Can you help me learn to knit?

[HeirToTheIronThrone]

Approximately 90 billion of my friends, family and colleagues are pregnant (possible exaggeration). I would LOVE to be able to make them something for the babies - a little hand knitted cardigan or something. I can do basic knitting in a straight line (well I could, sure it would come back to me) but that's it. I can sew a bit, and enjoy crafty stuff - just made 200m of bunting for my wedding for example.

My question is - could I learn to knit to a level where I could make say a baby's cardie in the next few months? What are the best methods if so? I also have a possibly misguided idea that this will also be a little cheaper than buying them all sleepsuits/soft toys/whatever - is this a wrong assumption?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Thanks Duchoma!

Me too Dutchoma, my copy's getting really tatty after all these babies. it must be in one of the EZ books somewhere (not almanac or knitting without tears cos I've got both of those).

Anyway I digress. Ive ordered a lot from great British yarns recently, they are very good. Not the cheapest yarns but they have offers on different things every month. eBay good for needles.

I put my copy away securely and use a photocopy.

I've decided I am going to start with this (apparently) very easy blanket, as that will be nice for Winter and I only have cotton ones from my first baby. Then graduate to the surprise jacket hopefully! www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2008/5/24/whits-knits-super-easy-baby-blanket.html

Good luck!

I've done all my surprise jackets bar one in Noro silk garden sock which has amazing colours (self striping) and texture (goes thick and thin at random which some people hate and admittedly rubbish for socks)

Well I have successfully learned to cast on, purl and finish off :) That baby blanket does look easy - but how do you change to the next colour?? I am emilyhazard on Ravelry!

heir get self striping yarn, it takes the worry out of it!

Changing to the next colour is really easy: you cut off the old colour, leaving about a 2" tail to weave in later. You then take the next colour, stick your needle into the first stitc, fold over the new colour so you have again about a 2" tail to weave in, put it over the needle, pull through as normal and let the stitch go. The only thing you have to be careful of is that you knit the next stitch with the thread on the ball and not with the tail