KNITTING NOTES FOR BEGINNERS

I've done a lot of crocheting throughout my life (mostly granny-square afghans),
but in August 2020 (at age 62), I decided to try knitting.
This page gives information and resources that have helped me.

EQUIPMENT TO GET STARTED

  • KNITTING NEEDLES
    Wood knitting needles won't slip as much as metal.
    I bought this inexpensive set to get me started.
    (I didn't want to spend a lot of money on knitting tools until I knew it was something I would enjoy.)
  • YARN
    Start knitting with super bulky yarn (size 6) and 9 mm needles.
    A single-color yarn will help you see the stitches better.
    Hometown Lion Brand yarn is inexpensive—don't use expensive yarns while learning.
    (Note: This yarn was exactly the same price on Amazon and at my local Walmart.)
  • ACCESSORIES
    I did splurge on two inexpensive accessories:
    • Knit-Chek:
      Check knitting needle and crochet hook sizes;
      centimeter/inches ruler;
      gauge for rows and stitches per inch
    • Clover Stitch/Row Counter:
      Can be inserted onto a straight knitting needle
  • NEEDLE HOLDERS
    I made myself both a knitting needle and crochet hook holder (see right), based on this free online pattern:
    DIY Roll-Up Knitting Needle Case
    The labels were made with my embroidery machine.

TIPS

BASIC TECHNIQUES

Many of the ‘total beginner’ videos did not work well for me.
Trying to follow their methods, my first row of stitches (and subsequent rows) would twist all around my needle.
I finally was able to solve my issues with the links below.

STITCH PATTERNS

Knit 1, Purl 1 Ribbing (7:43, from Pattymac Makes)

I tried this stitch pattern multiple times, using various instructional sources, and it kept coming out wrong.
Finally, I found a video that clearly showed the steps I was missing, and now my stitches look correct! My Mantra:
I say this over and over and over again as I stitch:
    Knit ... pull yarn thru middle to front ...
    Purl ... pull yarn thru middle to back ...
(After the very last stitch in a row, you don't re-locate the working yarn.
It should end up in the correct position after you rotate your work.)

Knit the knit; Purl the Purl (2:38 to 4:05)
As you continue adding new rows, you can stop thinking about when you should knit/purl.
Instead, just look at your work—it will ‘tell you’ which stitch you should be doing!
You will need to recognize the so-called ‘purl bump’.

She investigates the emerging stitch pattern at 7:00.

Note: In the Vogue Ultimate Knitting Book, it says you should use an odd number of stitches for Knit 1, Purl 1 Ribbing.

JOINING YARNS

I inherited lots of short pieces of yarns.
This gave me plenty of practice with methods for joining yarns!
I love the following two methods, since they don't require working in any pieces of dangling yarn at the end: Here's a great collection of yarn-joining techniques.

Top: Practice joining yarns (crocheted)
Bottom: My first knitting attempt (with crocheted border)

ONLINE PATTERNS, MORE

SOCKS

One reason I'm learning to knit is to make socks for my husband.
He had socks he loved—it was the only kind he would wear—and he can't get them any more.
She uses medium weight yarn (size 4) for the videos below.