Tips for taking up knitting

[TheKatzKlaws]

I don't have a huge amount of spare time (a 1 year old...), but I would like to take up a hobby that is relaxing and creative for when I do have a few minutes. I remember my nan and mum knitting a lot when I was young and they did show me how but it was far too long ago to remember!

Are there any knitters here that could give some tips on where to start? What needles and materials are good to start with? I have a wool shop in my local market so will pop in there to have a look around and ask but would love to have a rough idea of what I'm looking for.

Thanks all!

So chuffed that you’re taking this up. Don’t spend ond expensive wool, buy a ball of stylecraft special for £2.50 to start with.

There are different thickness of wool. Thinnest is 4ply, then double knit, then aran the chunky. I’d recommend starting with aran - thick enough for you to see but not too stiff.

Needles also come in different thickness to correspond to the wool. So use 3mm or 3.5mm for double knit, use 4mm or 4.5mm needles for aran an so forth.

so now you have your aran wool and 4.5mm needles. Use youtube or find a knitter and just learn the knit stitch first. Just keep doing it over and over until it feels easy. Once you feel confident, learn the purl stitch and practice practice practice. Once you can do knit and purl you can do anything. You then practice one row knit one row purl to get used to doing stocking stitch. Then one stitch knit, one stitch purl for rib. Once you can do stocking stitch and rib then you could give a real project a go, like a jumper or something! Good luck and enjoy!

There are a ton of knitting tutorials on YouTube to help you. If I were learning from scratch, I would opt for the continental knitting style because it seems a speedier way of knitting. This is where the wool is held in the left hand (assuming you are right handed).

Then follow tutorials on casting on, how to knit a stitch and how to purl a stitch and casting off. That's the absolute basics. Look for short tutorials as some are too wordy and time wasting.

Don't spend a lot of money on new knitting needles and wool. Visit charity shops where there are usually plenty to be bought very cheaply. Practice the basics by knitting squares. If made in cotton yarn (or cotton string), they will do as dishcloths and won't be wasted.

Aim to be consistent in your knitting - i.e keeping an even tension so all your stitches are uniform. When using a new ball of wool, the wrapper will tell you to make a sample square (cast on X stitches, knit Y rows ) and the size it ought to turn out.

Bamboo needles are much lighter and comfier to hold than metal ones, took me years to switch over

I have just started knitting again on a whim before Christmas. I bought 2 x 100g balls of super chunky wool and some 8mm needles from poundland. I knitted a short scarf in plain stitch which was all i could rememberfrom the late 80s!. I then twisted it and added a button on one corner to make a kind of folded back collar to go under a winter coat. I made one each for my mum and my aunt who loved them.. i am now making one for my friend with some yarn picked up in the middle aisle at aldi yesterday. I would love to make a granny square blanket for myself next.

I’ve just taken up knitting too! Tried it about 10 years ago but life got in the way. I’m knitting what will hopefully be a lovely chunky wool scarf! I’m doing a knit stitch and haven’t ventured beyond that yet. Will be good to follow any tips on this thread

YouTube is your friend for videos - it’s so easy to learn when you watch, pause, practice, and watch again. Ravelry has a wealth of patterns, many for free. Knitting is so therapeutic! Enjoy!

As others have said, pick up something cheap and just practice the basics of casting on, knitting, and purling. Once you’re happy with those basics, I recommend just jumping straight it with knitting a garment. I started with a pair of socks as it’s quite small so less intimidating than a jumper and a bit more interesting than just a scarf!

I followed this YouTube playlist for my first pair and found it to be an excellent, easy to follow set of instructions. I also bought the exact yarn and needles that she recommends to make it easier. Once you’ve done something like that, you’ll be off with nothing stopping you!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx1VbTvIeFx_GDukWk2sA1QoBdIPynkU2&si=fHr88zVAcTax3rj3

If you are just learning... Learn continental style knitting. It is much quicker than English style and if you progress to colour work it is easier to change colour without tangling the threads

It's a great hobby - go for it! There are so many videos on YouTube to learn the basics. If you prefer a book, there's a good basic one called Knitty Gritty which I used when I was first learning.

Watch out - craft hobbies tend to accumulate I started out knitting, but now I crochet and spin (on a spinning wheel) too! I have a big cupboard full of yarn and equipment!

@TaffyandTeenyTaffy Granny squares are crochet & fun to do.

My tips, born of my own experience:

1. The edges of a stocking stitch scarf curl inwards, even if you add garter stitch sitches at each edge. (If anyone knows how to get a flat stocking stitch scarf, please tell me.)
2. Have a big spare room for all the yarn you will get addicted to buying.

There's a Ladybird book on knitting. Honestly, it's really useful to get you started and very cute.

I second this!!! My nan tells me I knit “weird” using this method but it definitely is much faster and easier!

Wow this is amazing advice, thank you all!! I can't wait to get started. Going to try and pop out tomorrow to get what I need! 😊

Never thought knitting would be so exciting 😂

@TheKatzKlaws what are you going to make??

Haha no idea! I would like to make a nice chunky scarf, and after a bit of practice start trying to make some nice bits for my daughter (shes 1).

I think that is quite a way off though 😂

I’m knitting a chunky scarf! I’m loving it so far! Here it is so far

Yeah something like this! How long has this taken so far?

i-cord edging. Total game changer.

I won't add additional tips to the excellent advice you've had so far OP. Just enjoy, get stuck in, and don't be afraid to make mistakes.

In my case, it was a combination of YouTube and what I call my 'acquired grandmother', i.e. a lovely older lady who could sort out my patterns when it all went a bit wrong!

Start with the basics, so casting on, and doing knit and purl. Try out newer patterns marked 'for beginners'. Very old patterns just assume that everyone can knit, and that's where YouTube can come in handy, because they do not explain how to do new stitches. If you end up on Ravelry, just make sure that you haven't got anything else planned that day, as it is a complete rabbit hole, and you might only surface when you realise that it's gone dark outside!

Find the needles that work for you. Some people like straight needles, bamboo, or circular. Don't buy expensive merino wool to start with. Cheap acrylic will be fine while you're learning. Wool Warehouse has a good selection of yarns, if your local wool shop is expensive/unfriendly/has opening hours that don't work for you.

Also, if you are not in the habit of sewing up patterns once they're done, try to work out how to do everything without seams! That way, you won't have that cardigan that you knitted for your DC still sat on the side when they're 18.

It is addictive. Accept that all storage space will be home to yarn, needles, safety pins, etc. Then you'll probably end up taking up crochet, spinning, sewing and- for the truly ambitious- lace-making or mastering knitting machines or something. And if you have pets, your ball of wool WILL end up wrapped around your dining table and chairs at some point in your life.

Other than that, OP, have fun! Try everything, and don't be afraid to make mistakes, or to ask for help if you need it. Good luck!

@TheKatzKlaws so I actually started it with it being far wider (25 stitches) and then when I reached the end of the ball of wool I realised it was far too wide as one ball of wools worth would barely go round my neck lol. So I unravelled the entire thing!!! Figured it would be more practice for me and I’d also have a longer thinner scarf that I’d be more likely to wear. Started it again but with 20 stitches across now and I think it looks far better.

The pic I posted was done in just a few hours over today while on the sofa watching TV!

I love knitting… I can do knit and purl and scarves but following a pattern still feels impossible! I want to knit a jumper but haven’t got a good pattern that’s simple yet! Currently knitting on circular needles just to keep me off my phone at night and I sit in bed like a nanna knitting away 👵

it’s very addictive!!

Have you thought about crochet rather than (or as well as) knitting? Just one hook so easier to master and there are great you tube videos. I’d recommend Bella Coco who has both left and right handed tutorials.

When I first started knitting this was the first thing I made. It was actually quite simple and I was so pleased when I'd finished. That I'd finished but also what I had made.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-tree-hat

I have also knitted a baby hat inspired by one Megan & Harry had for their little boy, again a very simple pattern.

I remember knitting when I was at primary school and struggling with the stitches in the needle as they got tighter and tighter until I just couldn't get the needle in any more. It put me off even trying for all this time. I didn't try again until 7 years ago, just looking back at my photos.
Admittedly I've not knitted much, a couple of pairs of dk socks, started some mittens but went a bit wrong on one so need to redo, and am still knitting a simple jumper which I think I started 3 or 4 years ago. I'm on the last sleeve and keep thinking I'll finish it, but I think I'm scared it won't fit after all this effort. I think I am naturally more a crocheter than a knitter. I think only having to worry about one stitch is much easier than a whole load on a needle.

@Monstermissy36 You should have a look at the Step by Step sweater- the pattern is free and there's a brilliant video that takes you through it step by step- here it is:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/step-by-step-sweater

OP- I'd recommend the knitting community on reddit too- any problem you run into, guaranteed there's a thread already on there about it! And very pink knits on YouTube has great tutorial videos.