anonymous asked:


Knitting is a great hobby. Many people enjoy knitting because of its many benefits. Knitting is considered as a form of art. A completed piece of knitted item is in fact the creation of a piece of art. The knitter gets to feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment in completing such an item.

Living in a fast paced society, many people need to do something to distress and relax. One of the great benefits of knitting is that it is a splendid stress reliever. It helps to free the mind and hence, it is regarded as a wonderful outlet for an overworked brain. It is no wonder that some people use the activity as a retreat in stressful situations. The craft can slow down a hectic life and enable a person to unwind after a hard day’s work.

In a world filled with mobile phones, computers, televisions and videos, escaping for an hour to knit something soft and warm can be incredibly rejuvenating. There are people who even believe that knitting can actually fuel the creative process in other areas of their lives. They believe that the craft allows the creative part of the brain to work more effectively and find creative solutions to other areas of their lives.

Another benefit of knitting is that it is very portable and can be carried along to any place. Unlike other hobbies like weaving or cooking, the craft can easily be thrown into a bag and pulled out anytime when it is required. As such, the knitter can bring the craft along and do it during bus or train journeys, air flights or even in traffic jams. In this way, hours of waiting and traveling are not wasted away as they are used to accomplish something useful.
One benefit of knitting is that there are various choices of items to knit such as hats, socks, sweaters, jackets, shawls, scarves and pullovers. There are plenty of projects and designs to choose from to suit all levels of knitting expertise, time and budget. Besides, these pieces can be created to beautify homes or serve as special gifts for loved ones. Knitwear garments are beautiful and attractive, and many people like them. Presenting them as gifts is always well loved and appreciated.

Crafts go through phases. Many crafts are built more for speed and fad than for longevity. One benefit of knitting is that it can create long lasting items. Home accessories that are hand-knit with love and care often become heirlooms and family treasures. They are always a source of pride and joy. Besides, these invaluable items are inexpensive to make.

What is knitting? It is simply the process of forming a fabric by making interlocking loops from a continuous strand of yarn using two or more needles. Knitting is an easy craft to learn. Besides, it only requires simple materials, which are two knitting needles, some string or yarn, and a little instruction. For certain items, there are some accessories needed. For example, if you are knitting a sweater, then you will need some buttons. The choice of buttons has a great impact to a sweater. They can make the difference between an attractive garment and a stunning one.

Knitting is a popular craft among the young and old. In fact, the pool of knitting enthusiasts keeps growing. Despite the machine age eliminating the need for hand-stitched items, the popularity of knitting still continues. It is evident that many people have experienced its benefits and recognized its worth to want to continue using this craft to enhance their lives.

If you are interested to start knitting as a beginner, there are many resources available with step-by-step knitting instructions to enable you to learn doing simple projects. When you have learned the simple projects, you can proceed to do the more complicated ones. After some time, you can try to create more pieces using your own ideas. Instead of following closely to the selected knitting pattern, you can add something of your own to make the design unique.

Happy knitting!



DARRYL

Diane Palmer asked:


Do you love to knit?.. love to create?… but maybe its too hard on the hands?.. then why not try investing in a knitting machine?

Knitting, like any creating, is good for the soul, but can be hard for some people to do, and they end up with half finished projects laying around, and feeling stressed about it, which is the opposite of what crafting is suppose to do for the heart and soul!.

There are some great machines out on the market now, and there are a lot more patterns that are dedicated to machine knitting. The machines have been around for a while, but were basically reserved for scarves and blankets, but now there are some great machines with lots of features and you can make garments, sweaters, crafts and more.
You need to get a good brand name machine, that is heavy duty if you plan on machine knitting a lot, and search out some machine knitting patterns, they are popping up everywhere now as knitting becomes more popular, just make sure the pattern says for “machine knitting“ and you should be fine..

With the advance of the internet, it is now easier to find machines and supplies. If you love crafting and especially knitted garments, then why not check out knitting machines as an alternative to hand knitting. I personally would not totally replace hand knitting, as its a stress reliever for me!… but for those larger garments like dresses, knitted coats etc, you don’t want to be knitting for so long, you miss the seasons!.. Knitting has made a return as a great winter hobby, and there are so many great wools and supplies on the market now, especially the internet, that you don’t even have to leave home to get your supplies anymore! If you knit for your craft business, this would speed things up.

Get knitting, by hand or machine, and get creating!

knitting machines



GARY

Rohit Chopra asked:


Perhaps you find the rhythmic clicking of knitting needles very fascinating or the practical utility of knitting appealing, whatever the case may be you may have a desire to learn knitting. If you are attracted to this craft that weaves magic out of yarn, you are not the only one to have fallen prey to its charm. In the yesteryears you would find most women with knitting bags in their hands as they chatted with neighbours or sat watching their favourite television programs.

Though the craze may have dimmed somewhat in recent times, there still are over 20 million people experimenting with yarn, and a considerable number of those is that of men. So, it is not that knitting is limited to the fairer *** nor is it true that knitting is a dying craft. There still are enthusiasts who are passionate about knitting.

When people learn knitting they do not just give freedom to their creative sides but also save money by coming out with clothing and household items. For a housewife it means a lot of money saved in terms of sweaters, socks, scarves and so on. For the more ambitious ones who learn knitting it could turn into a full-fledged home business.By learning to knit you can also ensure that you will never be short of things to present to your family and friends on special occasions as knitted items make great gifts.

When you attempt to learn knitting, you must first strive to understand the basics. Know the different types of yarns that are classified according to their thickness or weights. You must also understand what a ply means, what significance the fibre content holds. Knowledge about the basic craft materials like, yarns that you are going to use will help you determine their suitability to different projects, which will mean that you learn knitting in great depth.

When you are thinking of learning knitting, visit jumble sales and get hold of unused balls of wool or you may even take apart an old woollen sweater for the purpose. Using these for your initial attempts at knitting is sensible, as you will not be wasting money even if you botch up the project. Likewise, practise a pattern that goes beyond the basic stitches before you make a final attempt. When you learn knitting, you should also learn to take a look at the patterns present on the yarn label.

Needle size is an important aspect to consider when you learn knitting. Depending on the item being knit the size will vary. Knitting needles are sold in pairs and the size can be anywhere from 0 to 15. There are circular knitting needles too that are used for clothing items like Afghans.

Once you learn knitting and become an expert at making different knitted stuffs, you will derive great satisfaction looking at the tasks that you have accomplished. Before you know, you will be hooked for a lifetime.



ALFONSO

ret340 asked:


I’d like to buy a subscription to a knitting magazine for my friend, but I have no idea which ones are good. I don’t knit and have never even seen one. If you were to get a subscription, which would you choose? Thanks!
She likes to knit stuff for children, hats, gloves, scarves, ponchos and blankets. I don’t think she is into any super technical stuff. She knits more traditional.

TRAVIS

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Knitting is an ancient craft, this craft has been passed on from our ancestors, but this knitting went out of fashion. This is the best way to create the desired pattern instead of buying it from the shop. To create this fabric, if you are new, means that you have to learn simple steps in order to knit.

If you are really interested in knitting, you need not worry because knitting becomes simple when using the correct knitting tools, which are called knitting looms. For this you don’t require many tools. You just have to start with a ball of yarn and a pair of knitting needles.

To begin with the stitching, your yarn spinners will give you information about stitches, and rows which that particular yarn you can anticipate to knit using specific set of needles. And if you are not getting such information from those yarn spinners, then you should ask a retailer.

Generally the numbers of stitches are found in the area of around 10 cm square or around 4 inches. This will be helpful in case of the small samples in this you can see how many stitches come into view, in 1 inch this will let skip the partial stitches and hence they will not be counted, resulting in a wrong pattern.

For this purpose you need to purchase a type of yarn that will be able to make about 20 to 22 stitches in an area of 10 cm or 4 inches for about 28 to 30 rows about 4 inches in stocking stitch. Beginner often prefer to work with 100% acrylic.

For knitting purpose another requirement is knitting needle. You must have a pair of knitting needles. To start with and for life long buy aluminum and nickel plated brass knitting needles. Other types of needles are also available in the form of bamboo, plastic, rosewood and any metal. The needles which you are purchasing must be smooth as well, not easily bendable.

Once you have all the required things, then you should learn how to make a slip knot. This knot is generally preferred for sweaters, socks and scarves. For this, first of all take a end of yarn and unwind around two to three yards. Next, hold it in between thumb and finger such that the ball end is going away from the thumb across inside of the finger. At this stage wind it around finger.

Now insert the needle point under this circle. Tip the needle over by lifting the crossing over strand back up through the loop. This is the loop now to carefully lift (the yarn) from your finger and draw it up. Making use of this loop, now start with the desired stitch. Make use of the knit stitch or purl stitches.



VALENTIN

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Knitting is a traditional art and craft most generally associate with using wool and yarn. These two materials are used for different patterns of tops, scarves, socks, etc that can be crafted via knitting.

Knitting is very traditional, generally used by grandmothers to do all kind of things, but today many women are getting interested in this activity. Though knitting seems to some to be boring, once you get into it, you definitely gain an interest in it.

There are different patterns and designs for knitting. Being by using two needles plus learn some basic instructions.

Usually there are two types of stitches to use throughout your patter or other instructions; the knit stitch and the purl stitch. On the whole, knitting is nothing but the combination of these two stitches.

The details of these instructions about how to knit stitch are as follows:

Knit stitch:

First of all you have to hold the knitting needle with the cast on stitches in your left hand. Now push the tip of the right needle, in middle of the front of first and second stitch now the needle must be pointing to the right which will fed the point in the course of first stitch by keeping it under the left needle. While doing this, the yarn which is in use must be at the back of the work.

Now take the yarn which is in use. You have to loop this around the right knitting needle such that it should come from back to the front by resting the knitting yarn in between the needles. At this point pick up the yarn on the end on the right needle and pull it through first stitch to the front side of the work. The next step is to slip off the old stitch from left needle so that the new stitch would be on right needle.

While working or knitting generally keep the knitting yarn swathe over right forefinger, this arrangement will help you in keeping the yarn on back side. Until you get all the stitches on the right needle, keep knitting and when all the stitches will come on the right needle turn this right needle around, and hold it in left hand. At this situation will be the first row now again follows the same steps for second row.

Knitting instructions for purl stitch:

The first knitting needle must be with the cast on stitches in your left hand. Here the yarn must be hanging in front. Now push the tip of right needle in to front of first stitch in right to left direction. Now enclose the knitting yarn, around right needle point by crossing two needles so that it will hang in front again. At this position slide right needle downward and back by taking new loop the yarn from front to back through old stitch.

By following these steps you will get a purl stitch on right needle and yarn is hanging again in front side. Again follow the steps for all stitches and once you get all the stitches transform them on left needle and again repeat the steps.

Enjoy your new craft. Here’s to your success!



CLIFFORD

?fairygurl? asked:


I am a new at knitting, started about a couple of months ago.
I have knitted 2 scarves: knit 1 row purl 1 row…. and on each one of them the edges curl. This really bugs me I would like to know how to keep it from doing this.

DEXTER