Beginner Knitting Kit

[Wildernesstips]

Really fancy having a go at knitting. I’ve been looking at the beginner knitting kits from Wool and the Gang. Are they any good? I’m looking to make a jumper rather than a hat or scarf, but at around £100, I want to make sure it is a good kit.
Thanks

I am afraid I don't know this particular kit, but what level of experience do you have? Did you used to knit, so you know the stitches, pattern abbreviations etc? Or are you a complete beginner?

If you're a complete beginner, that's not where I'd start honestly. I'd go to a wool shop and buy some Aran weight yarn that when you touch it feels nice. Don't get dark yarn, because you won't be able to see what you're doing. Look on the label for the recommended needles for the wool you have bought and buy one pair. This shouldn't set you back more than £10.

Find YouTube videos that you like and understand. You could try the basics play list from Very Pink Knits -

youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF004A1CE2AB1B12E

Learn the stitches and make squares. Master knit, purl, and a couple of ways of casting on and off. Then yarn over, k2tog, kfb. Get on Ravelry and look for free dishcloth patterns. When your stitches are even, and you've got the tension right, then progress to bigger things. For example, a hat - woolly wormhead patterns are good.

You'll probably want a set of interchangeable needles, especially if you want to fit your jumper as you go, and avoid seaming. So don't buy lots of straight needles from the word go.

Even if you're not a complete beginner, doing some of this as a refresher isn't a bad idea. Hope that helps.

Definitely don't go for a £100 kit. All you get is needles, wool and a pattern. You can set yourself up with a starter kit much cheaper to practice on.

I would recommend some 4mm metal needles and a ball of stylecraft special double knit (dk) yarn.

Then just use YouTube to practice casting on then a couple of rows of knit and a couple of rows of purl. Repeat till the stitches feel comfortable and you're not having to think about where the wool goes for each stitch.

Then learn how to cast off so that what you've made doesn't unravel.

Once you've figured out those 2 stitches you can do anything. Knitting is just about combining knit stitch and purl stitch in various combinations to form different textures and patterns.

When you've mastered knit and purl you can start learning about increasing and decreasing the number of stitches on the needle and that's what allows you to make shaped items.

YouTube has thousands of videos and will be perfect for getting you started.

Thanks both for the advice. It is a lot of money.
I last “successfully” knitted when I was a Brownie and I’m pushing 50 now, though I have tried to knit socks in the past few years. The stitches were just too tiny hence wanting to go for something bigger.

Think I might pop up to my local craft shop and get something there then.

Knitting is brilliant! I always think kits are absolutely insanely expensive though - £100 , and totally agree with HalfShrunkMoreToGo's advice. I learned as a total beginner in my 30s from YouTube, started with scarves and these days make socks, Fairisle jumpers and all sorts! Or a beginner's knitting book is good. I used one called 'Knitty Gritty'.

Btw, if you want any more advice or just fancy hanging out with some knitters and crocheters (including beginners), come and join us on the Knit, Crochet and Natter threads!