Knitting - What I Wish I Had Known
Knitting advice for beginning knitters
I'll be the first person to tell you that knitting isn't always easy. In fact, learning to knit can be quite a challenge. I'll also be the first person to tell you that knitting is a wonderful skill to learn and if you take the time to learn it, you'll never be sorry. Once you conquer knitting, you have a skill that is both extremely useful and rewarding.
Increase your odds of learning to knit successfully with these lessons learned in the trenches.
Support
Don't try to start knitting without some type of support. Some knitting prodigies can teach themselves to knit - but most can't. Your first step when you first start knitting is to join a knitting group. A good knitting group is priceless. I hate to tell you, but when you first start knitting, you'll be plagued with knitting mistakes - there's just no way around it. If you don't have support, you'll quickly become frustrated and give up - possibly mangling and destroying your needles in the process.
Find a local group, class, knitting club, knitting charity, or church group and join. Go regularly so you can get to know the other knitters, make friends and you'll have a limitless amount of help and support.
Supplies
It's not necessary to buy any and everything that has to do with knitting when you first start out, but a few things are necessary. What's necessary? You'll need an easy knitting pattern written for beginning knitters, the correct-sized needles, and the correct-sized yarn. Don't try to 'wing' it when first starting out using different yarn or different-sized needles. This isn't the time to get creative.
Following your basic pattern with the correct supplies will go a long way toward your success.
Resources
If I had it to do over again, I would have never started knitting without The Knitting Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You'll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You'll Ever Ask. When it comes to naming books, they certainly got this one right.
My biggest problem when I first started knitting, as I mentioned above, was making mistakes. I didn't know how to fix them and I had to wait for my weekly class to get help. I wouldn't do that again. I think this book is essential. It shows you how to fix your mistakes and answers all the questions you forget to ask when you go to your knitting group.
I would also bookmark KnittingHelp.com on my computer. This site has free videos for beginners. It really helps to see a stitch when you get home by yourself and don't have anyone to watch. And don't forget Youtube.com. There's a lot of junk on there, but there are also some exceptional knitting videos too.
Attitude
Having the right attitude is essential to knitting. Know starting out that you aren't going to conquer the knitting world right from the start. You have to crawl before you can walk, and walk before you can run.
One day, if you stick with it, you'll be able to knit some amazing creations. You'll be able to knit gifts your friends and family love and beg to have. You'll be able to shower brides-to-be and expectant moms with beautiful gifts. And - my favorite - you'll be able to show some people in need and down on their luck a little love and caring with your knitting through knitting for charity.
Start with quick and easy patterns, get a support group, have the proper supplies, and keep the resources I mentioned handy. Before you know it, you'll be a knitting sensation.
