Lately I’ve been dwelling on both my happy and frustrating memories of learning to knit. I’ve been compiling a list in my head of the most important things you should know before you buy your first needles and yarn. These are things that I wish someone had told me before I started my first project.
One, keep it simple. You’re learning a new skill. While knitting is not difficult, it does require concentration and patience. As a new knitter it is always best to stray towards simple, which is not to be confused with boring.
Two, buy a good book to teach you about knitting and be your main reference guide. I love my copy of Stitch ‘n Bitch by Debbie Stoller. It contains all of the basic stitches you will need, good introductory projects, and it’s small enough to fit into a knitting bag.
Three, start with a small project. You will knit very slowly when you begin, so it’s best to take on a project that you can finish quickly. Finishing projects will keep you motivated and encourage you to keep knitting.
Four, pick a first project where gauge doesn’t matter, such as a scarf or dishcloth. If your town doesn’t have a local yarn shop, it can be hard to come by many of the yarns used in books. Trying to find a comparable yarn at the craft store can be daunting because the labels don’t tell you much. (I still don’t understand why they don’t just write “worsted weight” or “sport weight” on the label.) If you pick a project where the gauge doesn’t matter then you can just pick a yarn and buy the needles that the gauge guide on the yarn says to use.
Five, pick a natural fiber yarn. This makes knitting much more pleasant. The price of yarn can shock a new knitter, especially since you also need to buy needles and other supplies. Why spend $$$ on a ball of yarn when you don’t even know if you will like knitting? I recommend picking an inexpensive cotton yarn any day of the week over a pure acrylic yarn. You can get inexpensive cotton for $1-3 a ball at a craft store that’s perfect for dishcloths.
Six, do not use novelty yarn for your first project. I mean it. Don’t be swayed by the array of fluffy and fuzzy novelty yarns. You will get to use them soon, just not for your first project. Why? It’s a bad idea because you won’t be able to see your stitches clearly. Since this is your first project, you will inevitably make mistakes. You need to be able to see them in order to correct them or for a member of your knitting group to help you correct them. If you want your first project to look more interesting pick a variegated yarn (multiple colors on the same strand). You will still be able to see the stitches and the resulting fabric will look interesting.
Seven, don’t worry about the needles. The material the needles are made from doesn’t affect to the finished project, so pick the type you think you will like best. If you get addicted to knitting, you will try them all anyway. However, size does matter. Pick medium to large size needles (Size 7 and up). It’s just easier to see what you’re doing with larger needles.
Eight, pick a project that uses no more than 2 types of stitches. Remember we’re keeping things simple. You are learning to knit and you need to be able concentrate on that. Many books start you off with a project with just knit stitches. While it is easier to concentrate on just one stitch, lets be honest most of us want to knit and purl from the start. I don’t think it’s a big deal to knit and purl for your first project as long as you adhere to the small project and two stitch type rule.
Nine, it’s not the tools that make the knitter. If you’ve adhered to the above guidelines you should only need 2 tools (or notions as they are often called) beyond needles and yarn. Get a small pair of scissors that you can carry with you for cutting the yarn and a darning needle for weaving in the ends.
Ten, join a knitting group. The best way to stay interested in knitting through the learning process is to meet other knitters. It’s the great place to find inspiration for new projects, help for projects gone wrong, and just to relax and enjoy yourself.
