Knitting starter kits

[IfAtFirstUDontSucceed]

Since I began maternity leave I've really fancied taking up knitting. I have memories of knitting with my Nana as a child, but haven't since so I'll be pretty much starting from scratch again.

Can anyone recommend a good starter kit or book, needles and yarn/wool that I can order online. Baring in mind I'm a complete novice and don't want to spend too much in case it's just a fad that ends up tucked away for eternity.

If it helps, I would like to knit items for expected DS

thanks! :)

youtube is great for tutorials for the bits you've forgotten. Sign up to ravelry it's free and has more free patterns than you could shake a stick at, I'd look for something using dk wool, baby size and select an easy 2 or 3 rating on the advanced search and see what you fancy. Knitting needles are pretty cheap from amazon or ebay and 'stylecraft special dk' is a cheap and soft enough wool for baby stuff also look on ebay or somewhere like deramores My nan taught me to knit too

and if you get stuck you can always come back on here and ask more questions. I've just knitted the berry baby hat - its sooo cute

I learnt after buying Cath Kidston's how to knit box. Comes with needles, about 8 balls of yarn and instructions for learning how to knit and then how to make a scarf. I paid £20 for it, but I've seen it cheaper since on Amazon/eBay.

Though it'd be cheaper to just buy some needles (I'd recommend 4mm) and some yarn and then to look on Ravelry and YouTube, but I was a complete novice and didnt have the confidence to buy the needles and yarn myself (which is silly really!) and besides...I really wanted the tin

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll have a look at ravelry.

I never even considered YouTube!

I did have a scout about on eBay and amazon before posting on here and noticed the Cath kidston set but there were several negative reviews about the quality etc. However, I suppose if I'm just experimenting at the moment I don't really need anything that's super duper quality and even wearable! :) Once I've found my way again I could look in to investing in different needles and decent wool!

If you're off to ravelry - you may be gone some time

The yarn in the Cath Kidston set isn't the greatest quality but it was perfectly fine for learning, and then when I was more confident I raided my nearest yarn shop I still love the needles that came with the CK set though, they are great

The Stitch n Bitch book has basic instructions, or I used this one: The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting.

I also have this book: Easy Baby Knits which I've made DS a few things from, and it has basic how to knit instructions for anyone who has no experience.

For yarn and needles, you want something not too fine, and that wont split too easily. My personal preference is for natural fibres, I find knitting with acrylic feels horrible in my hands. I love cashmere mixes, merino and I have some lovely bamboo mixes, bamboo cotton or bamboo merino. If you can get to a yarn shop, it is nice to feel the texture, especially if it's just a fun piece to get to like knitting. :)

The needles you need will depend on the yarn you pick. I love Clover bamboo needles, the metal ones hurt my fingers. Could have something to do with the fact that I tense up when I'm focusing and realise that I have them in a death grip! :o

It's not budget, but I love Rowan Cashsoft. There's a baby version and a non-baby version, but I think the only difference is that the baby version is in pastel colours (please correct me someone if I'm wrong). Cashsoft DK takes needles in a size 4mm (UK 8).

I've bought yarn online from McA Direct before and was happy with their prices and service.

Have fun!

I second the stitch and bitch book. The pics are realky ckear and theres some really simple scarf patterns that are simple but a bit more interesting than just a straight scarf. Oh and i would say, don't buy expensive wool like rowan or a hairy type wool till your more confident. Your first attempt will have holes and dropped stitches all over the place!

Youtube is fab. I hadn't really knitted for decades until recently and had forgotten so much. I spent ages trying to work out how to k1p1 and where to put the thread until I watched a little 60 sec clip on youtube.