So you want to learn how to knit? Good move:-)
Here at Crafty Grown Ups we use the C-Gups-Knit-As-You-Go method of learning which means you learn to knit as you follow a pattern. No having to memorise hunbreds of abbreviations, hundreds of stitches or being bambozzled by the hundreds of yarn and needle choices out there. Buy what you need and learn what you need to know to get the job done.....................and then do lots of jobs! You'll be surprised how much you'll learnt just by following a few key patterns, and most importantly you'll learn how to teach yourself.
Here at Crafty Grown Ups we use the C-Gups-Knit-As-You-Go method of learning which means you learn to knit as you follow a pattern. No having to memorise hunbreds of abbreviations, hundreds of stitches or being bambozzled by the hundreds of yarn and needle choices out there. Buy what you need and learn what you need to know to get the job done.....................and then do lots of jobs! You'll be surprised how much you'll learnt just by following a few key patterns, and most importantly you'll learn how to teach yourself.
Learn how to cast on, cast off and knit a scarf.
So lets get started.
There's no getting away from making your first knitted square or rectangle because it requires no shaping. Whether you choose to make a scarf, a tablet wipe, a coaster, or a great big pair of curtains is up to you but the purpose of doing it is to teach you how to start the very first row of knitting, how to knit and purl which are the two main building blocks of any knitted fabric and how to take your knitting off the needles once you're finished knitting. It also gives you the opportunity to practice not only creating the knit andpurl stitches but to learn how to tension your yarn so your stitches are even.
So lets get start:
Buy yourself a ball of chunky yarn in a light colour and the recommended knitting needle size. You'll find the recommened needle size on the label. If you can only get needles a .25mm up in size or .25mm down, don't worry, the recommended size is just that - a recommendation.
Don't be tempted to buy yarn that comes in a plait unless you buy it from a yarn shop and they're able to wind it in to a ball for you. Trying to knit from what is called a hank of yarn without first winding it in to a ball is asking for trouble!
There are different types of knitting needles out there from straight onces made from a range of materials, to circular ones where the two needles are connected by a central cord, to double pointed needles which come in a set of 4 or 5 needles and have a point at both ends. Not only are these needles made from various materials, they're made in various sizes so there's a lot to choose from out there. Some needles will be more suitable for some projects than others, dont be tempted to go wild until you're sure knitting is for you.
Straight metal or wooden needles are the easiest and cheapest to find so they're a good place to start. Again the size you need will depend on what your ball of chunky yarn recommends for you.
Chunky yarn is pretty easy to find and is the thickest yarn you find on the highstreet. The most popular is Double knitting (DK) which is fine to use but you're stitches will be smaller and a bit more fiddly to work with as a beginner. Please dont purchase 4ply, 3ly, 2ply, anything silky, cotton or anything with nobbly bits on it, they're all lovely to work with once you know how, but they'll make your learning curve a lot steeper as a new knitter.
As well as your chunky (or DK) yarn and your knitting needles, you'll also need a pair of scissors to cut the remaining yarn off once you've finished knitting and a crochet hook for correcting mistakes. If you want to purchase a beginners kit which will cover everything you'll need for this project and the follow on patern them please visit the shop. It includes everything you'll need to get you going but at some point you may want to upgrade if you decide knitting is for you.
There is a beautiful array of knitting needles and crochet hooks out there , some of them beautifully hand crafted, others created using precison manufacturing techniques, there's a lot to explore but not necessarily worth investing in at this stage.
How to read a pattern and how they are structured
How to Use an Abbreviations Guide
What materials you need and why
How to start you're first row of knitting
How to knit, how to purl - the two basic stitches in knitting
There's no getting away from making your first knitted square or rectangle because it requires no shaping. Whether you choose to make a scarf, a tablet wipe, a coaster, or a great big pair of curtains is up to you but the purpose of doing it is to teach you how to start the very first row of knitting, how to knit and purl which are the two main building blocks of any knitted fabric and how to take your knitting off the needles once you're finished knitting. It also gives you the opportunity to practice not only creating the knit andpurl stitches but to learn how to tension your yarn so your stitches are even.
So lets get start:
Buy yourself a ball of chunky yarn in a light colour and the recommended knitting needle size. You'll find the recommened needle size on the label. If you can only get needles a .25mm up in size or .25mm down, don't worry, the recommended size is just that - a recommendation.
Don't be tempted to buy yarn that comes in a plait unless you buy it from a yarn shop and they're able to wind it in to a ball for you. Trying to knit from what is called a hank of yarn without first winding it in to a ball is asking for trouble!
There are different types of knitting needles out there from straight onces made from a range of materials, to circular ones where the two needles are connected by a central cord, to double pointed needles which come in a set of 4 or 5 needles and have a point at both ends. Not only are these needles made from various materials, they're made in various sizes so there's a lot to choose from out there. Some needles will be more suitable for some projects than others, dont be tempted to go wild until you're sure knitting is for you.
Straight metal or wooden needles are the easiest and cheapest to find so they're a good place to start. Again the size you need will depend on what your ball of chunky yarn recommends for you.
Chunky yarn is pretty easy to find and is the thickest yarn you find on the highstreet. The most popular is Double knitting (DK) which is fine to use but you're stitches will be smaller and a bit more fiddly to work with as a beginner. Please dont purchase 4ply, 3ly, 2ply, anything silky, cotton or anything with nobbly bits on it, they're all lovely to work with once you know how, but they'll make your learning curve a lot steeper as a new knitter.
As well as your chunky (or DK) yarn and your knitting needles, you'll also need a pair of scissors to cut the remaining yarn off once you've finished knitting and a crochet hook for correcting mistakes. If you want to purchase a beginners kit which will cover everything you'll need for this project and the follow on patern them please visit the shop. It includes everything you'll need to get you going but at some point you may want to upgrade if you decide knitting is for you.
There is a beautiful array of knitting needles and crochet hooks out there , some of them beautifully hand crafted, others created using precison manufacturing techniques, there's a lot to explore but not necessarily worth investing in at this stage.
How to read a pattern and how they are structured
How to Use an Abbreviations Guide
What materials you need and why
How to start you're first row of knitting
How to knit, how to purl - the two basic stitches in knitting