Knitting - start up kit

[PreseaCombatir]

I have mastered the art of crochet, and I really love it, but there’s just something about knitted patterns, and crochet just isn’t doing it. Too.. holey?
So I’ve decided to become a knitter.
I do kind of know how to knit, I was taught as a child with bright pink plastic needles 😂

But is there a start up kit you can’t get? The many sizes and types of needles is just... offputting when I learned to crochet, I spent about £15 on a kit of various hooks, and voila, good to go.
The initial outflow for knitting seems a lot, circular needles of different sizes and lengths, you need so much more for knitting.
But the lovely cable knit cardies and jumpers are calling me.

Is there a reasonably priced starter kit anyone could recommend?
Thanks

I knit. I stared off with just wool and needles and leaned how to do mitered squares for blankets- they get addictive. I gradually added different sized needles and collected more and more wool
Hobby craft is great for a mooch. Also Home Bargains and B&M for wool. You'll need something like this which has all the accessories you need cuteDIY 73 PCS Knitting Tools Accessories Supplies Crochet Sewing Starter Kit Lots with Storage Case www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LO0EX5I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ghv6Db9NX503J?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Magazines are a good source for patterns and usually have some wool and accessories.

Buy a knit your own scarf/hat kit, M&S do them I think.
Then just buy the needles & yarn as you need them, you'll soon have a collection. 🙂

I have a sort of zipped case complete with varying sizes of needles; can't remember where I bought it from now though, had it years!

BooksAreMyOnlyFriends
Funnily enough I have pretty much that exact little kit, it came with my crochet hooks! I didn’t have a clue what to do with the bendy knitting thing, still don’t really! I already have a big bag of wool from crocheting, so much more than I need, but I can’t help myself. Once I find a type I like, I just order online, but nothing beats being able to look at and touch them all in person.

Horsemad that’s a really good idea, I didn’t even think of that. I’ve seen them before in B&M I think, might take a little look on the weekend!

I am a complete knitting addict. I just spent my lunch hour squeezing yarn in my local yarn shop . I started out with a kit very similar to this one; I recommend wood or bamboo needles to beginners as they are a little more "grabby" and you're less likely to have stitches slip off. I still use my wood needles, but I now really prefer steel-tipped or aluminum needles because they are slippery, and I can go faster.

Good beginner kit: KnitPro Symfonie Needle Kit

A higher-quality wood set: Lykke Driftwood Interchangeable Set

If you're ready to use metal needles, you could try either of these:

Addi Click Interchangeable Set I really like Addi needles, but I use them mostly for socks. They have a line of needles called Rocket, and they are super slippery and amazing for doing socks.

This set is my absolute favorite. Costs the earth but kind of worth it.Chiaogoo Needle Set

Have fun!

DoubleNegativePanda oh thank you that’s just the type of thing I was looking for.

I love a good squeeze of a ball 😂

I sometimes get the urge to rub them against my cheek, but I resist!
I think I will definitely try bamboo needles to begin with then.

Also, might be a bit silly, but throngs lime circular needles and double sided needles - realistically how many sizes/lengths do you need? It looks like the interchangeables are the way to go? Do you actually use them all that often, or Osborne it more for one off projects, then gathers dust afterwards?

*Is it more
Not sure why autocorrect changed such a short word. Bit random 😂

*Things like, that first line looks like alphabetti!

I bought bamboo needles and 3 balls of wool in the pound shop. Cost me £2 as the wool was 3 for 2. Now happily knitting a scarf.

*£3

Watching with interest - I'd like a nice complete kit with wool, instructions, everything needed .. I have lots of needles though . I just never know what to knit!

@PreseaCombatir I love all things crafty, embroidery, cross stitch knitting BUT I cannot for the life of me crochet. I wish I could crochet my mum was an expert and I have kept a piece of lace she crocheted which I cherish (she died 11 years ago)

Is there any websites you can recommend.

I have used them all at one time or another, but I definitely uses two or three sizes the most. In circulars or straight needles (I personally prefer circular as straight needles feel like I'm waving a big stick about).

For double-pointed needles, I use 2.25mm for socks of fingering yarn, 3.75 for gloves of DK or sport yarn and 4.5 for hats of worsted weight yarn.

Circular needles, I use 3.75, 4.5 and 5mm the most.

I do have some gathering dust I suppose, but I like having them in case a project pops up that needs them!

@Dynamodopey I recommend the YouTube tutorials by FiberFlux. She has a way of explaining and demonstrating that seems to work for a lot of people.

I recommend getting a kit more expensive than buying everything separately.

Try we are knitters it's wool and the gang.

You can choose what you want to make - scarf/sweater/hat or whatever and it all comes together wool, pattern, needles and needle for sewing it up.

Really good to start off with.

I also wouldn't bother with circular needles to begin with.

@queenofkale how very dare you! Circular needles are much better than straight.

Dynamodopey
I know a lot of people like Bella Coco, bit to be honest I never watched one YouTuber in particular, as it clicked with me pretty quickly, so I watched a wide variety.

I do love crochet as well, I have made some lush blankets and scarves.
From my limited experience of knitting so far, crochet builds up much quicker, so perfect for big projects like that!

I use Knitpro interchangeables and they're great. You can buy extension cables if you want to knit blankets or large sweaters (just use the circulars like straight needles and turn at the end of each row) The other good thing about using circulars as straight needles is that all the weight of the knitting can sit in your lap rather than the weight going through your wrists and elbows.

DoubleNegativePanda
Ah, thank you! So can you use circulars instead of straights for any projects? (So not just for knitting in the round?)

There are so many different types of needles, I’m just used to different size hooks! It’s a bit daunting to be honest.

I love circular needles, because I can't lose the other needle.

I like Marley knits on YouTube.

I would find a basic pattern you like and just buy the needles you need as you go along.

If you want to start with a basic scarf, go and find some yarn you fall in love with, check the ball band for the recommended needle size and then look at tutorials online for how to cast on, knit and cast off. You decide how wide you would like it to be and check the ball band (the paper around the yarn) and it will tell you how many stitches there should be to 10cm. When I first started, that sort of regularity was but a distant dream, but it will give you an idea. Then you cast on the right number of stitches, knit until you are almost out of yarn and then cast off.

You will need a yarn needle to darn in ends unless you use the invisible knot method to join yarn, crochet hook to pick up dropped stitches and things like scissors and measuring tape that I guess you already have.

Also check out ravelry.com. It's a site dedicated to knitting and crochet and there are some lovely patterns on there, some of which are free.

Aldi do yarn, but they don't always have details like recommended needle size on the ball band, but you can always wing it.

Good luck.

BeBraveAndBeKind X post re using circulars in place of straights.
Maybe I’ll get a pair of straight bamboos to begin with, and one of those ‘knit a hat kit’, and then if I feel like I’m getting on okay, invest in some interchangeable circulars?

I use Knitpro needles too. There are lots of good YouTube tutorials to help you if you get stuck; I like Very Pink

Meckity1
The thought of dropped stitches gives me palpitations! I’m used to only having one stitch on the go! That’s really helpful, thank you so much!

Or I think maybe I’ll just try and do a few practice squares before moving in to an actual project, just seems a waste of something goes wrong on the first attempt.

www.marksandspencer.com/knit-your-own-hat/p/p60281954

🙂