Learn how to knit!

[xiane]

A bunch of people have asked me for info on how I learned to knit [looks at wanderyng1 in particular], so I decided to post all the really helpful links I've found. With this, a ball of yarn, and a pair of knitting needles, you can get started in like two seconds. :D


First place you want to go is here: http://learntoknit.lionbrand.com/
The instructions are really clear and the drawings REALLY helped me. Start with Casting On, and knit yourself a chain of stitches. I started with about 40; you might want to just make a small swatch, so maybe less. The great thing about knitting is if you make mistakes or want to just practice, you can just pull all your stitches out and start over.
After you've cast on enough, move to knit stitch, then purl. If purling confounds you at first, you're in good company. I haven't even made something using purl stitch yet, because I started with the wrong sort of yarn for a beginner.

A note about that: get yourself a SMOOTH yarn to start! Trust me on this one - a homespun looks gorgeous but is a BITCH to work with at first. Also, since one of the wonderful benefits of knitting is the soothing feeling of the needles and yarn sliding through your hands - trust me, it's really relaxing, once you've got it down - I recommend buying the nicest smooth yarn and needles you can. I started on a thick wool-blend and bamboo needles and I really appreciated how they felt in my hands. Remember, if you decide you hate knitting, there are plenty of hipster-types who will want to buy your stuff from you. ;)

Here's another how-to-knit page: http://www.learntoknit.com/instructions_kn.php3
If you're curious, I knit Continental style. That means I hold the yarn with my left hand. If you want to see how this works, here's a picture explanation: http://glampyreknits.tripod.com/glampyrephotos/id49.html

I recommend the ubiquitous scarf as your first project, as SOMEONE you know will need one, and it is a simple project that you can finish quickly, so you can bask in your feeling of accomplishment.
If you want some other places to find patterns, here are some of the links I've amassed:

http://www.learntoknit.com/project_ideas.php3
http://www.knitty.com/ [excellent, cool patterns that you have no hope of doing as a beginner, hehee.]
http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PG=acc&PT=k
http://helloyarn.com/miniskulltote.htm
http://knitting.about.com/blpattern.htm
http://glampyreknits.tripod.com/glampyrephotos/id18.html
http://www.domiknitrix.com/knittingpatterns/index.cfm
http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/free_patterns/
http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/kpatt10.htm
http://www.knittingknonsense.com/skullcrossbones.html
http://wendyknits.net/knit/mousepat.htm
http://freeknittingpatterns.blogspot.com/
http://www.dailyknitter.com/
http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/index.php
http://www.knitkit.com/SpecialCompanion.htm
http://wendyknits.net/wendy/knitting.htm

And finally, an online 'zine for knitters: http://www.spunmag.com/

Questions? Comments? Links to add? Hit me up, baby!

Comments

[megdalyn.livejournal.com]

wow, i wish i had this when i started knitting

have you gone to target lately. they have all these cute yarns for a dollar

[xiane.livejournal.com]

I bought a buttload of those, and some of the aluminum knitting needles. The bamboo ones were a piece of crap, so I skipped those. Most of their yarns weren't beginner-friendly either, butooooh, once I get some skills I am making scarves a'plenty!

[megdalyn.livejournal.com]

yeah i made the mistake of getting a pair of the "bamboo" ones while i was spending and deeply regret wasting the dollar.

no they aren't beginner friendly, but y'know, we aren't beginners forever ;)

ok that was cheesy. g'nite

[xiane.livejournal.com]

no they aren't beginner friendly, but y'know, we aren't beginners forever ;)


Hehehee, that was what I was thinking when I bought it! Mind Reader!

[megdalyn.livejournal.com]

next learn how to crochet and do this so i can learn too :)

[xiane.livejournal.com]

I already know how to crochet... I just haven't done it in ages. I learned how to do that when I was 6 or 7. If you click on that first link - the Lion Brand Yarns one - there's a link for their "how to crochet" section. I bet it's as helpful as the other :)

[wanderyng1.livejournal.com]

Holy crap that's a lot of links...

Thanks! I've got a few friends locally who knit regularly, so I'd wager when I start I could probably hit them up for advice. Looks like I've got plenty of reading to keep me busy. I figure this'll be a fine way to do something creative since my woodworking activities have been curtailed due to lack of space.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

If there was ever someone born to internet-research, it's me. I amass links like nobody's business. :)

Great thing about knitting is that it takes up little space and is totally portable! When you start knitting, pleeeease post pics? I'm way too excited by this ;)

[wanderyng1.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely post some photos once I get going.

I need to pick up a few more stereotypically male hobbies too while I'm at it. Somehow I have a feeling bragging in the office about the great sweater I just knit probably won't rocket me up the corporate ladder quite the same way talking about who won the ball game over the weekend.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Knit while *watching* the game! Then you can say "Did you catch that awesome touchdown by the Kumquats this weekend? It happened just as I was binding off this sweater I made this weekend!"

O_O

hehee.

[wanderyng1.livejournal.com]

I can barely walk and chew gum at the same time. Watching the game while playing with needles would equal a bloody sweater, though very goth now that I think about it.

The Knitting Joo!

[fiendmorte.livejournal.com]

Not enough space to, "work the wood," eh? What, ya got something in your passenger seat?

Are you knitting a yarmulke?

Re: The Knitting Joo!

[wanderyng1.livejournal.com]

Jason Lee said it best: "It's seven inches...*around*....think about it."

I'm knitting you a guitar cozy. No one can be hardcore with a chilly guitar.

[ispokethewords.livejournal.com]

You are awesome! I'm going to start next week so expect questions from me!

[xiane.livejournal.com]

There's been talk of a crafty night thing. I dunno if that steps over the weird HT restrictions of hanging-outing, but if not, you're welcome to join us, once we get it started. And bring your stuff into work when you have problems, too! I might not be able to help, but at least I'll sympathize ;)

ps - I do indeed close on Friday. Wooo!

[glass-grenade.livejournal.com]

Help. After I cast on [which I'm not sure I'm doing right] and make some stitches [which I'm not sure are made right], knit stitch looks exactly like casting on and I can't make anything on the other needle. Well, I did make SOMETHING. a tangled mess of "this can't be right" ....

I mean, I am the same person who always has to do bunny ears to tie my shoes cause the loop and pull just never made sense. But I need a hobby.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Did you try the videos at knittinghelp.com? If they don't help, bring it with you to The Dawning on Dec 10th and I'll give you a lesson :)
If there's a knitting class at the local JoAnn's [assuming you have one
there] it might help, too. I know that *seeing* someone purl was my breakthrough.

You can do it!