This Beginner’s Guide for Knitting will take the ‘fear’ out of a beloved hobby. It is a timeless craft that allows you to transform simple yarn into beautiful and practical creations. Whether you’re seeking a new hobby or looking to unleash your creative side, learning to knit is a rewarding journey. In this guide we’ll explore the basics of knitting, provide step-by-step instructions for crafting a scarf, a hat, and a poncho, and share essential tools and the easiest yarns to use.
Getting Started: Must-Have Tools
Before diving into how to knit, make sure you have the following recommended tools at your disposal. These must-have items will set you up for success and make your knitting experience enjoyable. Truth be told, we were taught to knit by keeping track of our rows with pencil and paper. However, row counters are pretty awesome!
Knitting Needles: Invest in a pair of straight knitting needles to start. Choose a medium size, around US size 8 (5mm), as they are versatile and suitable for various projects. The thinner the yarn; the smaller the needle size you’ll need. (Note: for two of our projects below, you will want to use circular needles. Therefore, we recommend starting with the scarf project and advancing to the hat and lastly to the poncho.)
Yarn: Choose a smooth, medium-weight yarn for your first projects. Worsted weight yarn is a great option for beginners. It’s easy to work with and comes in a wide range of colors.
Scissors: Scissors are essential for cutting yarn as you complete your projects. In a pinch, we’ve used nearby fingernail clippers.
Tapestry Needle: This large-eyed needle is perfect for weaving in loose ends and finishing your creations with a polished look.
Measuring Tape: Accurate measurements are crucial in knitting. A flexible measuring tape will help you ensure your projects are the right size.
Stitch Markers: These small, removable markers help you keep track of specific points in your knitting. While they make the process more organized, you can use contrasting loops of yarn tied loosely around your needle.
Row Counter: A row counter is a handy tool for tracking the number of rows in your projects especially when working on larger pieces.
Choosing the Right Yarn
Selecting the right yarn is crucial for a successful knitting experience. Please do buy yarn that you love. Forcing yourself to work with fiber you don’t enjoy won’t be enjoyable. As a beginner, opt for yarns that are easy to work with and forgiving of mistakes. Here are some recommended yarns for beginners.
Acrylic Yarn: Acrylic yarn is widely available, budget-friendly, and comes in various colors. It’s easy to care for and forgiving if you need to unravel and redo your stitches.
Worsted Weight Yarn: This medium-weight yarn is ideal for beginners. It allows you to see your stitches clearly and is versatile enough for a variety of projects.
Cotton Yarn: Cotton yarn is another excellent choice for beginners. It’s soft, breathable, and easy to handle. It’s perfect for accessories like scarves and hats.
Basic Knitting Stitches
Before we jump into specific projects, let’s cover the basic knitting stitches you’ll need to learn. We give the very basics, but there are links for each stitch that will take you to wonderful explanatory videos.
Knit Stitch (K): The most fundamental knitting stitch. Insert the needle into the stitch, wrap the yarn around, and pull the wrapped yarn through. This video does a wonderful job of showing how to do a knit stitch.
Purl Stitch (P): The reverse of the knit stitch. Insert the needle from right to left in the front of the stitch on the left needle, wrap the yarn around, and pull it through. Here’s a great purl video.
Cast On: The starting point of any knitting project. There are various methods for casting on, but the long-tail cast-on is commonly used for beginners. Wool and the Gang created a perfect long-tail cast on video here.
Bind Off: The finishing edge of your knitting project. It secures the stitches and prevents them from unraveling. Nimble Needles offers this bind off video.
Beginner’s Guide Knitting Projects
And now you’re ready for some easy and satisfying knitting projects. Our advice: select a time when you can concentrate. Be well-rested. Be enthusiastic. Mostly, be patient!
1. Simple Scarf
Materials:
- Worsted weight yarn
- Size 8 (5mm) knitting needles
Instructions:
- Cast on 30 stitches.
- Knit each row until the scarf reaches your desired length.
- Bind off and weave in loose ends
2. Cozy Hat
Materials:
- Worsted weight yarn
- Size 8 (5mm) circular or double-pointed needles
Instructions:
- Cast on 80 stitches.
- Join in the round and knit every stitch until the hat measures 8 inches.
- Decrease stitches evenly until 8 stitches remain.
- Cut the yarn, thread it through the tapestry needle, and weave it through the remaining stitches. Pull tight and bury the yarn end by weaving it into several rows of the hat.
3. Stylish Poncho
Materials:
- Worsted weight yarn
- Size 8 (5mm) circular needles
Instructions:
- Cast on 120 stitches.
- Knit in the round until the poncho measures your desired length.
- Bind off and weave in loose ends.
- Optionally, add fringe to the bottom edge for extra flair.
Other Knitting Ideas
If you struggle to hold both needles in your hands, try a knitting loom. There are so many options of looms to choose from. These are ones we like:
- Knitting loom for afghans – this is very cool and can create blankets 60″ wide! Word of advice: If you get this, you will want to have a very loose stitch.
- Square and round knitting looms are great too. You can make hats, scarfs, and a variety of other things with these. This is a kit that has all the options.
- GIFT IDEA for the knitter in your life (or a special little something for yourself!) is A Year of Knitting Stitches perpetual calendar. Learn a new stitch every day!!
Keep Calm and Knit On
Embarking on your knitting journey opens up a world of creativity and relaxation. Armed with the right tools, yarn, and basic stitches, you can easily craft a cozy scarf, a stylish hat, or a trendy poncho. As you gain confidence in your knitting skills, you’ll find endless possibilities for creating personalized and handmade items. So, pick up your needles, choose your yarn, and let the soothing rhythm of knitting lead you toward a world of handmade wonders. Our hope is this Beginner’s Guide for Knitting inspires you!
If you love creating with yarn but aren’t able to invest the time for knitting, you can still make great homemade projects. Our DIY hat from repurposed sweaters is a great project to get creativity flowing! We also have other crafts on our blog found under the projects section of our site.
