Learn how to knit!

[alotofyarn]

Or at least talk about knitting, if you want! I thought I'd officially start this, since it was brought up in the "What are you wearing?" thread.

I'm almost completely self-taught. My mom taught me very basics - knit, cast on, bind off, but I mostly forgot that and retaught myself later.

First of all, create a Ravelry account (http://www.ravelry.com/) - seriously, that's the best thing you can do for knitting. We even have an iMSN group, so you can find us all over there too.

Second, get some yarn. I prefer to start with non-novelty, wool and/or acrylic worsted weight yarn (boring stuff), like Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool, Wool-Ease, or Vanna's Choice; Michael's Loops & Threads Impeccable; Hobby Lobby I Love This Wool; or even Red Heart Super Saver.

Third, get some needles. You'll do better if you don't start out with super cheap ones, but you can certainly make those work. Anything from size 8-10.5 would work with a worsted weight yarn. Clover bamboo needles are good starter needles.

Fourth, watch some videos! I mostly used these ones: http://www.knittinghelp.com/ If you learn to cast-on, knit, and bind-off, you can make a nice scarf, blanket, or washcloth.

Finally, come back here or to Ravelry if you have any questions.

[poky]

I'm happy (and I'm sure others here would be, too) to coach you along as well as I can from a distance!

I learned in the dark ages before youtube; this is the booklet I taught myself from:
http://knittingcrochetwool.com/media...2/_/2_28_6.jpg

and my first big projects were a couple of afghans from this booklet; they came out pretty well, if I do say so myself - one lacy, one cabled. I still like making afghans:
https://img0.etsystatic.com/012/0/58...01222_hlhh.jpg

bamboo needles are good to start with (they're not as slippery as metal); I'd recommend a pair of circulars, rather than straight needles. 24 or 36 inches is a good medium length; that gives you some flexibility in the size of the projects you can do with it, and you're not likely to keep using straight needles anyway if you keep knitting, so you might as well get a needle you might keep using (though if you get serious, it makes the most sense to eventually get a set of interchangable circulars).

[alotofyarn]

Totally agree on the circular needles - I learned on bamboo straights (size 15 with LB Homespun - not recommended), but once I bought nickel circulars for a specific project, I never went back, and I love my KP nickel and harmony interchangeables.

If you want to shop online, KnitPicks is a great place to start.

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

You guys rock....I'll have to come back to this thread when not at work!!

[JDAZ11]

Ok. I'm totally interested in starting. I may have to wait until after the holidays, but I'll read through this and order some stuff! Thanks!

[poky]

OK, if you're going to order online anyway, I'll second Allison's knitpicks recommendation and point to some specific items:

a ball of two of this yarn:
http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Wool_..._D5420103.html (50g of worsted is not a LOT of yarn, but plenty to start with).

It turns out that knitpicks doesn't sell fixed circulars larger than size 3 longer than 16", so if you go with them, you'll want to go interchangable:

one or two of these cables in 24" or 36":
http://www.knitpicks.com/accessories...pleCables.html (purple)
http://www.knitpicks.com/needles/Opt...ianCables.html (green)

and at least one set of tips, probably size 8 or 9ish to start:
http://www.knitpicks.com/needles/Opt...PNDETIPWD.html (rainbow wood)
http://www.knitpicks.com/needles/Cas...spianTips.html (green-toned wood)
http://www.knitpicks.com/needles/Sun...truckTips.html (plain wood)

That's around $15 including shipping for one skein of yarn, one cable, and one set of tips.

A little about KnitPicks (no, I'm not a paid spokesperson, just a happy customer): Their yarn is really decent for a good price, they've got free shipping for orders over $50, and they have *amazing* customer service. If something breaks, they ship out a replacement right away, no questions asked. They were the first ones to have a really decent interchangable set for a reasonable amount of money, which is why a LOT of knitters have their interchangables. The plastic cables WILL pull out of their little metal ends after a lot of use; I've had good luck with plopping some superglue in and re-attaching. I'm not sure if more expensive interchangable sets are less prone to that separation or not, not having ever used any (there are some REALLY nice, expensive sets out there, but KP is relatively inexpensive, and a really solid start).

[HouseofWool]

I love their interchangeable needles as well.

[Meenah]

I have always wanted to learn!!!!! I tried to teach myself a few years ago with no luck. I'll order supplies after the holidays.

[alotofyarn]

The yellow scarf I wore today is KP yarn, and the stocking I made for E is KP yarn (the same stuff that Sandy mentioned). I've also made quite a few baby blankets and a lot of other projects with it.

[SoonerTexan]

so interested...but wondering if I should really take yet another thing up right now!

[HouseofWool]

I have always wanted to learn!!!!! I tried to teach myself a few years ago with no luck. I'll order supplies after the holidays.

I think you need to come visit. I'll teach you how.

[DrBandMe]

Hubby just bought me an Addi lace click interchangeable set for my birthday last month. I'm in love.

[alotofyarn]

Oooh, nice! I have a pair of Addi fixed circulars - the first nickel needles I ever bought. They're not as sharp as the KP or the Addi lace are though (I assume), and I prefer the sharper points. Once I used those though, I never wanted to go back to bamboo. I do have some Harmony tips though that I like.

[spotty_dog]

I am another pre-Youtube relic, I taught myself using Maggie Righetti's Knitting in Plain English. I liked having still pictures to refer back to as I worked.

The nice thing about knitting is that it fills downtime so well. Just today I put about 1" on my sweater sleeve while watching DD practice karate, and I nearly always have a sock with me for waiting in the car or whatever. I knit in bed while we watch movies in the evening as well. So for me, it's not something I have to carve out time for.

[Meenah]

I think you need to come visit. I'll teach you how.

On my way!!!!!!!