Hey everyone 
I'm interested in putting together a beginner's guide for those who don't yet know how to knit or crochet, but really want to learn. I'm going to need some help compiling all the information though. Particularly, since there are so many from the US and Canada here, some information on what supplies are cheapest and good for beginners that you can get over there.
If there are any videos on YouTube you've found particularly helpful, I'd like to see them so I can give enough material to cover multiple techniques for the same result, in case one technique is too difficult for the beginner.
If you're a beginner yourself, what are the questions that are at the top of your list? What sort of information do you want in order to start learning to knit? Anything will be useful!
You can post here or send me a PM if that's more to your liking. Thank you!
I'm interested in putting together a beginner's guide for those who don't yet know how to knit or crochet, but really want to learn. I'm going to need some help compiling all the information though. Particularly, since there are so many from the US and Canada here, some information on what supplies are cheapest and good for beginners that you can get over there.
If there are any videos on YouTube you've found particularly helpful, I'd like to see them so I can give enough material to cover multiple techniques for the same result, in case one technique is too difficult for the beginner.
If you're a beginner yourself, what are the questions that are at the top of your list? What sort of information do you want in order to start learning to knit? Anything will be useful!
You can post here or send me a PM if that's more to your liking. Thank you!
I'm going to be putting together a plan and will address the following topics:
This would cover the basics I know of. Other stitch types such as yarnovers, increases and decreases would be more advanced techniques. Is there anything I'm missing, beginners? Anything you're confused about that you'd like more explanations on?
- Beginners tools
- Terminology
- Casting on
- Knitting
- Purling
- Binding off
- Yarn material types and their pros and cons
- What is blocking?
This would cover the basics I know of. Other stitch types such as yarnovers, increases and decreases would be more advanced techniques. Is there anything I'm missing, beginners?
Anything you're confused about that you'd like more explanations on?
I think that something on dropping a stitch would be good. It's not exactly a beginners, but mistakes happen and it's better to know what to do early on!
Fixing dropped stitches requires being able to read your work and I currently only have resources to show how that's done in stockinette. I think the focus of a beginner tutorial should be to just knit patches until you've mastered casting on, knitting, purling and binding off and then move on to more complex stitches and fixing mistakes.
I'm definitely adding it in some way though! Thanks for reminding me.
I'm definitely adding it in some way though! Thanks for reminding me.
In the terminology section, a guide to the very basic stitch types that you can do with knit and purl stitches would probably go over well! Garter vs stockinette, for example, or ribbing.
The thing I remember being most difficult about learning to knit was where to place my needles. I knit two or three different projects - hats, mostly - before I figured out that I'd been twisting all my knit stitches.
As for supplies, in North America, the best places to look for cheaper beginners' tools are typically the large craft stores - Michaels is big in Canada, Wal-Mart to some degree; not sure of the States. LYS are also great, with more potential resources available to someone starting out, but they do tend to be a little more pricier. Online ordering is also pretty decent; http://www.knitpicks.com/ off the top of my head is cheap and plentiful for starter supplies, too.
The thing I remember being most difficult about learning to knit was where to place my needles. I knit two or three different projects - hats, mostly - before I figured out that I'd been twisting all my knit stitches.
As for supplies, in North America, the best places to look for cheaper beginners' tools are typically the large craft stores - Michaels is big in Canada, Wal-Mart to some degree; not sure of the States. LYS are also great, with more potential resources available to someone starting out, but they do tend to be a little more pricier. Online ordering is also pretty decent; http://www.knitpicks.com/ off the top of my head is cheap and plentiful for starter supplies, too.