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

@PreseaCombatir I strongly suggest picking up some yarn and just going for it. I learned with double knitting (widely available and usually cheap), what are now 4mm straight needles and my gran watching over me - nearly fifty years ago. A square or something that is supposed to be a scarf at the end of it is a great way to go, and it isn't a waste - it's a learning curve.

btw the cheapest yarn I've found online is Marriners Yarns. Their service is amazing, but their selection is old fashioned and often they have stuff out of stock.

www.marrineryarns.com/

you may also find yarn in charity shops, but unless you are confident after the crochet, I'd stick to only getting the ones that still have the bands on.

Horsemad omg, it even comes with the little Pom Pom. That looks really it’s really soft and cosy, much better quality than the ones I saw before! (I think it was in pound stretcher actually, not b&m)

Meckity1 Right I’m convinced! I’m going to get some needles, practice with one of the many balls I already have, and then move in to that snuggly hat!

I love the pom pom, might ask for this myself! 😆

Do a scarf rather than squares, you can see it grow and it will be useful as well. Double knit wool & 4mm needles should be fine.

As long as you enjoy it - go for it!

Once you have got knitting cracked, have a go at tunisian crochet, look it up, the needles will blow your mind!

Excellent! This weekend, I shall be producing a lovely... something 😂
I’ll be making cable knit and fairisle jumpers before I know it 😂

Cable isn't too difficult - never tried Fair Isle though, nor socks! 😆

There was a chap knitting in the drawing room of an hotel I visited the other day; he was knitting an absolutely gorgeous jumper.

@Horsemad Socks are quite straightforward once you get going, they're not as difficult as everyone thinks they are. Also there's something great about opening a drawer full of hand-knitted socks.

Another vote for the Very Pink online tutorials - they really are excellent (she also knits in the European style. Don't want to confuse things too much here, but US knitters tend to manipulate the wool and needles in a whole different way, which personally I can't get the hang of).

As for circulars vs straights, I never went back to straight needles once I discovered circulars, and I use KnitPro too. But honestly, OP, for getting going with a simple project, all you need is a pair of needles - any needles - and a few balls of yarn + pattern. The rest can come later.

you don't need a kit. just pick a free, simple pattern from ravelry. tin can knits are very good for this. buy yarn of the right weight, one set of needles (probably circular - the most versatile and only that i use!) and get going. could be done for less than £10!

I buy cheap patterns on ebay, they do everything from toys, dolls clothes, baby clothes to adult clothes if that helps 😀

If you look at websites, they have free patterns quite a lot. I like using very soft yarn and I’m not keen on circular needles. You can get different lengths of straight ones.

I knit hats, cardigans and blankets for the maternity unit at the local hospital.

I started when ds bought this www.usbornebooksathome.co.uk/catalogue/catalogue.aspx?id=12611 with his pocket money. He lost interest but wanted the cat so I learned how to do it, made it for him and got hooked. That was only 6 months ago and I've built up a huge collection of wool and needles and other bits & pieces over that time.

I bought this www.theyarnloop.com/article/knit-your-own-nativity but am using my own metal needles with it.

I just buy or borrow (my mum and mother-in-law have been great at lending or giving me things such as yarn and needles etc) patterns and if it needs something that I don't already have then I buy it. If it has something in the instructions that I don't know how to do then I YouTube it.

This is what I'm currently making.

IMHO look at buying yarn which is thick, like Aran weight
acrylic is the best because it won't be too slippery
buy one pair of needles and try to make sample of only knit rows
this is the way to start your knitting with a crochet chain

then learn you knit stiches and so on

I would not start with a hat because there are few techniques you need to learn first

here are few ideas what you can do for your first project
www.thesprucecrafts.com/easy-knitting-patterns-for-new-knitters-2116495

at the beginning with your needles and yarn - just learn to control the tension and turning to start your next row
once you are comfortable with that you can make lots of projects just with a knit stitch

I'd actually counsel against starting with super thick wool. You want to start with DK weight and a 4 or 5mm needle. The thicker needles and wool get really heavy and unwieldy and I would find them very off putting if I were just starting out.

Then again, I prefer knitting on 2 and 3mm needles these days so perhaps just a personal bias.

OP when you get around to cables I can't recommend the KnitPro cable needles enough! You don't NEED them, but they're super helpful and the kink in the needle will stop the stitch falling off when you're fiddling with the other needles :)

best of luck!

I would recommend getting shorter needles. I've got quite a few pairs of 18cm or 24 cm ones and they're far less unwieldy then standard length ones. And as a lot of others have said get a pair of 4mm, some DK wool and just set off. I learnt as a child then never did anything until I was pregnant with my 3rd and what started with a hat for DH (with an awful lot of swearing and unpicking) has now become being able to turn out a fancy baby cardie in under a week and cable and everything!

I agree @Damntheman that there's a lot to personal preference but when I am teaching friends to knit Ifind that thicker, inexpensive £1 yarn is perfect for that purpose.

Not v.expensive if you have to throw bits you can't untangle.

Also opting for light shades (not white!) - IMHO light grey or mint colours are best

Interesting Fere! What's the reason for the light colours being best?

Not necessarily for PreseaCombatir but there are a load of free patterns on Red Heart Yarn for both knitting and crochet

www.yarnspirations.com/patterns?prefn1=brand&prefv1=Red%20Heart

However they need to be translated from American to English terms. It's easy enough if you have the hang of stuff, or can ask on Ravelry, but not straightforward for a beginner, and the difference in yarns can make it difficult to translate as well. I just have a go at the blankets, so not so stressful.

Are you me @PreseaCombatir? I can crochet well and have learnt to knit but feel at a loss as to how to start. I unearthed a stitch & story knitting kit I bought years ago so will have a play with it (once I finish crocheting Christmas presents).

Damn, it might not be the same reason, but I find it much easier to see the separate loops/bars/stitches in light wool, so if I've made a mistake it's easier to see what I've done.

Makes sense Polka! I hadn't thought about it, but then I am a terrible terrible teacher :D Thanks.

@posterDamntheman I think that learning new skill is tiring enough for our brains and having to strain your eyes (on pure white or dark colours) just makes the whole experience more draining.

the same goes for the size of stitches, the bigger the better - for learning