DD (9) learning to knit...

[AnonymousBird]

She is a complete but very eager beginner, I did some basic knitting as a child, but can't remember any of it, so we need to learn and make together. She will absolutely love it I know, so I am happy to get her some kit or a good book etc to get her started, and work along with her. Our local craft shop unfortunately doesn't run children's classes, otherwise I would send her on that.

What is best to start her off? Good book/DVD recommendation? Size of needles? Easy to get going patterns? Use a loom? Wool types - is acrylic wool any good?

Lots of questions, but really just loooking at a good way to get started as it's all a bit of a mystery to me! Thank you.

I think start of with just squares. You do the casting on and she can learn to do that later. Just start with every row knit to begin with. I tried to teach DD but she is left handed so it was really frustrating as I'm not the most patient of folk! There are some good videos on You Tube.

Also Ravelry is an amazing website and there will be lots of tips on their for beginners. You could try a magazine called Siimply Knitting. They have a section at the back for beginners.

Size of needles 4 and double knitting wool.

Charity shop for needles and cheap wool :) Ask in there if anyone can show you, basic knitting is very easy.

Youtube - casting on & knitting.

Oh I missed a bit of your post.

You do not need a pattern - trust me. If she is desperate to 'make something' tell her it's a scarf for one of her teddies/dolls.

Cast on 20 stitches. It will go up and down & end up with big holes in it.

You could look to see if your local library offers anything - ours has a 'Knit & Natter' session a couple of times a week (but it might be in school hours?) and if so I'd just take her along, someone will be only too keen to show her how to do it.

Ask around your friends/family.

Or just ask them to show you in your local craft shop.

I learnt to knit when I was a bit younger than your DD - my mum taught me but my DD2 has learnt by a combination of me showing her the basics and youtube videos.

When I first learnt to knit I had a lovely Ladybird knitting book that had stitch explanations and some simple patterns. It is still available.

There are first knitting kits available in John Lewis and Hobbycraft but it is just as simple to get some needles and yarn from a yarn shop. Needles come in various lengths as well as thickness and depending on the size of your DDs hands you may want to get her short ones but if you can only get longer ones they will be fine.

4mm needles and some acrylic double knitting (DK) yarn would be a good first kit.

Thanks all so much, really helpful advice here.

knittinghelp.com and youtube are both great for learning learning techniques for knitting