Knitting for beginners

I’ve often heard that knitting is a hobby that our grandmas have. My grandma made me a really cute beanie and a pair of socks, and I was intrigued by her ability to make something so warm and cozy from a pair of needles and yarn. So, I asked her to teach it to me. With a little bit of practice, time, and yarn, I was able to knit my own sweater! Here’s how I did it:

My mom got me a pair of needles and some yarn from Michaels, and then I watched a bunch of how-to videos that helped me visualize the project. I would not suggest starting such a big project like a sweater right away, but instead making smaller things that take less time and help you practice different patterns or designs. My first practice piece was a small coaster, where I practiced the purl stitch on one side and the regular knit stitch on the others. Then I made a bunch of these with different patterns.

Here are a couple of blogs and videos I watched along the way:
https://sheepandstitch.com/how-to-knit/ – a blog with all the basics
https://www.marthastewart.com/854324/how-knit – another beginners blog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_R1UDsNOMk – a video that teaches you all the basics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egp4NRhlMDg – this video teaches you the most basic stitch: the knit stitch. This is the best way to practice knitting and it’s the backbone of basically every other design.

Personally, I found casting on the hardest, but there are a ton of resources to help you do that.

Here are a few sample projects you can get started on:
https://blog.nobleknits.com/blog/small-knitting-projects-free
https://cutediyprojects.com/diy/25-incredibly-easy-awesome-knitting-projects/
I personally don’t understand how to use premade knitting patterns and I haven’t found a good resource to help me understand it, so I usually resort to YouTube videos to help me learn the different patterns.

Finger knitting is also an option if you really don’t want to use needles, but that’s another blog for a different day.

Knitting is one of those hobbies that takes time and commitment. I made my sweater in the summer of last year, so I had lots of time. I listened to music while I did it, which helped me pass time quicker. I would suggest putting your needles down occasionally to give your eyes, hands, and brain a break, and do something else (I used to go biking since it was summer). You can start off with a small project, like a baby blanket or a scarf, and move on to bigger things. They also make really cute gifts! Let me know how it goes if you try it!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6