Ready to get started? Let's go through some knitting basics before you get started!
The first thing you need is a pattern. Without one you just have a ball of wool and a couple of knitting needles (hopefully) and no idea of what you can do with them!
And not just any old pattern!
As a beginner you need to choose your pattern very carefully. Although it is relatively easy to learn to knit, your first few projects need to be something simple or you will find yourself getting frustrated (and probably annoyed) to the point that you just give up.
Most patterns published these days have a rating system which allows you to select a pattern suitable for your level of experience.
Then of course you will need wool or yarn and needles and at least some accessories. Your pattern will tell you what ply you need and make a suggestion as to the appropriate needle size.
When you have bought, borrowed or begged for all of the things you need, you can start knitting (almost - if you know how!)
There are only a couple of basic stitches that are used in knitting. Once you learn how to do those you can do virtually any knitting pattern.
To help you learn I have put together some basic tutorials that you can view online with links to pdfs if you prefer to print them off and keep them.
Stitches are increased in knitting by making two or more stitches out of one to increase the total number of stitches on the right hand needle.
Stitches are decreased in knitting by making one stitches out of two or more to decrease the total number of stitches on the right hand needle. In some patterns, you might also see this basic technique being called knit two together.
Once you have mastered these basic techniques, you might like to learn how to do basic knitting stitches, like garter stitch or stocking stitch.
Reading and understanding a pattern is a unique skill and needs to be learned if you career as a knitter is to be successful!
On this page you will find an outline of each of the major sections in a pattern so that you know what to look for in a pattern and to help you understand how to interpret what the pattern is telling you.
Every pattern that you pick up will be filled with terms that you are unfamiliar with and a lot of abbreviations.
Would you like to know what they all mean?
If you are new to knitting, you will come across a bewildering array of knitting accessories for you to choose from. Would you like to know from an experienced knitter, which ones are worth buying?
You are also going to have to decide which type of knitting needles you want to use and you are going to need some knitting yarn and a pattern.
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