How to Learn to Knit
Although
it might seem like a thing from a time that has mostly passed us by, knitting
is actually still quite useful. Some of you might remember Grandma sitting by
the fireplace humming and lovingly making that sweater that a family member
would end up wearing for a decade or more. Knits make for excellent winter pieces and last the test of
time. If nothing else, it’s a talent that can reap dividends when money is
tight, or when the seesaw of supply and demand drives clothing prices above
what you consider reasonable.
So
-- how do you learn to knit? There’s a good way, and there’s a better way. The
former sometimes causes people to give up halfway through, even though these
worked fine in times past when life moved at a slower pace. For example,
starting with the scarf is generally not a good idea; they are deceptively hard
to complete. Because it’s a seamless item, any of your beginner’s errors will
show up readily, and make you want to tank it and start again. What’s the point
in completing a scarf that you can already tell you won’t like halfway through?
What to Begin Knitting
Now
that you’ve seen that scarfs aren’t all they’re cracked up to be (as a first
creation, anyway), what should you begin knitting? Believe it or not, a hat is
actually a very good first item. It doesn’t take nearly as much time as a scarf
usually ends up taking, and the form happens to hide mistakes very well.
Although they can be a bit more complicated, at least you know that -- unlike a
scarf -- the finished hat will be used regularly.
Even
if you don’t want to start off by trying to knit a hat, the point is to pick
something that will make you want to finish it. Of course, you also want
something that will be used. A scarf can go on and on since there’s no clear
point at which it’s done; but a the completion stage of a hat or mittens is
fairly obvious.
The Materials You’ll Need
Getting
started can be almost as exciting as the end-stage. The sense of adventure is
highlighted by perusing your local yarn store -- or the web if you’re a
perpetual online shopper -- and understanding all the different kinds of
thread. Nothing beats walking around a dedicated yarn store, however; in this
option, you can feel the yarn and asks questions of the shop attendee. For
reference, check out JOANN or Michaels for a wonderful selection of knitting
material.
If
there are no store attendees available, here’s some advice: stick with worsted
(medium-weight) yarn as a beginner. Check out the needle sizes, and pick up
both a 6 and a 9. Everything should, of course, be labeled, and you’ll get the
added benefit of learning the differences and the standard measurements for
your next shopping trip. There are a lot of options, but for now the most
important thing is needle size.
Getting Started
In
this crucial stage, you’ve got a lot of support. First of all, if you’re
serious about knitting, you can easily find a group that does it together --
talk to the manager or an employee at your local yarn store to find out more.
They may even have courses for beginners. If this is not an option, plenty of
local libraries, various religious institutions and online organizations host
gatherings specifically for knitters. The familial route is, of course, also
available for those with family members and close friends who knit. If none of
these are available, check out KnittingHelp.com and similar sites for
information.
Now
that you’re ready to begin, you’ll need a time commitment for your first
knitting session. Three times every week in the beginning, as you’re learning,
should be enough. Do not allow distractions; once you’ve got the basics down,
you’ll be able to knit with the TV or radio on with no problem at all. Sign up
to Ravelry.com for access to a helpful and supportive community of knitters, as
well as a way to show your work for support and helpful criticism (mostly
encouragement though, from experience).
True Immersion in Knitting:
Learn the Lingo
This
is just a short run-down of common knitting terms that you may find useful as
you progress in your hobby:
●
Blocking: refers to the action of manipulating the finished
material so that it takes on the desired shape; this step occurs after you’ve
finished the project. The manipulation can involve damping, steaming, etc.
●
Casting Off: Once you’ve completed your knitting project, you
have to take the stitches off of the needle in a manner that doesn’t cause it
to unravel.
●
Casting On: this refers to actually putting the stitches
successfully on the needle.
●
LYS: an abbreviation for local yarn store.
●
U.F.O: simply, “unfinished object”.
