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.
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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
Nov
03
Sherry Frewerd asked:

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Knitting, it’s said, is a very relaxing and satisfying craft. Knitting is a hobby that you can learn and then do while enjoying other past-times like watching television and at the same time create wonderful knitted items for yourself and others.

Multi-taskers will find that knitting works well for them. Throughout time, groups of women have been known to sit and knit while chatting with friends and family. You can watch your kids and knit at the same time as well, making knitting a great hobby for busy moms and dads.

Many people find the idea of learning to knit to be daunting. When you’re just starting out the needles feel foreign in your hands, making the process awkward and frustrating at times. Keep in mind though, that the initial awkwardness goes away and you’re left with a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Creating something with your own hands is one of the best feelings to have. Knitting can leave you with this feeling. Having the patience and correct supplies will help you achieve your goal of learning to knit.

If you’re ready to learn the simple basics of knitting, the following easy steps can help you get going.

Getting the Right Knitting Supplies

Although it may seem complicated, all that you need to start knitting are a pair of knitting needles and some yarn. Some folks start out with a pattern, so if that’s your plan you’ll need an easy knitting pattern to follow too.

Your Knitting Needles

There are many different types of knitting needles to choose from, and not all are created equal. Most knitters will agree that the easiest needles to start out with are wooden needles. The yarn seems to stay on wooden needles better, allowing you to knit easier. Plastic or metal knitting needles cause the yarn to slip off easily if you’re not advanced and know how to handle them properly. So, newbie knitters should stick with wooden knitting needles.

Start out with large wooden needles so that you can easily see your mistakes and complete your project quicker. If you drop a stitch you want to be able to see it quickly and fix the mistake easily.

Getting Your Yarn

Beginner knitters should start their first project using natural yarn such as cotton or wool. Natural fiber yarn will stay on the knitting needles better than a synthetic yarn will. Do not be lured by the fancy yarn you see in the stores. You will find working with them to be far too challenging and cause frustration at first. Start out with simple natural yarns and then go from there.

Learning Knitting Jargon

Just like almost any craft, knitting too has its own language or jargon. When you’re starting out, you’ll need to learn the jargon that goes along with knitting. Yes, at first it can seem overwhelming, but you’ll get the hang of the lingo quickly. Crafting books, knitting dictionaries and online sources will help you learn what you need to know to get started. Here are a few basics to help you out.

K = Knit, KB = Knit-in-Back, BO = Bind-Off, P = Purl, EOR = knit every other row

Knitting - Get Going!

With anything that’s worth doing, the first step is to just do it. Get your supplies, patterns, instruction books and start learning to knit. Don’t go overboard with buying supplies, because you may find that once you’ve given it a go, knitting may not be your cup of tea after all.

You’ll find once you’ve learned to knit that you may start seeking out others who share your passion and enthusiasm for the craft. You’ll be able to make new friends as well as wonderful pieces of art and family heirlooms from your knitting skills. As a beginning knitter, you’ll soon become advanced if you take care to buy the right supplies for your skill level and look for proper knitting instruction. These basic tips will help you reach your goal of learning to knit with ease. Have fun and happy knittin’!



REFUGIO
Nov
02
Maddy Cranley asked:
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Knitting is a natural when it comes to creating stripes. A stripe is defined as \”a line or long narrow section differing in color or texture from parts adjoining\”. The needles act as the guardians of the straight line, that crossover point where changes in color or texture can be made. It is up for grabs how to fill in those rows that make up a stripe. The ever-popular  horizontal line and color changes are just a start in choosing how to stripe a sweater.  

It is quite simple to incorporate stripes of color into an uncomplicated knitting pattern. The more difficult choice is what colors to choose. Once yarns that are compatible in gauge and fiber content are assembled, the next step is to see how the chosen colors will relate to one another when placed in a striped pattern. General rules will apply such as dark lines on pure color will have the tendency to deepen the entire look of the garment. Light areas will appear larger than dark areas. Warm colors will pop out to the eye much more than cool colors.   

Woven rugs and fabrics can offer up varied inspiration particularly if they embody a balance of color and stripe thickness to result in an eye-pleasing combination. An hour or two spent flipping through upholstery fabric swatches or wallpaper sample books may result in obtaining a dynamite sequence of striped color.   

Stripes can vary by size from the bold stripes of a rugby shirt, which may have three or four large bands of color, to pinstripes and all sizes between. The stripes need not be uniform in size throughout the garment. Increasing or decreasing the size of the stripe by one or two rows and repeating the same sequence of those smaller and larger stripes will definitely add interest.    

Stripes can also be distinguished by texture. Rows of garter stitch or seed stitch alternating with plain knitting create an understated stripe when only one color of yarn is used. A few rows of bobbles or of simple lace can create a stripe of interesting effect. Paying careful attention so that the gauge is the same for each chosen stitch pattern will avoid creating an unevenness in the finished measurement. Simple stitches to knit for subtle changes can be found in knitting dictionaries and stitch guides.  

The placement of the stripes can also add further appeal. Use vertical or horizontal striping in the ribbing of bands and cuffs. Try a striped collar or pocket to stand alone on a plain-colored background. Begin to work stripes at the start of the garment piece and narrow the stripes to fade into a one-color finish. Stripe one sleeve and leave the other plain. Stripes do not have to remain horizontal. A little trickier to knit, vertical or diagonal stripes add their own flourish. Yarn bobbins will be needed and careful twisting of the yarns at color changeover points will keep your stripes in line.  

  So to earn your knitting stripes, incorporate several rows or more in your next project. Choose a simple pattern that will easily accept a change of stitch pattern and welcome a color change every few rows. It will all make for a very unique sweater, not to mention the release from guilt knowing that those leftover balls of yarn are being put to such good use.   

 

 

 

 



JASON
Creative styler asked:


I dont know how to read knitting pattern they seem to be so complicated. Please give me some tutoral, and thank you so much for reading.

BARNEY
!~$Bodes$~! asked:


Basic needle size for knitting a scarf, and any websites to show how to start the knitting for a scarf basic pattern? I know how to knit just not startit. Thanks!

LOREN
SJD asked:


I have the yarn. Now, I need a knitting pattern. It would be a lot easier if I could enter the gauge when searching for a pattern. Any suggestions?

SANTIAGO
jmeowgc asked:


I am looking for a knitting pattern for a double layered beanie. I would like to avoid knitting two separate hats, and then simply joining them together. Any help here would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!

TERENCE
Sep
30
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

PAULA A asked:


i’ve been searching for machine knitting patterns for dog jumpers and have had no luck. if you no of any where i can buy or download such pattens please help.

TRAVIS
Craig Thornburrow asked:


Learning how to knit has many benefits, it promotes relaxation, improves your self-discipline and allows you to create beautiful projects to display in your home, wear or give as gifts to family and friends.

You will need four things before you learn how to knit; these are two knitting needles, yarn, a pattern and a pair of scissors. Choosing a simple pattern and yarn that is easy to work with will make learning how to knit easy and enjoyable.

Spend a few minutes holding your knitting needles so you can get a feel for them. At first they may feel awkward but that’s ok, roll the needles around in your hands and between your fingers. Once you can do that without dropping the needles your ready to add some yarn. Pull a long piece of yarn out of the ball and wrap it a loosely around your hand

Depending on your instructions, you will first create your half hitches (tie a loose knot to the end of the knitting needle in your right hand if you are right handed and your left hand if you’re left handed.) Now following the instructions, loop the yarn over the needle you tied the knot on, however many times it says to.

Next step is to slip the yarn, using the needle in your opposite hand through the loops, entering from the left side of the yarn. Insert your knitting needle from the backside of the loop pulling it up through the front. This needle is now called your holding needle. While doing knit stitches your holding needle will always be on top of your working needle.

Now you should have a piece of yarn attached in a straight line between your two needles. Using the tip of your needle to, “called the working needle” pull that piece of new yarn taught and slip the loop you just made off the needle, and repeat over and over again, following your instructions. That is called your knit stitch.

Once you have created your desired amount of knit stitches in your first row, turn the knitted yarn so the end is near you and begin knitting back towards your first stitch. This is called the garter stitch.

Next is the purl stitch, using your working needle slip it through the stitch from right to left. Your working needle will now be on top of the holding needle. To make a purl stitch, the yarn goes around the working needle, bring the needle around to the back and pull the needle through the front of the loop and you have your first purl stitch, slip it off your need and repeat.

Those are the two stitches you need in learning how to knit. Once you master them, you will be on your way to creating beautiful blankets, hats, mittens, baby booties, sweaters, dresser doilies, doll clothes and so much more. You can even get creative and add lace and beads to your beautiful masterpieces after learning how to knit.



WILEY