Is Knitting Hard to Learn?
Knitting is one pastime that has remained popular throughout the years. There’s something about making things from yarn that gives people a sense of satisfaction. Many also enjoy receiving hand-knitted goods because they are one-of-a-kind items that provide fond memories of the person who made them.
Through needlework, you can create clothing or personal items that are unlike anything you can purchase in a store. Accordingly, many people take up knitting to build their own wardrobe or enhance their own home’s décor.
There are many social aspects to knitting as well. Avid knitters often gather with others to enjoy needlework and swap stories. Some will even engage in group projects such as creating blankets or scarves for the homeless.
“Is knitting really all that hard to learn?” The truth is that you can learn how to knit as long as you are willing to put forth the effort it takes to do so. With a little practice, you will be churning out beautiful projects in no time. Below is some information that will help you get started.
Who Can Learn to Knit?
A common misconception about knitting is that once you reach a certain age, you are too old to start. Some people believe that arthritis in the hands or a loss in manual dexterity can make it difficult to hold the needles. However, you do not have to grip needles tightly, so there is no such thing as being too old to knit.
Very young children can also learn to knit. The exact age will depend on a child’s manual dexterity and hand-to-eye coordination. Some may have the necessary skills at age five, while others may not develop them until they are around ten years old.
Reasons for Learning to Knit
There are more reasons to take up knitting other than just creating things. Here are a few you may wish to consider:
• Improving manual dexterity
• Alleviating boredom
• Providing a sense of accomplishment
• Being able to create custom projects
• Making personalized pieces that you can give as gift
Resources for Learning Needlework
Knitting at one time was a handicraft that mothers passed down to their daughters. These days, there are plenty of other ways to learn the craft as well. While older relatives do often teach younger ones, you can nonetheless learn to knit even if no one else in your family knows how to.
Many craft stores hold classes where you can learn from a seasoned knitter. These normally take place in small group settings where you can learn by watching others. When taking formal classes, you can learn at your own pace while having someone available to critique your work. It is also a great way to meet other people who may share a common interest.
Perhaps the idea of taking a class makes you feel uncomfortable. If so, you can still learn to knit by watching videos on the Internet. Perform a search for “learn how to knit” and you will come up with quite a few options from which to choose.
Bluprint offers a great selection of knitting classes online so you can learn at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home. Check them out by clicking on this link here. DVD sets are available from this link as well, and make it easier for you to pause or rewind the video as needed.
Another way to learn knitting is from a book. Books for beginners will have detailed, step-by-step instructions for basic stitches, along with drawings or pictures for you to follow. In addition to teaching simple stitches, many books will also contain easy projects for you to try.
What Should Knitting Lessons Cover?
When taking up knitting, there’s more to learn than just a few stitches. As such, you will want to ensure your lessons at least cover the following:
• Deciphering common knitting abbreviations
• Reading a pattern
• Choosing the right size needles
• Distinguishing between different weights and types of yarn
• Selecting a good project for your skill level
• Finishing techniques such as weaving in ends
All knitters make mistakes, regardless of how long they have been knitting. So that you are prepared, be sure your lessons include how to fix problems such as dropped stitches. This will keep you from having to rip out your stitches and start over, thereby eliminating a great deal of frustration as well.
What Do I Need to Start Knitting?
You don’t have to invest a lot of money when learning to knit. All you need is a set of knitting needles and skein or two of yarn. Keep in mind that knitting needles do come in different sizes. This means you may wish to purchase more than one set.
Size six, seven, or eight needles are generally recommended for beginners because they are easier to grip. Use these medium-sized needles to become comfortable with making stitches before working with much smaller or larger sizes. Aluminum or plastic needles are very affordable and are a good choice if you do not wish to invest a great deal of money up front.
Keep a small pair of scissors nearby to clip yarn with. These scissors do not have to be anything fancy. So long as they are somewhat sharp, even a pair of school scissors will do the trick.
You’ll need a sewing needle or crochet hook to help you weave in edges. Choose a sewing needle with a very large eye. Ones designed for other types of needlework or tapestry will work as well. When it comes to crochet hooks, a size G or H should be sufficient.
Finally, you will want a tote bag to store everything in. Choose one that is big enough for you to keep your project and some extra skeins of yarn. Look for smaller pockets to hold your sewing needles, pattern book, and scissors. If you want to take your work with you, select a tote bag with sturdy carrying handles or shoulder straps.
How Long does Learning to Knit Take?
There is no set time frame for learning how to knit. Instead, seasoned knitters recommend learning only one stitch at a time and ensuring you do it correctly before moving on. In the beginning, it could take as long as one minute for you to perform only one or two stitches. Don’t feel discouraged if you aren’t knitting as fast as someone else. The idea is to perform each stitch correctly regardless of how much time is required.
Practice daily for a few minutes each day. Master only one type of stitch before moving on to another one. You should notice some improvement in only a few days, but it could take two weeks or more for you to notice any remarkable progress.
Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t necessary to perfect your skills before making a project. Once you have mastered a few simple stitches, the best way to perfect them is by actually creating something. As your skills develop, you’ll enjoy looking back at some of your earlier pieces and seeing just how much progress you truly have made.
You should also not feel bad if you do not pick up knitting as quickly as someone else. We all learn things at our own pace, and needlework is no exception. Just keep practicing and you too can become a seasoned knitter.
Knitting vs. Crocheting: Which is Easier?
As with knitting, crocheting allows you to make designs with yarn. Both also require good hand-eye coordination and an ability to read patterns. Since they are very similar, people often wonder whether it is easier to learn crocheting or knitting.
Learning to knit normally takes less time than learning to crochet would. The reason is that there are only two basic stitches involved in knitting. Once you have mastered the knit and purl stitches everything else will be just variations of them. On the other hand, there are five basic stitches involved in crocheting that beginners must learn.
Knitting requires the use of two pointy needles. When crocheting you will use only a single hook. Therefore, you may find crocheting easier if you have limited dexterity in one hand.
Those who already know how to crochet often learn to knit faster than others do. One reason is that they are already familiar with the different types of yarns, needlework abbreviations, and reading patterns.
It’s possible to enjoy both types of needlework. Try both and you will likely find that you prefer knitting for certain types of projects and crocheting for others.
Differences between Knitting and Crocheting
If you are still not sure whether knitting or crocheting is right for you, keep these differences in mind. First, knitting requires two needles, but with crocheting, you use a single hook. Since the needles are heavier you may tire faster when you knit rather than crochet.
You are less likely to drop stitches when crocheting. As such, you may not need to “fix” your work quite as often.
Knitting produces a tighter weave. This makes it ideal for garments such as baby sweaters. It is possible to achieve a tight knit through crocheting; however, this could require you to master advanced techniques.
Choosing Projects Based on Skill
Many people take up knitting because they have a particular goal in mind such as making an afghan or sweater. Before you can take on a more advanced project, you’ll need to start with a simpler one first. Ideally, your first one will be something you can complete rather quickly as this will give you a sense of accomplishment that will leave you eager to continue.
Move to intermediate projects when you can easily churn out a few simple ones. By now, you should be ready to create more than just basic squares or rectangles. At this stage, you can tackle different shapes, or learn to piece different sections together.
Advanced knitters are unintimidated by very large projects or those that require complex stitches. It might take longer to finish something at this point. At the same time, you will probably be more excited about showing off your work.
Easy Projects for Beginners
For many, the idea of choosing a first project is often overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be when there are some very easy projects to start with:
• Dish cloths
• Pot holders
• Scarves
• Basic afghan squares (that you can later learn how to piece together)
• Headbands
• Trivets or hot pads
• Coasters
You may wish to use a heavier yarn for your first few projects. A thicker yarn is easier to grip. You can also see your finished stitches more clearly when you are using a bulkier yarn.
Although you might want to consider a heavier yarn, you should also check the pattern to see what type is recommended. While some deviation is possible, it is never a good idea to use a very thick yarn when the pattern calls for a thinner one or vice versa. If you do you could end up with something totally different than what you had anticipated.
Intermediate Knitting Projects
An ideal intermediate project is one that will likely take you a few days or weeks to finish. Try these projects when you have reached the intermediate level:
• Hats
• Gloves
• Baby booties
• Socks
• Toaster or kitchen appliance covers
• Purses and tote bags
• Christmas stockings and tree ornaments
At the intermediate phase, you can also learn to master techniques such as knitting individual blocks together. You might even create more detailed blocks such as “granny squares” that could then be connected to come up with a custom afghan, vest, or backpack.
Projects for Advanced Knitters
Now that you are an advanced knitter you can try more complex pieces:
• Sweaters
• Afghans with designs built into the pattern
• Dolls
• Stuffed animals
• Tablecloths
• Throw or area rugs
In addition to more detailed designs, advanced knitting projects often contain intricate details such as ribbing, flowers, etc. These are projects you can take a great deal of pride in-so much so that you will want to show them off to others.
You too can learn to knit. This is true even if you have never done any other type of needlework before. When getting started, keep the above information in mind, and it won’t be long until you find yourself taking on more complex projects than you ever thought possible.
