Knitting is Fun
What you will need:
- Worsted-weight yarn, any color
- Size 8 or 9, 14"-long knitting needles
- Basic instructional book
To begin, get some inexpensive yarn (don’t spend a lot of money on expensive yarn until you’ve mastered some of the basic techniques and have confidence with what you’re doing.) and a pair of knitting needles. The two most basic stitches are the knit stitch and the purl stitch. Learn the knit stitch first, then the purl stitch (it’s the opposite of the knit stitch). A favorite basic instructional guide is Teen Knitting Club by Jennifer Wenger, Carol Abrams and Maureen Lasher. Then, keep your eye out for a beginner pattern you like. Most instructional books have patterns in the back or you can find lots of free patterns on the internet. Once you’ve found a pattern, give it a try. And don’t be intimidated. Just because a pattern looks difficult, doesn’t mean you can’t break it down into small steps. If you take is slow and in small pieces, you will find yourself having no trouble at all!
Want to learn more? Check out these useful web sites for more information:
Learn to KnitExcellent source for learning techniques from the basics to more advanced stitches. All instructions are downloadable for printing. Site also includes information on learning to crochet. Links are also available for free patterns.
Daily KnitterAccess to more than 1000 free patterns, new patterns added daily!
Free Knitting PatternsCheck out some free patterns from some of the most popular yarn companies.