I know some of the ladies in here are into this… I’ve always wanted to learn! I was wondering if you can share some of the basics and what I need to get started?

thanks!

there are a bunch of visual tutorials online, however, i’d be wary of their instructions. I’ve tried to do a cable stitch based on an online tutorial and it ended up being all sorts of wrong.

what do you know already?

i don’t know if i’m much help b/c i’ve only knitted scarves and very simples ones at that, but my mom is a pro. unfortunately, i don’t have any experience in reading patterns.

to start...tools wise, i prefer the bamboo needles over the aluminum ones.  and the size of the needles depends on the size/type of the yarn you’re using.

tygress - 22 February 2008 10:26 AM

there are a bunch of visual tutorials online, however, i’d be wary of their instructions. I’ve tried to do a cable stitch based on an online tutorial and it ended up being all sorts of wrong.

what do you know already?

I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! i don’t know what kinda yar or needle to use, i don’t know a darn thing =( i want to pick up a new hobby this year and i’ve always thought knitting is cool =)

coheed - 22 February 2008 10:26 AM

i don’t know if i’m much help b/c i’ve only knitted scarves and very simples ones at that, but my mom is a pro. unfortunately, i don’t have any experience in reading patterns.

to start...tools wise, i prefer the bamboo needles over the aluminum ones.  and the size of the needles depends on the size/type of the yarn you’re using.

so is there a standard needle size/yarn size that is good for beginners? do they come in a kit that i can just buy together? any link? :D

beibekixu - 22 February 2008 10:32 AM

coheed - 22 February 2008 10:26 AM

i don’t know if i’m much help b/c i’ve only knitted scarves and very simples ones at that, but my mom is a pro. unfortunately, i don’t have any experience in reading patterns.

to start...tools wise, i prefer the bamboo needles over the aluminum ones.  and the size of the needles depends on the size/type of the yarn you’re using.

so is there a standard needle size/yarn size that is good for beginners? do they come in a kit that i can just buy together? any link? :D

it really depends the size of your yarn, girl!  at least that is what my mom told me.  i would suggest picking up a book at Michael’s instead of going online.

i’ve seen starter kits at target that come with the yarn, needles, and patterns. they seem pretty good for beginners to learn with. i think a thicker yarn and needle size is good to start with so you can really see the knits and purls you’re making. usually, yarns will have a number on them that corresponds to the needle size. 6-8 is a good size to learn with, i think.

the very first few things you’d need to learn in order to be able to make anything would be how to cast on (lots of vids on youtube will show you how), how to knit (a kind of knot you make on the needles) and how to purl (basically a reverse knit). most basic patterns are built on knits and purls.

knitting is addicting once you get the hang of it… don’t give up and good luck!

here are a few things i’ve made in the past…

i used a pattern to make this hat… i made a lot and gave them to friends

fingerless gloves… i actually saw a similar pair at urban outfitters and recreated them from memory… lol even i am surprised i ever made these.

mittens… if you look closely, you might be able to see that i knit a twisted cable down the middle

those are adorable, June.

^^those are awesome! i at least want to make my own scarf one of these days

I really like Manos del Uruguay. For a scarf, you’d need 2 skeins, so it’d be a $26 scarf, but I think it looks really nice knitted up.
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/yarndetail/1081

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thedailypurl/2113282166/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/indychick_uk/408705864/in/set-72157594336274672/

If you have time to go to the library, you’d be surprised at how many knitting books you can find there.

This woman’s videos are in Cantonese, but I think they’re some of the best tutorials on YouTube because the picture are up close and clear and she knits slowly. A lot of the other people blab too much and knit way too fast for a beginner to try to learn from their techniques.

slip knot: http://youtube.com/watch?v=cIoYhZBoTRM

casting on: http://youtube.com/watch?v=eSqxiaYxIsg

knitting: http://youtube.com/watch?v=4cJvvrcYsTA

purling: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9VMyi7WxpYc

knit 1 purl 1: http://youtube.com/watch?v=L3A4BUz3Xgs

June, are you on Ravelry?!

If not, you should be!

http://www.ravelry.com

If you knit both sides of your yarn, it’ll look like the ear flaps on this hat- http://www.flickr.com/photos/thedailypurl/2095109533/

If you knit one side and purl the other, then it’ll look like the top part of the hat.

JUNE. what the heck. how’d you do the hat? if you still have the pattern could you send it to me please?

sorry :/ it was in college and i already passed it on to another knitting enthusiast. you can probably find tons of earflap hat patterns online, at b&n;, or at the library though…

Here’s some of the free ones from Ravelry:
http://www.interweave.com/knit/interweave_knits/web_projects/win_05/Cover_Ears.pdf
http://appleleeffarm.com/WEBPDF/EARFLAP.pdf
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/60461.html/