Sherry Frewerd asked:


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

Graham williams asked:


For a light weight, trouble free knitting experience you need to use bamboo knitting needles. These needles are made after extensive research was done, to make your knitting experience as smooth as possible. They are manufactured using a high technological processes. The companies that manufacturer these needles maintain, high quality, smooth finish and a perfect needle points. The high quality and standard of these needles will make your knitting, an experience you will not forget.

By using bamboo knitting needles, you will minimize any possibility of splitting yarns, these needles also maintain a smooth flow of yarn over them, because of the smooth surface they have. This all helps to make your knitting trouble free. As these needles are of such a light weight your hands will not tire even after long hours of knitting.
The smooth wooden finish of the needles makes them glide over each other in perfect unison, hence minimizing the noise created by other needles such as aluminum ones. The amazing thing about these bamboo needles is that they become even smoother, the more you use them. Thus, knitting with these smooth bamboo needles all helps to make a comfortable experience, unlike the plastic and aluminum needles that are often used.

The bamboo knitting needles are made only out of the finest quality natural bamboo, that is grown in parts of Japan. The manufactures make a great effort to prepare bamboo needles of the highest standard. The strict quality control that is applied, assures that the bamboo needles prepared last longer and produce some of the most exquisite knitting patterns you can see.

The bamboos used to produce bamboo knitting needles are harvested during the cold winter months. The bamboo that is from these cold climates is far more resilient, and hard. During the winter the water contained in the bamboo is at a minimum. Thus, this avoids any staining, or mold.

During the winter months the woody fibers of the bamboo become tighter, hence these bamboo shoots are used to produce needles that are of strong density. The use of a fully matured bamboo shoot means, that the needles produced are strong and long lasting.

These bamboo needles are available in a variety of different shapes and sizes. The tapered point of the needle, ensures that every loop is even, which leads to a beautiful stitch. Thus, these needles are perfect for the beginner and the people who like the feel of a smooth warm bamboo passing between their fingers.

These needles are recommended to be used by beginners as they are not as slick as the plastic or metal ones. Thus, the possibility of the loops sliding from your needles becomes much less likely to happen. Professional knitters prefer bamboo knitting needles as they are able to knit quickly without any mistakes.

The flexibility, strength and comfort provided by these needles are second to none. Knitters can get a good quality bamboo needle at an affordable price. Unlike the bamboo needles the wooden needles are much more expensive, and if they are homemade then it will cost you a lot to own a set of them.

Bamboo knitting needles are available in a wide range of varieties, such as double points, single point and circular types. The size of every needle is so accurate that you can use various same sized needles and still get a high quality uniform stitch. You can also purchase bamboo needles with paperweight tops.

The needles come with a bulb of glass containing beautiful flowers, or other patterns. These needles are often collected for their beauty and elegant look. The beautiful glass design adds an exquisite touch to your knitting experience.

Even though bamboo knitting needles are long lasting, if you are using them for long periods of time it would be beneficial to you, to sand their tips, doing so will keep them smooth. This also stops the needles from splitting yarns, and of course them breaking. Apart from this the bamboo needles virtually maintenance free.



AMOS

Jason asked:


Knitting is technique to turn thread or yarn into a piece of cloth. Knitted fabric consists of horizontal parallel courses of yarn which is different from woven cloth. The courses of threads or yarn are joined to each other by interlocking loops in which a short loop of one course of yarn or thread is wrapped over the bight of another course.

A brief history of knitting

Some of the earliest and definite examples of knitting date from Europe and Egypt in the 14th century. However, some people claim that the knitting technology dates back further into centuries BC. What seems to come forward was this information which states that the first knitting trade guild was started in Paris in 1527, which established the occupation as male-dominated for centuries to come. Soon, knitting became a household occupation with the increase in popularity of knitted stockings. By the end of the 1600s, knitting trade was in demand in European markets. About one to two million pairs of stockings were exported from Britain to other parts of Europe.

Hand Knitting became a very useful but nonessential part of hand craft which was triggered by the invention of knitting machines. Females started to outnumber males as knitting practitioners. Hand knitting has gone been in and out of fashion over centuries, but 21st century marked its revival. In the late 1990s, a 400% increase in the number of knitters under the age of 35. This is the age where the social stigma of knitting being a female job is slowly disappearing and you could see few males in the knitting circle.

For further details visit Knitting Book or visit http://www.knitting-book.net/



ADOLFO

GtrGirl asked:


I am a beginner and I have never done either. I want to make a blanket. I know thats a stretch to begin out with, but that is what i ultimetly want to make.I know that knitting is better for certain things and vice versa, crochet is better for making certain other things. Also, i know that all yarn is different. What type of yarn is the best to use when making different things? I know that u use different yarn for for like blankets and clothing. COuld someone please clarify it a little for me? I want to start up this hobby, it will give me a way to pass through these summer months. Thanks!!

RAYMUNDO

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Entrelac knitting is a very interesting type of knitting. In this type of knitting beautiful textured diamond patterns are created. The knitted fiber made with Entrelac knitting just looks like basket woven strips of knitted fabric. In this pattern basically there are interlocked pieces are connected which have different orientations. This Entrelac knitting is really a fun and resulting fabric of just look very pretty.

Entrelac knitting can be done on both circular and flat. In circular Entrelac knitting is turned after full round of squares and next set is knitted in opposite direction. There are many other techniques are there for getting textured fabric but Entrelac knitting allows you have multicolored knitted fabric. And even Entrelac knitting is used to have multicolored patterns. You can have many different colors for single pattern but to keep it simple try to use minimum color because as number of colors increase complexity of this Entrelac knitting increases.

For making Entrelac pattern you only require knit stitch and purl stitch and you must have ability to knit or purl two stitches together. You can even use garter stitch or stokineete stitch.

First thing you have to knit first base triangle, cast on seven stitches then starting with purl stitch continue till 14 rows with stokineete stitches. Then for second block, use another color cast 7 stitches on another needle then repeat seven times for next row knit 7 stitches, after this row for next row 6 purl stitches and purl 7th stitch together with adjacent stitch of first block.

Then third block, across upper edge of first block pick up 7 stitches and then continue with yarn from second block, knit purl stitches for 1st row. And with stokineete stitch knit till next 14 rows.

For next block , use different colors again cast on 7 stitches repeat the 7 purl stitches and after that knit 6 stitches and after that 2 stitches together repeat this procedure for 7 times. Keep yarn as it is, don’t break it. .

For 7th block pick seven loops along the left edge of block two onto left hand needle continue with yarn from fifth block and then knit stokineete stitch for total 15 blocks. And for last seventh block repeat the procedure of second block. And repeat this whole procedure for creating some specific patterns.

Amazing thing about Entrelac knitting is that row of knitting contain many small rows inside the blocks. If you wish to have square edges then Entrelac knitting is done with triangles. It is knitted same as squares but with decrease and increase of stitches.



WINSTON

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:


Knitting is the oldest craft among all the crafts. Knitting threads or yarns are used to create cloths or warm cloths. Knitting is the process done by the loops, and these loops are stitched through each others and this way, you will get different patterns of the cloths and fabrics. But to develop this fabric you will need some devices with which you will be able to knit with.

These different materials need to knit the fabric are as follows:

Yarn:

These yarns used for knitting are generally sold in the form of balls or skeins, also called as hanks or otherwise it may be wound or bobbin or cones. These balls are usually sold with yarn bands which will give the details of that yarn which you are purchasing. These details are regarding yarns weight, length, dye lot, fiber content, washing instructions not only this it will give suggestion, about which needles are to be used and the gauge. While knitting it is most probable that the yarn will finish; therefore you should keep some yarn bands for future reference for additional purchases. Mostly you should prefer the yarn with single dye lot. This will tell you the group of skeins that are from different dye lots, though they are dyed together and this will give different strips while knitting. You should keep some extra yarn while knitting, which will not affect the efficiency.

Knitting Tools:

Besides this other necessary thing for the knitting, are the knitting tools. These tools are knitting needles and ancillary tools.

While knitting you have to complete three basic tasks these are: holding an active stitch, second task is when these stitches becomes secure, then you have to release them, and the third thing is that, new tights of should passed through the fabric generally from active stitches by securing them.

To carry all these tasks, you can make use of your fingers, without making use of any knitting tools, but in general practice knitting is done with the help of knitting tools, like knitting needles, knitting machine like rigid frames. These knitting rigid frames are called knitting boards, knitting rings or knitting pools according to their size and shape. All these frames are called as knitting looms.

Besides these tools and other tools, are used to prepare yarn for knitting, to measure and design knitted garments and also makes knitting easy and more comfortable.

Ancillary Tools:

Crochet hooks and the darning needles are used for binding the joints, of two knitted pieces edge to edge. Among these the darning needles are used for duplicate stitches and also called Swiss darning. Whereas the second crochet hook is used for skipped, or drooped stitches specially stitches like tufting. These all are regarding small fabric, but if you are working with large fabric, then it is most probable that you will forget about the stitch then for this purpose there are many tools, for counting the stitches, identify the number of specific row or stitch which will cover circular stitch markers, hanging markers, extra yarn and counters.

These are the different tools which can be used while knitting at home.



DERRICK

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

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