Learning to knit

[BeaWheesht]

I'd love to learn to knit but would probably have to teach myself as too skint for lessons and can't commit to regular classes.

Is that an impossible task?

Any tips on how to get started?

Thanks

This is a nice hat pattern.

Thanks am off to bed as going cross eyed looking tonight. Thanks

Fat wool is generally known as 'chunky' or (fatter) 'super chunky' for learning, I found wool that changes through different colours is really helpful- you can see how the stitches work.
I used YouTube and random bits of wool and needles but have found loads of knitting magazines now come with a set of needles and a ball of wool each week to go with the patterns so that could be a simple place to start.

That size of yarn is often 'bulky' in US patterns, as per this one www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hot-head - nice simple hat that doesn't involve knitting in the round. It's ribbed so reasonably tolerant of being not quite the right size.

I find youtube great for knitting help, having learned as a child and now trying to improve my skills. If you don't understand one video just try the next one, whereas diagrams in books always seem to miss the vital step between the yarn being here and the yarn being there ...

www.getknitted.com/acatalog/Milward_Knitting_Needles.html - scroll down and choose 10mm needles
www.getknitted.com/acatalog/Sirdar_Yarns.html - scroll down to choose a ball of Big Softie
www.getknitted.com/acatalog/All_Sirdar_Pattern_Books.html - scroll down to Big Softie knits for beginners

Check out. Add shop to bookmarks, they are really good and usually post first class the next day.

Bea - if you could get to a wool shop, they would be brilliant and welcome you with open arms. I got my first wool and needles from a small local wool shop in London, and they were lovely.

Someone recommended "knit and natter" which I understand are good things run by shops or in libraries. I just got wool, needles, a book and learned the basics by myself, with occasional panicky questions in Arts and Crafts which were answered by fantastic crafty types like Tribpot and RatherBeOnThePiste along with many others.

I've not been around much lately for various reasons, but I guarantee that there is help here for you!

Don't feel all overwhelmed!