I’m sure lots of you reading this are seasoned knitters, but this post? This post is for our new friends: the beginners.
Do you know someone who needs a little help getting started? Just forward them this blog post!
First of all, welcome! Knitting is amazing and I’m so excited for you. You are at the beginning of a wonderful woolly journey. You’ll take some sticks and some string and, with a little practice, *POOF* you have a scarf, hat, mittens, cowl, socks, sweater…you name it. I’ve been knitting for a long time, and it still feels like magic!
If you’re beginning of your knitting adventure, I’d like to offer some starting advice, to help you begin with confidence.
Where to start?
Like any new endeavour, knitting can seem like a daunting thing to start. Yarn, needles, gauge, patterns, markers, knits, purls, casting on…it can seem like a lot. My first recommendation is find out if you have a local yarn shop (or LYS as it’s commonly abbreviated). Shop staff will offer suggestions on the right needles and yarn to get you started, and there may even a beginner class available. If you don’t have an LYS then the internet will have to do, and we have lots of tutorial to set you on your way!
I recommend starting with a scarf, or even just a little piece of knitting with no particular purpose. You just want to figure out casting on, knitting, purling, and binding off. Those are the most important basics, and if that seems like too much, just skip the purling! It can take a bit of practice, but soon those loops will be looking nice and even and beautiful knitted fabric will form.
Starter supplies
While there is a lot to know about yarn and needles, you don’t need to know it all at once! With some worsted weight yarn and some US #8 / 5mm needles you can get started (a few more details about yarn here). You can create a wee piece of knitting, practising your new skills, or you can jump right into following a simple first pattern like the Wheat scarf.
A great first project
The Wheat scarf was designed with beginners in mind. There is a full in-depth tutorial on the Wheat scarf here, with links to each technique and bit of information needed.
A few TCK basics tutorials
Looking for more? You can find ALL of our tutorials on our website here.
The only way to start is…to start
While it is easy to be overwhelmed, my best advice is simply to start. You can’t get better unless you try, and once you’ve mastered those two little stitches, knit and purl, there are SO many things you can make!
You can learn a new technique or two with each project, and soon you’ll be whipping up a whole wardrobe of bespoke sweaters. Whoever you are, you are welcome in the world of knitting and we wish you all the best!
~ Alexa and Emily
March 8, 2022 @ 3:58 am
New knitters, if your yarn comes in a skein like on the picture above, WIND IT INTO A BALL FIRST. Your local yarn shop might have equipment to make it go faster which you can use if you buy your yarn there.
March 8, 2022 @ 12:00 pm
Great point!
February 25, 2022 @ 11:13 pm
New knitters: Start with a hat. It’s faster and more interesting than a scarf. You can learn all the basics and have a good finished object more quickly at lower cost. Tin Can Knits free Barley pattern https://tincanknits.com/pattern/barley?g=2 is a great place to start.
February 24, 2022 @ 7:58 am
All are welcome in the world of knitting… yes!
February 24, 2022 @ 7:52 am
Thank you! what a great offering for beginner knitters such as myself. Look forward to the emails and patterns and to knitting more.