I have always wanted to learn to knit. Well, maybe not ALWAYS, but it’s been up there as one of those crafts I’ve wanted to master. It just seems so comforting, to be sitting in front of a fire, sipping cocoa and knitting a sweater.
Though if we’re gonna be real, it’d be more like me sitting in front of the TV with a beer and knitting a very long scarf because I can only do straight lines.
I did learn to knit once, briefly, for a summer repertory show. I played a dingy 50’s housewife and I had to sit in a chair and knit while my husband filmed an interview with an alien. (Don’t ask.)
I learned to knit a scarf and I even worked on it at home so it would look like a work in progress and not just something I did for 4 minutes in the play. I was very proud of myself, until my director gave me a note after rehearsal that said, “I love how you made the scarf all crooked and strange; it is such a nice character touch!”
Apparently my stitches were too tight and the scarf had a definite curvature to it.
Stupid scarf. At least I looked like a brilliant comedic actress…
[Sidenote? That story just made me choke up a bit; that director was one of my favorites and he’s retiring in a couple weeks. Great, now I’m all sniffly about a scarf and feeling old. Moving on, shall we?]
Anyway, I’ve completely forgotten everything about knitting. I can crochet a mean granny square, but only if my mom starts it for me and reminds me how….
Speaking of which, did y’all know that I once made my mom a blanket? I used a deep purple yarn and spent months on it, while in college and busy drinking and figuring out when I needed to go to bed in order to be the least hungover for my Tuesday 9am class. And you know what happened to that blanket? Apparently I dropped a stitch somewhere in the middle and it started to unravel. And instead of telling me or fixing it, she gave it to the DOG. Granted, he’s a cute dog and a smart little sh*t, but he’s the DOG. The one that replaced me in our house and jumped on my stomach when I had 23 staples in it from my splenectomy. The one my parents like more than me. THE DOG…
I might have some issues about the dog.
So. My fellow lady crafters. Who here knits? How do I start to learn? Send me to some blogs, is there someone I need to be following?
Image found on We Heart It, but is really Banksy art so I’m crediting him. He’d be okay with me using it, don’t ya think?
Kind of a Mess 
I taught myself using Stitch n’ Bitch. Check your library to see if they have a copy. It’s really helpful for beginners. Also, if there is a knitting store in your area, the people that work there are usually quite helpful to people new to knitting. Good luck!
THIS. Stitch n’ Bitch is your friend!
Noted! It’s on my list to get now….
I mostly taught myself how to knit…my mom taught me the knit stitch and my future MIL taught me the purl, but I don’t live near them and needed lots of reminders, especially about casting on! I definitely used books as reference, but I’m a visual person, so the videos at knittinghelp.com were super helpful. I still use them (5 years later) for the more advanced techniques. Also, just fyi, drinking while knitting is TOTALLY acceptable, but be prepared to rip out some of your work later if you get too tipsy! 🙂
Ooo, videos. Good idea.
This is the sort of the thing I would knit if a knitta could knit, um, wool. http://knittaporfavor.wordpress.com/
That is AMAZING…
I inherited a big needlework book from my mother (who said, “If I taught myself how to knit, you can teach yourself too.” instead of teaching me how…) when she gave up making things, and I just sort of practiced and experimented until I got it right. It’s not the perfect method, but it helped and I feel pretty competent now. Also, using really big needles and really thick yarn at first was great, although now I prefer smaller needles and thin yarn.
Also, do you have a ravelry account? There are tons of great (and often free) patterns out there. Once you’ve made a scarf, try a hat – they knit up really quickly and are really satisfying, and you can find ones that don’t use circular needles, also. Good luck!
She’s totally the mom that pushed you off the dock into the water, huh? 🙂 That does seem like a good way to learn though, dive right in and make mistakes!
And I’m definitely going to look into ravelry, a good support system is always helpful. I used to look at Craftster a lot when I’m like, ‘WHAT AM I DOING, I BROKE IT, HALP!”
LOL my dog totally replaced me once I left for college. It is now their baby and gets all the attention and love. Waaaah! 😉
Apparently we don’t cuddle as well.
But he better be on his toes. When I poop out a grandchild, it will be on like Donkey Kong….
Did you mean “pop”?
Otherwise I think you need an anatomy lesson – babies don’t come out your butt.
(hehehehe)
Nope, I meant poop. I like to say poop out babies, mostly because it makes my mom say “Alyssa.” and make that face. You know, the one that says, “Really? Who raised you, because I know I didn’t teach you to be this tacky.” 🙂
Plus, it’s fun to say poop.
Knitting is the best! I would definitely recommend you check out ravelry.com – it’s an online community for knitters and crocheters. There are bajillions of free patterns, and lots of forums to ask for advice or suggestions. You can also see what your friends are working on and get ideas for future projects. I just recently joined a ravelry group for 20-something knitters in my town, and we meet once a week to get together and knit and talk. It’s awesome! Also, google how to ______ and fill in the blank with whatever knitting technique you need to learn – videos will pop up, and they are really helpful, because you can actually see the technique instead of just reading about it, which I find helpful. Good luck in your knitting journey! And hey, if you do join ravelry, I’m knittingchia, and always happy for more friends. 🙂
Yay! I’ll definitely add you when I join. My SIL is a great knitter and I wish I’d asked her to show me a few things when she was in town. But she was busy getting married and stuff… 🙂
And your knitting group sounds fun! I need to look into that, maybe once I figure out the basics…
Yeah, it does help (or, at least it helped me) to have someone show you the basics before you really get into it. If you have any local knitter friends, I’d ask them for a quick tutorial on the basics, that way if you make mistakes or have any questions, they can also set you back on the right track before you start any complicated projects or anything. 🙂
For whatever reason, I’ve never had much interest in knitting or any kind of sewing. I’m not too interested in crafts, per se, but I do have a goal of getting back into sculpting. The idea is that I’ll start doing it again, sell my stuff on Etsy and become a famous artist…or at least one that makes enough money to cover her supplies.
Ooooo, sculpting?!? What kind of sculpting?!? Tell me more!!
I use http://www.knittinghelp.com/ every time I want to learn something knew. I’m a lefty so it usually involved watching the videos about 8 times, but they always seem to help. Good luck!
Ooo, thanks. Bookmarked!!
This is me, EXACTLY: “I can crochet a mean granny square, but only if my mom starts it for me and reminds me how…”
It’s super embarassing. She’s always like, “Didn’t I show you how to do this already??” And I’m like, “But it’s better when YOU do it.”
And it is. Same thing goes for grilled cheese sandwiches, french toast and Kool-Aid; always better when she does it.
I’ll throw in another good resource, though not likely as fun as Ravelry. Vogue Knitting has a good How-To/Pattern Help section (http://www.vogueknitting.com/pattern_help/how-to.aspx) that I always go to when I come across a technique I don’t know (kitchener stitch? what?). A friend taught me the basic knit/purl in college, and showed me basic cabling. Since then I’ve taught myself everything I needed to know through the internet (started with a scarf, finishing socks now). Knitty (www.knitty.com) has a lot of fun patterns rated to different skill levels, once you master the basics.
Learning how to knit even stitches is the most important part — it’ll keep your scarves from ending up wonky and crooked. Once you have that established, you can knit sweaters with equal sleeves fearlessly! I would suggest knitting a few square potholders to train your hands to the right yarn tension.
And then once you’ve become an expert pot-holder knitter, you can knit your own Uterus Doll (http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/PATTwomb.html) for reverse voodoo. Real uterus killing you? Place Voodoo Uterus Doll in a relaxing bubble bath to induce uterine bliss. I would set up a shrine and offer it chocolates and jelly beans to convince it to be nice to me.
This might be the best thing I’ve seen all day!
I’d name her Alice…
And thanks for the info, both are bookmarked!
Videos are my fav. way to refresh or learn new knitting skills – so much easier to watch someone vs. look at still pictures, for me.
I think it might help me too. I can recreate papercraft, embroidery and sewing from patterns and book, but knitting and crocheting from books usually ends up with me throwing it across the room and then pouting for an hour.
I also taught myself to knit from books, but I don’t recommend that route, seeing as how it turns out that I knitted backwards for YEARS. It worked, but I could never figure out why certain stitch patterns just wouldn’t work for me. Turns out it helps if you’re knitting into the correct side of your stitch. I didn’t find out I was doing it wrong until I took a class a couple years ago. It’s so much easier now that I’m doing it the right way!
Anyway, my strong recommendation is that you take a beginners class at a local yarn store. It is SO much easier than trying to decipher what you’re supposed to be doing from a book and it’s a lot more fun, too.You can usually find a beginner class for $30-$40. If you really want to do it on your own, the books and websites folks have already recommended are great. I’m obsessed with Ravely. Also, try knittinghelp.com. They have videos, which I find much more useful than still photos of what to do. Oh, and don’t get the cheap yarn from Michaels or Joann. Go to a real yarn store and get a skein of something nice. It’ll cost you a bit more than the cheap stuff, but it’s so much easier to learn when you don’t have yarn that splits badly, pills up, etc. And I recommend bamboo needles to start. The stitches stick to them a little better, which means you’re less likely to, um, accidentally drop stitches. 🙂
Class, real yarn, bamboo needles. Check.
Was taking the class scary? I’m a grown-up, in graduate school, but the thought of taking a knitting class kinda terrifies me. Don’t know why, I just imagine some nice older lady being like, “WHAT? You’re holding your needles all wrong. You have no talent and you’re wasting my time. Get out. GET OUT!!”
And then I gather my shabby supplies and shuffle out in shame, while everyone stares….
No, taking a class is totally non-intimidating. In fact, I’ve taken several knitting classes to learn more complicated skills, and all but one of the instructors I’ve ever had have been totally young and hip and fun. One of them even became a good friend after I took her class 🙂 And the one who was a wee bit crotchety? She’s the one who got me to finally start knitting “correctly,” which has made all the difference in the world in my knitting, so she turned out to be kind of awesome, too! What I would do is go into a couple local yarn stores and just see how they feel — you can usually tell as soon as you walk in the door if they’re friendly and will make you feel comfy, or if it’s old fuddy duddy ladies who will yell at you for holding your needles wrong 🙂 If you’re feeling brave, you can even tell them you want to learn and chat with them for a few minutes to get a feel for whether you’d be comfortable learning there.
I knit! I taught myself using Knitting for Dummies. My first project was a very simple sweatervest, and then I chose projects that would force me to learn a new skill from there.
My blog started as a knitting blog, but now I post only the occasional yarny post, usually with a half-hearted apology for not doing so more often. Knitting questions are always welcome, though!
“Knitting questions are always welcome, though!”
Milady, you know not what you say…you may end up getting emailed crappy iPhone pictures of dropped stiches going, “IT BROKE! FIX IT!”
Well, to be fair, “IT BROKE! FIX IT!” is not a question. 😉
You want Ravelry and Knitty.
What’s the best way you learn? In person, in class, from a book, from a video?
I learn from books and diagrams, so that’s how I re-learned to knit (my mom taught me at ten. I made a very Dr. Seuss-y washcloth, was bored as hell by the end of it, and swore off knitting for quite a few years after that. The next thing I picked up was lace, because it looked interesting. It was).
Don’t be intimidated by stuff that looks complicated if you get bored doing stuff that isn’t! It’s all fun, it all uses the same basic stitches, and it’s more important that you like what you’re doing than that it’s appropriate to your skill level. I learn by jumping in headfirst to stuff that’s way too hard for me.
Oh, and don’t feel like your projects have to be perfect. Take them out when you’re done if you want to. Put them in a drawer somewhere if you want to. Wear them proudly, give them away, burn them – whatever makes you happy!
I REALLY recommend NOT using the long needles you see everywhere at places like Wal-Mart. They poke everyone around you, stick in things, and generally drove me nuts. You can knit back and forth on circular needles (the short needles connected by a plastic cable) just the same as on long straight needles, and the whole thing is just a lot more compact and easy to maneuver around your life.
Everyone is giving such good ideas!!! I need to do a round-up post next week with all of them…
Well, the best idea is for you to come to SF to visit me and Meg and Lauren et al, and I will teach you myself.
But if you want another plan- I agree that the best way would be a class at a local yarn store. It won’t be scary. They will be nice, and helpful, etc. Also agree that you need to start with good yarn (doesn’t need to be expensive. But does need to be a natural fiber. And in a color you love. Cascade 220 is a great beginner yarn that is inexpensive and widely available. Get something smooth to start, and wool will be easier than cotton, because it’s more elastic. Bamboo needles are good for beginners, too. Ditto the recommendation for getting on ravelry, and checking out knitty as well. Depending on how you learn things, a book might be ok, or online videos, but I think a class/friend showing you will be best. Bookwise- knitting for dummies or the idiot’s version are both ok, but only very early on, Vogue Knitting (the book) is amazing as a resource and you will keep as a reference book forever (but not as helpful at the VERY beginning). I think The Knitter’s Companion is a good book for newbies, too. I think it really depends if you like words, words and pictures, pictures, video, etc to teach you.
Happy to help by email/skype/phone whatever. Yay!
AHHH, I SO wish I could. I keep eyeing flights to SF, trying to see if I’ll catch a good rate…
And I’m adding you to my list of people to email when I’m stuck with a ball of tangled thread going, “WHY DOES THIS SUCK?!?”
It’s really a lot easier to get started if you can get someone to show you the basics. Join ravelry and look for some local groups in your area–they may have local meet-ups and I bet one of those knitters would be thrilled to teach you a basic cast-on and how to knit and purl. (We’re kind of evangelistic in that way….drink the kooool-aid.) As others have said, knittinghelp.com is fantastic–I still use their videos when I’m doing something new and am like “wait, so I do what now?” Unlike pictures in books, the videos really show exactly how to hold the needles and yarn, etc. And check out a good local yarn store, both for their classes, but also because they have experts on hand to help with whatever you need. Make friends with those people and buy their stuff cuz A. it’s good to support local businesses and B. they’ll save your ass when you make a mistake and you can’t figure out how to fix it.
I’m definitely looking a class or going to a store and getting help. Though I think I want to try videos first so I can try and have a couple basics down beforehand. Kinda like cleaning up before the cleaning lady comes, you don’t want them to judge you…
Not that I’ve ever had a cleaning lady. Oooo, that would be so nice…
I’ve learned to knit, I think, 10-12 times… I always master the basic stitches, do a few rows, then set it aside in my knitting basket. I’ve moved that basket to 5 houses and set it up in a prominent spot, but I’ve never completed anything!
YES! I was bound and determined to make a purse last year. I made one test one, figured out that I knew how to do it, and then put it aside.
It’s genetic. My mom has a dress for me in my closet back home that’s from like 1993 that she never finished…
I actually just learned to knit last fall. I wanted to make a blanket for my niece.
In Richardson there’s a store called Yarn & Stitches on the southwest corner of Coit & Arapaho that does knitting classes. I’ve gone to the ones on Saturdays. They’re great at helping anyone at any level. I’m addicted now. Finishing up one scarf to start another scarf and blanket. It never ends. But oh so much fun.
Ahh, thank you!! I’ll check them out, they do private lessons! I might do one of those and then join the regular class.
I taught myself from Stitch n Bitch, I took a horrible class and taught myself from a book to prove that I wasn’t incapable of learning.
Find some needles that feel good in your hands (I like size 8s), get some yarn that you are gonna love working with and wearing and do a nice simple scarf. It’s boring, but the repetition is so important.
Also: if something doesn’t make sense when you read/hear it, youtube it. If it doesn’t make sense after a few viewings, seek a person. But a lot of it makes more sense once you’ve seen a pair of hands do it.
I love your gumption. “I KNOW I don’t suck, so I’m gonna prove, dammit.”
And I actually like repetition. It’s why I like cross-stitch, something I can do while watching TV or chatting and not so complicated that it needs ALL of my attention. (I’m a massive multi-tasker. It’s a problem.)
Ha! I’d love to help you, but I’m the same as you.
I had my mum teach me how to knit when I won the part of the sheep in a theatre production of Charlotte’s web. She was the mother character of the barn and so she knitted…with HER OWN WOOL. So anyway I knitted a 10 inch scarf for the show and it was greatly flawed.
Since then I have knitted several scarves. I can only do straight lines also. But sometimes when I get inspired I head over to http://ravelry.com and have a peruse before remembering that I can only do straight lines.
I can only sew in straight lines. I find honor in straight lines.
And I find that sheep thing kind of creepy. Who was she knitting for? Her kids that can grow their own wool? Wilbur? Why would a pig need a scarf? SO MANY QUESTIONS….
Alyssa –
If you get sick of scarves a pillow is also easy to make. You just knit a big rectangle, fold it over, stuff it, and sew it up. That has been my one crowning glory for knitting.
Although I also made some mice as cat toys once, and they were really cute. I think I got the pattern from stitch and bitch. Just found this random picture of it on Flicker – mine was a lot more lumpy and asymmetrical (but my cat still liked it). http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonrat/264359546/
Aww, the mouse is adorable! And I never even thought of a pillow, what a good idea! Then I could knit a little mini scarf and then sew it into a rosette! Because though I don’t own any, I’m obsessed with rosettes on pillows….
Ok, so people have already shared everything, but I’m going to throw out the things that helped/stood out to me:
1. Videos are wonderful. Use the links everyone gave you. And keep them around so you can go back when you inevitably forget how to start a stitch. I do, and I’ve been knitting for a good 10 years now.
2. If you CAN find a group, or beginner’s class, do. There are groups all over the place, and pretty much everyone in them will be willing to help you start. As for the “You’re holding your needles wrong! Get out!” … um, yah. I hold my needles wrong. I also cheat when I’m supposed to be doing different stitches. No one cares. It gets done, it looks right, nobody complains.
3. Seriously, find someone to teach you the basics (it should take about 20 minutes, tops). Casting on, for example? (aka STARTING) Easiest thing ever. Learning to cast on from pictures? It looks like some magic voodoo nonsense that you’ll never master. So yah, someone to show you is great.
4. I know someone mentioned using expensive yarn (from a yarn store), but my suggestion, for learning? Pretty much yarn from anywhere. Michaels, for example, has a GREAT selection of cheapish yarns (and they do sales on it ALL. THE. TIME.). Lion Brand is always good. Just make sure it’s worsted weight (aka REGULAR LOOKING YARN) … like the kind you used for hair on your grade school project dolls. Yes, the fluffier stuff is pretty, but it’s a bitch to work with when you’re learning. So, regular yarn. This will let you learn on the cheap AND see how your stitches are looking (are they even, etc). Once you’ve mastered the basic stitch, move on to “real” yarn to perfect it.
5. Metal needles are my preference (other than my rosewood ones, but those are special!), but that’s becuase I like them slippery (I knit FAST and don’t want to be bothered with the yarn sticking) … but bamboo are good for learning on. They’re a little pricy, though. go to a store, check them out, find out what your preference is (weight and feel wise). You can’t really go wrong with any of those. But for the love of God, don’t buy plastic needles. They bend and are the freaking DEVIL.
(An added bonus with metal needles? You can have sword fights with them and they give a damn satisfying CLINK!)
Size wise? Go for size 8 1/2 (or 10?) …. your basic, medium sized needles. They’re good for worsted weight yarn, and will help with that seeing stitches thing while you’re learning. Big needles are fun, and easy to use, but they make stitches that stretch and such, and it’s hard to tell how you’re doing at first.
6. Um …… um …. I think that’s it? I can’t remember any more!
Then again there’s always the option of coming out here so I can teach you. ::winks:: Just remember … we have Kate Spaaaaaaade….. ::grins::
DEVIL WOMAN! Stop being amazing with the advice and then tempting me with DC!!
I need you and D-Day to come to Dallas. I will feed you until you beg for mercy…
I’m TRYING. I may just rent a car and DRIVE 200 miles to see you in July. Then you’d REALLY owe me food. ::winks::
For serious though, I may do this. Let’s talk about it, ok?
So there is already a ton of great advice on here but I just want to:
a) double (triple?) recommend Knitty. I was knitting in an english class at college, and the professor freaked out – not because she was upset, but because she LOVED to knit and was excited to knit with me! So I’d go visit her in office hours and ask for help on projects like socks, which I’d never made before, and she raved about Knitty. They have a lot of fun patterns, and explain things fairly well. Ravelry is nice too, but there is just so much there, in can sometimes overwhelm me. Purlbee is also fun, I found that recently and I’ve enjoyed some of their patterns & instructions.
b) and say seriously, find someone to help! I learned to knit from my mother, but really learned to love knitting from my best friend in college. Our freshman year she decided we should knit the 8 graduating seniors on our field hockey team scarves complete with their number and some field hockey sticks. Nothing like getting into knitting than a friend who can teach you, and get you motivated!
A class is probably fine, but I’ve also found that if you go in to a knitting store, buy something (or not) and ask for help with a pattern or learning something, they’ll sit right down and help you. It’s free which is great, and not as intimidating as a class might be. If they won’t sit down with you to help, someone else shopping in the store might.
Have fun! Knitting is awesome, and when I watch a movie or TV I’m always knitting, it somehow makes watching an entire series of How I Met Your Mother feel productive! It’s also great for lectures or seminars at school where you don’t need to take notes, or when you are driving somewhere (as a passenger!). I even learned to read and knit, but that doesn’t always work out so well…
I learned how to knit by watching video – http://www.knitttinghelp.com. It’s free!! I knitted scarfs. When I was pregnant with my first girl- I got the courage to knit her hats and sweaters.
http://Www.ravelry.com has great patterns. It’s a community of knitter and crochetter… Sign up and it’s free too.
I’m a tight knitter too so I just go up the next needle size
Happy knitting!!!! You can do it!!