Get Started With Knitting

Knitting is a great way to keep yourself occupied and active during the cold winter season. Although most people practice knitting as a hobby, learning how to knit can also help you turn this indoors pastime into a profitable business. However, getting started as a beginner in knitting can be very overwhelming at first. With plenty of patterns and colors to choose from, you might feel a bit ill-equipped to make a choice.

Nevertheless, with the right information at hand and consistent practice, you will find yourself knitting like a pro in no time. Keep in mind that even the most skilled knitters were beginners at some point. Always be patient with yourself and maintain a positive mindset when learning a new skill.

Choosing the Right Yarn For your Knitting Project

One of the main reasons people are drawn to knitting is the exciting variety of materials available. Yarns come in a large array of colors and styles which ultimately determine how workable and suitable they are for a particular knitting project. The cost of yarns may also vary depending on their sizes and the material used to make them.

While it can be tempting to spend a lot of money on yarn for your first knitting project, I would highly recommend keeping your expenses minimal. At the same time, you should avoid very cheap quality yarns since they can be more scratchy, less durable, and difficult to work with. When shopping for the right yarn for your first project, you need to answer several questions to determine the right yarn for you—what length do I need, what weight do I need, should I choose beginner or novelty yarns, and which material is best for my project?

Once you determine the specific qualities of the yarn you want to purchase, take a trip to the local yarn store to see the available products. Remember to feel the different yarns with your hands to check the texture and find the most suitable fit for your project. You should also ensure that the yarn you select is visually appealing to you. The last thing you want to do is to purchase a large amount of yarn impulsively only to find out later that you don't like the way it looks or feels on your hands. Do your diligence before spending any money.

Choosing the Right Knitting Needles

Next to a good yarn, needles are the most important tools you need when knitting. For this reason, it's crucial to pick the right type of needle for your project.

Knitting needles come in a wide array of materials including aluminium, bamboo, rosewood and plastic. I would highly recommend aluminum needles if you are just starting out—they're much easier to work with and also highly durable.

Apart from finding needles with the right materials, you also need to ensure the needles are the appropriate size. As a beginner, you will probably have to buy new needles of different sizes every time you begin a new project—different patterns require different size needles. Remember to safely store the knitting needles you've previously used in order to reuse them when appropriate.

Essential Knitting Stitches for Beginners

If you're just starting out on knitting, there are several different kinds of stitches which you need to learn how to create. Developing your technique in different stitching methods will help you lay a strong foundation for your knitting projects. Some of the basic stitches you need to learn include:

Garter Stitch: This is usually the first stitch knitters learn how to make. Making a garter stitch is fairly easy, since it entails stitching every row. The garter stitch allows you to develop important needle-handling skills which you'll require for more complex knitting projects. A good way to practice this technique is by making a garter stitch scarf or baby blanket.

Stockinette Stitch: A stockinette stitch is made by a combined technique of knitting and purling. This type of stitching happens when you knit one row and purl the next in circular stitching.

Ribbing: Ribbing is a type of knit purl-stitch pattern in which knits and purls line up consistently across rows. This creates a stitching pattern whereby columns of knits and purls alternate across the entire fabric. This type of stitching can be used throughout the fabric or used only as an edging.

Seed Stitch: A seed stitch is created by alternating between knit and purl stitches in every row. This type of knitting creates a pattern which looks like scattered seeds. This pattern is often used for edging due to its texture

Moss Stitching: Moss stitching is a type of knitting stitch is similar to seed stitching. It involves alternating between knits and purls. However, in this case, you do two rows of the same pattern before alternating. This knitting stitch can be used throughout or used as edging.

Conclusion

Learning how to knit is a fantastic way of spending your time indoors especially during the winter season. If you are interested in pursuing this as a hobby, it is absolutely crucial that you find the right tools and learn the basic knitting techniques. Developing your skill in these beginner level stitching styles will give you a head start in the knitting world and allow you to become more proficient.