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

Maddy Cranley asked:


  Knitting in its simplest form is often described as the looping of a string around two sticks.  When faced with multi-color patterning, intricate stitches or detailed graphs, this seemingly easy craft becomes a more complex activity that can benefit from an innovative tool or two.  Right from the start when the ideas for a new knitting project abound, there are aids to guide you in choices of yarn and color. Color wheels and color selectors, using proven principles of color theory, can steer you through establishing a pleasing color combination of two or many colors. Even though you may pick the perfect geranium pink to match that perfect leaf green, you still must find commercially available yarns of compatible weights in those very colors.  Many yarn retailers offer, at a reasonable cost, sample cards of available yarns in their full color range. Much like selecting paint chips at the hardware store, you are able to see at a glance what colors are available in a particular yarn and how they interact with other colors of that yarn type.
The screwdrivers and wrenches of knitting, the needles, though basic in shape, appear in a variety of materials. Wood and plastic offer comfort to tired hands, while metal needles promise speed.  A luxury class of needles fashioned from ebony or rosewood are advertised as hewn from the remains of prized woods used in the manufacture of musical instruments.  These needles should make your stitches sing. There is also the “heritage“ needle collection of which mine is labelled, due to many being borrowed from my mother’s knitting basket and never returned. A “classic” collection will likely contain a hodgepodge of needles gathered over the years as in mine, which range from a chipped orange metal No. 4’s to green plastic No. 8’s. It’s an odd grouping of materials and colors but favorites are easily recognizable when a certain knitting job comes to mind.

Now any good craft project whether made from wood or wool is only worth its weight when measurements are accurate and consistent. To knitters, the correct gauge must be achieved or every measurement throughout the project will become skewed. With numerous devices available to help accurately measure those all-important numbers of stitches and rows, there is absolutely no excuse for having the wrong gauge. A square gauge frame will force you to line up your knitting with the stitches at right angles to the rows, leaving you to count the numbers between the borders of the frame. Transparent stitch templates will tell you nothing but the truth as you try to match the drawing of the desired stitch gauge to the stitches of your knitted sample. A good tape measure, plastic or cloth, retractable or not, is essential to measure those lengths and widths once you start knitting. 

To see those stitches clearly, use a magnifier lamp clamped to your favorite chair or stood behind the sofa. Try a pair of magnifying flip-up lenses to increase your staying power when working with intricate stitches and dark colors. Don’t forget to prop up that book or pattern on a bookstand to keep your charts and graphs front and center. A line magnifier placed over the chart on a magnetic board will eliminate a lot of twisting and turning in your seat as you lean to squint at those lines. Once you have found your place there are gadgets to keep it.  Stitch markers and row counters mark the spot and giant safety pins put stitches on hold.  

A collection of tools needs a toolbox. Needles should be organized in needle cases, one for the straights and another for circulars, small boxes or bags for the bits and pieces such as stitch markers and measuring devices, and a great big bag or basket to keep it all handy and neat.



HARRISON

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Knitting is a part of the craft. Since many generations this craft is used in home. Knitting is the craft in which we can prepare a nice fabric with the help of thread like yarn and wool. The mechanic of the knitting is simple as that of the crochet in which loops or stitches have to pull in between each other in specific way so as to get the fabric.

Knitting differs from the crochet in two three points. Generally in case of the crochet multiple stitches are active it means that they all are in use at the same time. These active stitches are use to hold on the needle till another loop passes through them with the help of second needle. The second point is that in crochet only single needle is required but in case of the knitting two needles are necessary.

You can create fabric with the help of needles by hand or you can get the fabric with the help of machine. But the thing is that if you wanted different patterns and designs as the end product then you have to knit by hands. To produce a long length of fabric then make use of two straight needles this type is called as the flat knitting. On the other side if you want the flawless tube you have to make use of the circular or double pointed needles in circular knitting.

To get different patterns and style you can make use of different yarn and knitting needles with the help of different colors, texture, and weight or integrity. Basically there are two types of knitting which are weft knitting versus wrap knitting and another type is flat knitting versus circular knitting.

In weft knitting zigzag design of yarn can found all over length of the fabric. This design will follow to the adjacent columns instead of rows. On the other hand in case of the wrap knitting zigzag design will follow all over the length of the cloth in adjacent rows instead of columns. The next type is flat knitting versus circular knitting. In circular knitting you will get flawless tube, in this knitting is used to cast the circles of stitches which are joint. On the other side of it in flat knitting fabric is knitted from interchange sides. This will become the right side in the flat stitching.

These are the basic types of knitting and for knitting purpose you can make use of the yarn which acts as the thread of fabric. Not only has this you can have number of the knitting tooled for creation of different patterns in the fabric. These knitting tools are knitting needles, ancillary tools, etc. with the help of these tools and different stitches you will get different patterns as the end product.

Though these seems t be of the grandmother way of craft once you enter in this you will develop more and more interest so as to get variety of fabric using vivid yarn and stitches.



CORY

Bella Mclaine asked:


Knitting has become the hobby of almost every woman. Knitting has become a house-hold activity in their routine life. While, many women follow knitting as professional activity. Knitting is well-known globally and its main work can be seen in cold countries and in even in other countries where the climate is chilly or in winter season. Knitting business is mainly seen in small-scale industries. Knitting is used in making of different kinds of sweaters like Men’s hoodies, Men’s knitted sweater, and Ladies sweater. The fabric used in sweater is cotton, woolen, acrylic, rayon, spandex, hemp and yarn. A person can get sweater and windcheaters easily from the market. And in accordance to the choice or demand of customer they are readily available in the market. Now-a-days people are more prone to wear fashionable sweaters in this fast growing and never ending western culture.

If you are keenly engrossed to start knitting then the foremost thing that you should do is to purchase some knitting needles, keeping in mind some important points like style, size, and material. Knitting needles is of much significance because that is the only basic or prime part through which every making of work is carried on. But that does not mean the other things required can be ignored.

When you are shopping, a glance at knitting needles will widen your idea & aspects in matter of choices and uses for which they are going to be used. Commonly used knitting needles are straight, circular, bamboo and double-pointed designs. Among these three types of knitting needles circular & straight is much of famous. Where straight needles comes into use of when a person wants to do flat knitting, and circular needles for round knitting. If knitting done by these two needles you don’t have to stress out your wrists. Thus work can be done easily by circular knitting needle & straight knitting needle. Whereas, double-pointed knitting needle is used if someone wants to practice doing smaller projects like gloves, socks, scarf and winter cap.

Someone may feel that when the work is getting complete so size should not be put into account. Even if the work gets complete but then quality of the work does matter. One point you should bear in mind before buying, just draw the area of usage to be kept as of different diameters they are found of. Knitting needles size differs as per countries. You can either buy a separate needle or a whole knitting needle set.

Don’t forget to take care of even other materials. Mainly designs are made from wood, plastic, metal, glass, and bamboo. Clover Takumi Bamboo Knitting Needles are of good quality, smooth finish and is worked on harmonized principles.

Thus, before buying knitting needles one should not forget the above provided information which may come into use of yours.



BRETT

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Knitting is a famous craftwork. In fact, knitting turns thread or yarn into cloth. Knitting consists of loops. These loops called stitches are obtained by pulling the thread through each other. Knitting is either done by hand or by machine. There are numerous and methods in hand knitting. In some, the end product may be entirely different and in some produce it may be similar. Flat knitting does the length of the cloth and the circular knitting produces a seamless tube. Using different yarns, kneedles, color, texture and weight produces different end products.

History:

In the year 1527, the first knitting guild was started in Paris. Hand knitting went out of fashion many times but it started its revival in the 21st century. The number of women knitters increased about 150% in the year 2002 and 2004. International communities are also formed for knitting. There are networks where people share techniques and patterns and also run competitions.

Types of Knitting:

Weft knitting and warp knitting are the two major varieties of knitting. Weft knitting requires only a single yarn. One yarn for every stitch is used in warp knitting. Weft knitting is done either by hand or machine whereas warp knitting is done by machine generally.

Circular knitting is otherwise called as knitting in the round. It creates a seamless tube. A set of four or five double pointed needles is used for doing circular knitting. Flat knitting is used to produce rectangular pieces of cloth. Two straight knitting needles are used in this type and stitches are made in rows and horizontal lines. Hats, socks, mittens and sleeves are made by using circular knitting. Scarves, blankets and front and backsides of sweaters are made with flat knitting.

Texture:

Flat stockinette stitch is the most common texture for the knitted garment and knit stitches worked flat is used for machine made stockings and T-shirts. Simple textures are made using knit and purl stitches, garter stitch, ribbing and moss and seed stitches. There is more number of complicated patterns in which slip stitch and heel and linen stitches are used. Small eyelet holes can also be created in the fabric. The use of yarn also changes the appearance of the garment. If the yarn is thick, the stitches will be more visible and if the yarn is thin, the texture will be finer.

Process:

The process of casting on begins a piece of knitting. It is the creation of stitches on the needle. Different methods of casting on are used. Thumb method and double needle method are the various methods in cast on. Thumb method is ideal for picking up stitches and double needle method produces firm edge on the border. The two styles of knitting are continental style and English style. In the English style yarn is held in right hand whereas in continental style the yarn is held in the left hand. Knitting needles, knitting machines are the tools used for knitting.

People find knitting as an enjoyable hobby.



EUGENIO

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Knitting is becoming popular; loom knitting is an obvious solution for the next “time-conscious” generation of knitters. Loom knitting is very old craft, but it is in style again. Loom knitting is available in a variety of shapes such as round, oval, and rectangular. One type of them have one row of pegs, they are known as single rakes; the size of loom is a decided on fact how much you want to expand the piece of cloth. Size of pegs and their distance from each other, these factors affect the knit stitching and also thickness of yarn that works best on it.

Typically Loom is used to make knit fabric. These pegs look like a piece of knitting needle. There are various methods of wrapping the yarns on the pegs, to create knit work in variety of stitches and patterns, same as needle do. On rake loom creates a fabric that has number of distinctive right and wrong faces, while double rake loom creates a double knit fabric, both having right sides.

Loom knitting is quite an easy task; you can easily learn it, especially people who scare of knitting with needles, will surely find loom knitting easier. There is plenty of information regarding how to do loom knitting, and hoe to get the wonderful patterns, out of loom knitting, there are many websites available on internet you can easily get an idea.

Children as young as 5 years old can easily knit, there own hat using the loom. So kids will be busy during long winter vacations. Traditional needles can also make loom knit. In many countries knitting looms are usually made to give away. Instead of large floor looms or mechanically driven weaving looms these looms are lightweight and portable.

Looms can be used for knitting while watching television, though it sounds quite difficult but it’s true once you have a practice no need to look at it at all. In a waiting room, or while you are in your car and getting bore of traveling, this could be a great way of using your time, same way you will be doing something creative and productive.

There are different kinds of looms:

1. Hat looms:

Hat looms are obtainable in 4 different knitting gauges:

- Large gauge allows the use of two strands.

- Regular gauge allows the use of one strand, single stitch, and beautiful tight stitch.

- These gauges are preferred for baby items.

2. sock and bootie looms:

Sock and knitting looms are available in three different gauges:

There are three varieties regular gauge, small gauge, and fine gauge:

- Regular loom allow you to knit with different yarn thickness for different season.

3. Afghan looms: there are infinity rakes in these type. They are oval and infinity rake.

4. Mitten looms:

They are available in two different gauges, regular and fine gauge.

Looms are also classified according to the gauge size:

1. Large gauge looms

2. Regular /medium gauge looms

3. Small gauge looms

4. Fine gauge looms

5. extra small gauge loom

6. extrafine looms



LAWRENCE

jo asked:


ssell

In this brief article we aim to just give a basic understanding of knitting needles, their sizing and what you need to look out for.

Size IS important…………….

Knitting needles come in different sizes. It is important to know the size of your knitting needles because their size is related to the size of your stitches and, implicitly, to the appearance of the finished work.

Knitting needles are given different numbers according to their measure. Do not think of their length! It is important how big round the needles are. However, these numbers can differ from one country to another. For example, a knitting needle of 3.75 mm is number 5 in American measurement and number 9 in British measurement, or you may see on the bag of the knitting needles you buy it is simply written as a 3.75 mm needle.

Notice that the American measurement has low numbers for needles with smaller diameters, and the numbers can go up to 50 for a larger diameter like 25 mm, while the British measurement has high numbers for low diameters and the numbers decrease when it comes to high diameters like, for example, 000 for knitting needles of 10 mm, Therefore, you need to look up a knitting needle conversion chart to ensure you end up with the correct needle size.

To confuse you still further if you have a 4.5 mm knitting needle, in that case the size number coincides; with both countries calling it size 7.

Understanding Gauge …………

In knitting, there is the concept of gauge and it means the number of stitches in a given length. This concept is related to the pattern you have and, if in your pattern it says there are supposed to be, for example, 5 stitches to an inch and you can make only 3, than you should and need to change the size of your knitting needles. Each pattern requires that you knit a certain number of stitches using a particular yarn and a specified needle.

However, it is not necessary to stick to the yarn or the needles specified in the pattern, but it is important to get the correct number of stitches per inch in order to have the right size, length and other characteristics of the pattern.

Different Kinds ……….

You can also choose between circular needles and straight needles. Some people prefer circular needles because they are more comfortable to use and you can knit both in the round and back and forth like straight needles. You can find circular knitting needles, double point knitting needles and also single pointed knitting needles made of different materials such as steel, wood or bamboo. There are also different types of knitting needles like Addi knitting needles, Clover knitting needles, Misc knitting needles, Crystal Palace, Rosewood and HiyaHiya

To find out more pay a visit to a good knitting or haberdashery store & ask for advice.

FOREST

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Knitting is not only a craft by which thread can be turned into cloth or it is not only for grannies or babies; now it is in style and is really cool. The most important thing you will need to start with knitting is knitting needles.

Now the most important thing about these needles is their size. All different types of knitting needles are available, in many various sizes and these sizes are denoted by numbers. Knitting needles are also called knitting pins, knitting sticks, wires, rod or even knitting wires. As length and thickness of knitting needles changes depending upon type of yarn and what type of fabric to knitted.

Modern knitting needles that are available in the market place were invented in the beginning of the 19th century; these needles are usually known as straight needles. These needles have one narrow end and another end of the needle is caped with knobs. You can easily knit flat patterns like squares or rectangles. These needles are so popular because of their knobs; these knobs prevent sliding off the stitches.

There is one more type of needle, circular needles. Using these circular knotting needles you can create seamless tubes. But when you knit with circular needles, you are knitting on only one side of fabric, which is not the case with straight needles, so this means you have to change patterns accordingly. The great advantages of these circular needles are the weight of knitted fabric is evenly distributed. This is great option for four pointed needles.

There is another type of needle called double pointed needles. Even these are used for knitting tubular fabrics; however, these double pointed needles have tapered ends on both sides. The length of needles depends on what kind of fabric you want to knit, if you want to knit small fabric for socks; for example, then smaller needles will do. But if you want to knit longer fabrics like shawls, then you will need long needles.

Needles can be made of different type of materials. It can be made of metals or wood. Antique needles are also made up of ivory, walrus tusks or tortoise shell. Modern day’s knitting needles can be made of many different materials like aluminum, steel, bamboo, wood, glass, plastic or casein. Circular needles are also made up of metals and connecting tube of circular meta,l is usually made up of PVC or plastic.

To keep needle points sharp for many years it is very important to store them properly. Usually needles are stored in tall, cylindrical container with padding at the bottom; this will keep points of needle sharp. Usually this container is made of plastic or fabrics which have compartments with which you can keep needles together but separate. It is very important to keep circular needles dangled in maximize space. It is very important to keep check on tubes, as they can easily wound up. To uncoil these plastic or nylon circular needles keep them soaked in hot water for some time and they are ready to knit.



SPENCER

Bella Mclaine asked:


Knitting is very interested thing that any woman like to do as man don’t much prefer to do ladies work and also because of woman can be easily used to handy-craft work. Generally, knitting work is more seen in housewives. Knitting requires essentials like Yarn, Pattern and Needles to complete the task perfectly. The work does not get complete just by shopping for right knitting needles or best quality of knitting yarn. Although, their significance is not to be ignored but one should always remember if someone wants to carry out an experiment then the person should be ready with apparatus & material to make it successful.

If you are an intermediate or a beginner then you are on the phase to learn knitting. Of course, it is rightly said anything learnt never becomes squander. After some period of time, a learner with some innovative changes and creative ideas is always going to be rewarded. The first step for a beginner is to use both knitting needles and knitting machines with simplicity. To become a good or professional knitter, a learner with a good knitting kit should work out properly with sincerity. When equipped with knitting materials, the first step to walk on is to practice with basic knitting patterns. You can get knitting patterns either paid or free on internet. Primarily knitting books can be your guideline to work on. A beginner’s mind can be conceptually clear to start with knitting patterns.

Beginner’s knitting kit is easily available in the market. Initially, a learner should opt for using needles according to the type of yarn. Using acrylic yarn will solve your purpose.

But it is quite seen in many cases that the people lose all their zeal and passion, when they start facing hurdles or problems and feels to quit learning knitting. A dynamic beginner should not step back from the work and with the keen interest move ahead. Just keep on practicing and learn to get your hands into the rhythm of this hobby. Basic knitting patterns will help you to a great extent instead of trying out the difficult one. Knitting pattern then done is sure to produce some finest work of yours and possibly a learner may start his knitting business too.

The best teacher for a beginner can be any one from your family members, relative or friends. If not, then you can even get free knitting patterns from the internet. All the way is to keep practicing seriously with hard-work. In beginning, don’t try to make complicated knitting patterns as unnecessarily confusing yourself. Making simple knitting pattern will serve the best to achieve your goal.

Thus, a beginner should learn knitting skills also if want to reap sweet fruits. The work done with personal efforts along with using application of mind in a right way will surely make you an expert or a professional that you are worthy of.



LEROY