something like a teddy or a cushion would be straightforward too. If you have a shop nearby the staff should be able to give you lots of advice, but if not there are lots available which will have everything in.

Argh, I'm having trouble typing today! I mean lots of kits...

Would she be happy looking up you tube videos? I still found it easier to look at lots of books including kids ones.

4/5mm needles are very small so likely to take 342y to knit a scarf so you want 10/12mm and chunky wool if you want a whole project to include. You could print off some basic patterns, often magazines for knitting or crochet are written in odd ways and over Complicated.

A nice notebook also handy for notes. So when it says repeat xyz 22 times you can write patterns out long hand and tick them off as you go.

A row counter/stitch counter is also handy only cost few quid and just helps you keep track instead of counting things over and over.

Stitch markers can be handy, and I agree that a good pair of small scissors are really useful.

Stylecraft special DK yarn is nice and comes in lots of colours, or if you have a Hobbycraft store near you they often have a 3 for 2 on yarn instore. Aldi often has packs on wool (and did recently) but it can sometimes be scratchy!

I think a kit from Toft would be nice. They provide the wool and pattern and pom poms. You could also include a beginners book - Aneeta Patel's Knitty Gritty is great.

You are very thoughtful, what a lovely daughter!

Some magazines can be 7-8-9 quid and be half full of adverts so worth looking at books instead that will have more in and “look More of a present”.

Are there any local wool shops? I'm lucky in that there's a really good one near me that runs classes, so if there was one near her then you could pay for a class for her? Mine lists the stuff you need for each class and you could get her those needles and wool too.

If you were happy to say where she lives roughly people might be able to suggest shops.

Although they're not on public display for health and safety reasons, knitting needles are usually kept out the back in charity shops, you just have to ask. They sell them so much cheaper, so you could get a variety of needles, stitch holders etc very cheaply.
A tape measure is handy, also a crochet hook is surprisingly useful for when you drop a stitch!

I got given one, which was gorgeous and delightedly received, but omitted an actual person to teach me. No groups nearby, the book that was included is fab but does not deal with my ridiculous questions and I cannot get on with YouTube....

If she enjoys reading, I just finished a brilliant book about the history of wool in the UK. It's not dry and factual, it's really good story telling.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1783784350?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I agree with others who say book instead of magazine. The magazines are very variable in quality in my opinion and not that useful to a beginner.

I'd probably fit the supplies in around the most simple project in the book. I think I'd probably choose something very basic like a scarf or simple squares for a blanket. Ideally something small and quick.

A tape measure is a must, and a book of different stitches is handy/useful. So companies do kits of the wool and a pattern together for things like scarves, Deramores is a good place to start.

What a fab idea for a present!

Stitch markers
Row counter
Crochet hooks (always handy)

You could buy a set of circular or double pointed needles from Amazon for reasonable prices - my last set of bamboo ones was about £10.

If you can get it, the book Knitting for Dummies is really good. It is entry level but gives lots of more complicated tips too in simple language with easy to grasp diagrams.

Look for local yarn shops and see if they run beginner classes, usually 1 day workshops that teach you to cast on, knit, purl and read the basics of a pattern.

Other than that

• knit pro symphonie needles are a) beautiful b) strong c) rosewoods so they feel warm, just flexible enough and the wool doesn't slip off them. 1 pair in 4 mm is perfect for learning as it's the right size for Double knit wool.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/KnitPro-Symfonie-Pointed-Needles-Multi-Color/dp/B0054DCYK2/ref=sr11_3?crid=DJ857KKXS97Q&keywords=knitpro+symphonie+knitting+needles&qid=1574287393&sprefix=Knit+pro+sym%2Caps%2C282&sr=8-3

• a couple of balls of Stylecraft Special DK wool, it's great budget yarn, easy to handle, fab range of colours, doesn't shrink in the wash and feels lovely.

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/stylecraft-special-dk?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhLvlnuX55QIVmLPtCh23-wtQEAAYASAAEgL6kDDBwE&country=GB&efid=EAIaIQobChMIhLvlnuX55QIVmLPtCh23-wtQEAAYASAAEgL6kkDBwE:G:s&utmmsource=google&utmmedium=cpc&utmmcampaign=1417079173&utmtermm_=
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• If you have one nearby the Tiger shop near me has yarn bowls for about £7. Really nice to hold the yarn still while you knit, they have a little cut out down the side that the yarn threads through so you don't have a ball rolling around on the floor.

• a small make up bag with - little scissors or a yarn cutter, yarn needles, stitch/row counter. I have one of these yarn cutter pendants which I really love

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https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clover-Thread-Cutter-Pendant-Antique/dp/B000YQH0K8/ref=srr_1_5?crid=2JMKNQETHDF7Z&keywords=yarn+cutter+pendant&qid=1574287625&sprefix=Yarn+cutter+%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-5

As someone who relearnt a few years ago, I’d get short needles and one of those books of tea cosy patterns. They have from simple to complicated patterns in and don’t take so long to finish that you’re bored by the end, neither do you have to spend a fortune on wool.Tea cosies are also great as presents, especially if you do some of the novelty/ funky ones.

A ' we are knitters' kit, absolutely lush!!!!

Just looking in my knitting kit ( I knit for a living)

Good needles. Ask her what she would prefer. I hate wood or bamboo. Only use knit pro metal needles.
Needle length. I dont like needles over 30cm
Decent wool. I like Drops or Sublime.
Good embroidery scissors.
Plenty of markers. Easy to tell where you are and decide stitches up.
Crochet hook to pick up stitches with.
Stitch holders.
Rubber ends so stitches dont fall off when you are putting work away.
Easy patterns.
Highlighter pens to highlight size your knitting.

Aldi are selling balls of striped wool with a bobble on top to make a bobble hat costs about £3. They look really cute.

Oh and if your going to learn from you tube. Try looking up continental knitting, or scottish knitting.

It is faster and easier to knit that way.

Here they are

I found the 200 knitted blocks book by Jam Eaton really good when I was learning to knit - had way to follow instructions and a good mix of patterns.

Personally I'd just go with something like Stylecraft DK yarn - not as nice, but I find the more expensive yarns can spilt a little, so harder to learn on.

Great idea though - I'd love a crafting hamper for Christmas!