Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Knitting is not just for women! Nowadays it is a fun hobby for everyone. Just grab some basic info on the subject – via library books, online articles or ebooks and voila - -start knitting today.

In a nutshell, what you need to start knitting are knitting needles, yarn and a good set of instructions or a pattern.
Let’s begin with some basic patterns. Note, though, before you start with this pattern as a beginner, it would be helpful to know basic stitches; purl and knit stitches at least.

To purl stitch, you have to bring the yarn in front of the needle, insert your right hand needle in the first stitch on your left hand needle. Next wrap the yarn around the back of your right hand needle from right to left, and then just draw loop backwards, allowing the stitch to slip off your left needle to your right hand needle. The main thing to remember about this stitch is that you have to bring the yarn around to the front of your needle. Continue till all stitches are transferred from left needle to right needle.

To knit stitch, pass your right needle through the first stitch of left hand needle. Now wind yarn over cross of two needles over right hand needle. Just gently pull through the loop. After that just slip over first original stitch from left needle to right hand needle. Repeat the whole procedure till you transfer all stitches from left needle to right needle.

There is a specific way to read the patterns. First the skill level; it can be easy, medium, hard or beginner, intermediate or advance, each pattern has specific skill level, you can start with beginner and then go for complex advanced patterns.

For an easy or beginner level there are usually easy patterns, like different types of scarf or shawls or even some sweaters with easy knitting patterns. You can even make some easy handbags, mats to begin knitting. For medium or intermediate levels you can have patterns like stocking caps, sweaters and knitted scarves; usually patterns with altered stitches and patterns for advanced levels, you can have patterns which are complicated and which require lot of shaping.

If you are a beginner then start with a No pattern, this means just start by knitting with a combination of just two basic stitches, knit and purl. To begin you can knit a nice pashmina style stole, just with three hundred stitches, if garter stitch means only knit stitches no purl stitches. To start you can even make some simple combination of stitches.

If you are knitting with circular needles, you can start making tubular scarf for this cast around 300 stitches, and join them together in a circle. You can try stockinette stitch it produces nice curls at the end which gives the scarf a very different look.

When you are following ready made patterns,then pay attention to the instructions given, like check the gauge of wires or needle. Choose patterns as you like depending on your instructions.



BRANDON

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Do you wish to learn how to knit? With these instructions and a little practice, you can learn knitting and will definitely create professional patterns.
There are five basic instructions. Make a slip knot, cast on, knit stitch, purl stitch and bind off. Let’s start with making a slip knot.

Making a slip knot is very easy. This knot is tied for secure knitting, otherwise it may happen that as you go further, stitches open up from the beginning. A slip knot is very easy: just pull some yarn to make one loop. Then simply tie a regular knot.

Now to start knitting, you have to cast on stitches. So for cast on, make a slip loop over left needle then pass right needle through loop from left to right yarn under and over right needle then draw yarn through loop and transfer loop to left needle, continue this till you get number of stitches on left needle. Now your stitches are ready now decide on pattern you want to knit and start knitting.

Now you must have the basic information about the two basic stitches: Knit stitch and Purl stitch. The knit stitch is very basic stitch. To start knitting, insert right needle through first stitch of left hand needle. Then wind yarn over cross of two needles over right hand needle. Just gently pull through loop. After that just slip over first original stitch from left needle to right hand needle. Just repeat the whole process until you transfer all stitches from left needle to right needle. This is the way to complete a row with knit stitches.

Your second basic stitch is the Purl stitch. First you have to take the yarn in front of the needle, then insert right hand needle in first stitch on left hand needle. Wind yarn around back of right hand needle from right to left, then just draw loop backward which will allow stitch to sleep off left needle to right hand needle. With purl stitches, you can create pattern which look like brick face.

With variations and combinations of these two stitches you can create many different types of patterns very easily. For example, if you want a pattern to look like twisted rib, then just knit from back side of knit stitches. This will definitely give you even textured pattern.

Once you are done with the knitting, then you have to seal the ends of knitted fabric, binding off is done. For this bind off, first knit two stitches; then slip off first stitch over second needle; knit another stitch and repeat the same procedure till only one stitch remains. Cut the yarn and just draw it from last loop.

So with this basic information you can create almost any patterns you want. Select yarn very carefully, as the final look of knitted fabric also depends upon thickness and type of yarn. Selection of type of knitting needles is also very important, as it decide thickness and quality on knitted fabric. Also choose appropriate color depending on what you are knitting and for whom you are knitting.



CLEMENT

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


As you know there are many different types of knitting needles available, Circular knitting needles are one of them. With using this type of needle you can create seamless tube. Knitting with this kind of circular needle is also sometimes called knitting in the round.

Use of circular needles was started in the beginning of 20th century and as use of these circular needles increased the long double pointed needles were out dated. With these circular needles you just can’t do knitting circularly but you can knit anything that can be knitted on two straight needles can be knitted back and forth on circular needles with very less strain on shoulder and wrist.
Circular knitting needles are lot fun to work with. You can do lot with this, sweaters, bags or you can do many other fun things with it. These needles can be made of many different types of materials like bamboo, resin, plastic or even metal. There are new glass circular needles they are many designer colors they look simply amazing. Usually this needle has two hard tip joined with a flexible cord. Length of this circular needle is measured tip to tip which ranges from 12 inches to 60 inches. 12″ is length normally used for socks and mittens and 60″ can be used for knit entire bedspread in one piece; you just have to be strong enough to hold it up. For sleeves or caps you can go for 16″ inches needles. For adult sweaters 24 to 32 inches are very good.

For getting started with circular needles; casting on process is same as straight needles. If you are knitting a round project; there are several different methods for joining a project in round. You can simply knit the first stitch very tightly, so there won’t be any gap between first and last stitch in round. ; you can even cast one extra stitch and then just slip that stitch onto left hand needle ; after that just knit first and last stitch together before starting pattern.

When you knit with circular knitting needles you are knitting on only one side of fabric every time, which is not the case with straight needles so that means you have to change pattern accordingly. Usually circular knitting is done using stokinette stitch; which makes circular knitting easier as you just have knit every row. For garter stitch instead of knitting each row you will need to knit one row just purl one row. If you purl every row it would be a reverse stokinette. These are some common stitches around.

While buying circular knitting needles the length of nylon cord between the needles. It can ranges from 6″ to 40″ inches. When you knit with circular needle; circumference is important. For adult sized sweater then go for longer cord.

You can use these circular needles for flat patterns too. Just like two straight needles, cast on and start knitting back and forth. Knitting with circular needles is great for knitting on the road.



RUSSELL

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Knitting is a really fun hobby! You can get complete satisfaction by creating something very beautiful yourself. Don’t worry, even if you have forgotten all you learned in your school days, you can easily start knitting all over again. Here are some tips to start knitting.

To start, try to knit with help of plastic needles and light weight yarn, till you get evenness and accuracy. Begin knitting: first cast on. To cast on, make a slip loop over the left needle then pass right needle through loop from left to right yarn under and over right needle then draw yarn through the loop and transfer the loop to your left needle, continue this till you get a number of stitches on left needle.

There are basic five stitches you should know before you start knitting. These five stitches are “knit stitch”, “knit two stitches”, and “the purl stitch”, “stockinette stitches” and “yarn over stitches”.

Let’s start with basic knit stitch. To start with basic knitting, the most common stitch is the knit stitch, for this pass right needle, through the first stitch of the left hand needle. Now wind yarn over crossed two needles over right hand needle. Just gently pull through loop. After that just slip over first original stitch from left needle to right hand needle. Repeat the whole procedure till you transfer all stitches from left needle to right needle.

If you wish to have effect like a twisted rib, you just have to knit into the back of the knit stitch. For back stitch, just insert needle into back of the stitch of left hand needle. With this back knit stitch you can even create awesome textured stitch patterns.

Second basic stitch is a Purl stitch; this pattern created with purl stitch will look like a brick face, when viewed from purl side of pattern. First you have to take the yarn in front of the needle, then insert right hand needle in the first stitch on left hand needle. Wind yarn around back of right hand needle from right to left, then just draw loop backward which will allow stitch to sleep off left needle to right hand needle. The main thing to remember about this stitch, is that you have to take the yarn in front of needle. Continue till all stitches are transferred from left needle to right needle.

Third basic stitch is a Stockinette stitch. This is commonly used stitch for sweater and socks. This is simple stitch, has a combination of two basic stitches, Knit stitch and purl stitch. You have to knit one row with knit stitch and one row of purl stitch. If you want to increase the stitch then knit one stitch in regular fashion, but do not slip the stitches off the left needle, after that knit another stitch through back of same stitch and slip stitch off left hand needle.

In order to knit together two stitches. Just have to decrease a stitch just knit two stitches together or you can even two purl stitches together. For making even stitches, decrease at edges knit the second and third stitches together.

You can start knitting with five stitches and start knitting!



REYNALDO

MommyDiane asked:

Knitting stitch from right needle to left needle. Leading leg of stitch sits on the BACK of the right hand needle. For more about left handed knitting, purchase the DVD at www.leftoutknitter.com

ROYCE