Knitters come in!

buckeyebride22 · April 2011

So I decided a good way to pass the time would be to learn how to knit. I figured I could donate what I make to the OB floor I work on. Now after trying to follow along with the books I bought I realize I'm over my head. Any tips? I'm going to check out you tube and see if I can get help there.

ETA wording fail

taschro · April 2011

I taught myself how to knit about 6-7 years ago. The only part I couldn't learn on my own was casting on (I had a friend show me how). Everything else though I learned through online videos or diagrams.

Best place to get help is www.knittinghelp.com. Tons of videos and pictures. I learned how to do most of my stitching through there. You can also find some good tutorials on YouTube.

Best way to get started is by getting some size 8 needles (they aren't too big or too small) and some cheap yarn from the store to practice on (don't get anything too fluffy or anything like 100% cotton...just straight up acrylic yarn). Don't bother investing in anything luxurious right now. Later when you've got it down, go to the local yarn store and indulge in the pretty, lovely yarn.

If you have any questions or want some more help, feel free to message me! I feel like once you get the basic stitches down, everything else is pretty easy. It does take some patience, though!

Good luck!

Cholzmei · April 2011

Taschro kind of said it all. I also taught myself to knit about 8 years ago. It's actually pretty easy. I learned on eyelash yarn, which is kind of a stupid way to do it because you can't see your stitches too easily, but it's also kind of smart because if you screw up the eyelashes on the yarn hide your mistakes. I made a lot of simple scarves with pretty eyelash yarn when I started. The scarves looked great even though they weren't hard to make.

The youtube tutorials are awesome. I never thought to look at videos when I was learning... I wish I had. I only just learned how to cast-on the fast way last year... I've always been doing it this pokey way that I learned from a book.

There are some cute patterns in the book Stitch and *** once you get going!

buckeyebride22 · April 2011

So maybe this wasn't the brightest idea to try right before AF comes. I can cast on, but then I'm stuck. I'm watching the videos at knitting help and I just can't figure it out. Granted I've only been at this for an hour. How long did it take you to figure it out?

NDGOIRISH · April 2011

Hello fellow knitters!

I learned from my mother-in-law a few years back when I had surgery on a broken bone and was layed-up for a few weeks. It's one of my most favorite things to do now!

My best advice would be to start simple. Get your knit stitch down so you can actually go fairly fast doing that, then venture out to purling and doing different stitches. I literally made a million little scarves before I tried hats.

Lionbrand has a whole section devoted to learning to knit. They also have a free PDF that's a step-by-step guide you can download for free- it's like 40 pages too so it's a great deal!

https://learntoknit.lionbrand.com/

Good luck and remember to just keep knitting - buy some yarn you're excited to knit with and try and make yourself a scarf. If you mess up, just rip it out and try again!

lukesliebe · April 2011

I taught myself how to knit 5 or 6 years ago and I used the book, "Vogue Knitting" which was put together by the editors of Vogue Knitting magazine. It was the book my mother used to teach herself how to knit ( and no,strange as it sounds she never showed me how to do it...we're both pretty stubborn!). It has a bunch of step by step pictures and many different ways to cast on....it even shows you how to make a slip knot! I would highyl recommend getting that book, some cheapo yarn in a bright color (makes your first tries much more fun) and I also use size 8 needles. A website I found a website called thedailyknitter.com that has free patterns. I haven't You can PM me too if you want to!

Cholzmei · April 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9hv44QwQ-A

Did you try this series of videos? This is the one I watched to learn how to cast on.

I also learned how to knit with circular needles, which somehow made it easier for me.

taschro · April 2011

buckeyebride22:
So maybe this wasn't the brightest idea to try right before AF comes. I can cast on, but then I'm stuck. I'm watching the videos at knitting help and I just can't figure it out. Granted I've only been at this for an hour. How long did it take you to figure it out?

It took me a while to get the hang of it, so don't worry! I always have to pause the videos so I can do *exactly* what they're doing. There are also two types of knitting: English (or American) and continental. I knit English-style (and I think most videos will teach you this way), but I know some prefer continental. Maybe try both ways and see what works best for you?

If all else fails, find a friend to help you, or head down to a yarn shop. Ladies in there are usually more than willing to help you out.

reinstone · April 2011

My mom taught me a few years back. We have a TTGP/Grads stitch n b!tch group - join us on Ravelry! Click my sig badge to join us

I'd recommend learning from a local yarn shop. They can teach you so many tips and tricks in person, it is worth it. I just finished a knitting mastery class that my mom and I took together at a local shop. I'd highly recommend learning from someone in person!

limpetfan · April 2011

I taught myself to knit a few years ago using the book Stitch N B$tch by Debbie Stoller. I can't recommend that book enough! However, I also have to say there is no substitute for having someone that knows how to knit show you the basics. If you can find a class or someone you know to teach you, it will save you tons of frustration in the beginning

buckeyebride22 · April 2011

Thanks ladies! I am proud to say I have finally completed a second row....after only 5 hours lol. I am going to have to look into finding a place that teaches. The only yarn store we have is joanns. I wonder if they do classes there?

Peglet · April 2011

I agree with all the other posts! I taught myself to knit about 8 years ago using some old Vogue knitting book my mom had. My mom was also able to help me a little bit - she crochets but knows how to knit. The first thing I knitted was an acrylic scarf that started out 4 inches wide and ended up about 8 inches wide, and also rolled in on the edges.

I find Stitch n *** to be a great book - it teaches you all sorts of techniques in language and illustrations that I could follow.

Once you get past the initially frustrating part, I think it's an awesome stress reliever, so I love having that skill while I'm TTC...even though all I knit is baby blankets for people I know!

Good luck and post again if you have any other questions - I love knitting posts!

taschro · April 2011

Peglet:
The first thing I knitted was an acrylic scarf that started out 4 inches wide and ended up about 8 inches wide, and also rolled in on the edges.

Oh my! My first scarf - first knit item ever - was about a foot wide and about 5-6 feet long! I got a bit carried away, lol! On top of that, it was knit in gray Lion Brand Homespun, which if anyone knows, is a chunkier, twisty yarn and not easy to work with (but oh so soft). DH loved it though and wore it for a few years during very cold Chicago winters.

My second project was tiny little baby booties knit on size 5 double pointed needles with an angora/cashmere yarn. Don't know what I was thinking, I think I just really needed an excuse to knit with a tiny skein of expensive yarn. I made them about 6 years ago and put them away for my future baby. I forget about them every so often and when I find them, I get excited!

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