Sit, Relax, and Knit: Five Tips to Easy Knitting
Making your own knitted items is lots of fun. Have a friend show you how, or take a class, or watch videos online in order to learn the following steps, which will hopefully help beginner knitters discover the joy of sitting, relaxing, and knitting.
-Casting On
The cast on row is the foundation of your project. It may take awhile to get the hang of it and some knitters practice casting on for a few weeks before they attempt a project. For this step and the next two, it may be helpful to buy cheap yarn as the practice yarn can become really frayed after awhile.This/tag helps explain it more.
-Knitting And Purling
Knitted items are comprised of a series of knits and purls. Knitting is easier than purling so practice this first. When you feel confident, try purling. Your tension may not be as even as with knitting, and that’s okay. Even tension comes with time and practice. Don’t be afraid to try knitting in the round at this stage. There is no purling, so your knitting will look as if you’ve been doing it for years.
-Binding Off
When projects are complete, they have to be finished so they don’t unravel. Binding off is just as necessary as casting on.
-Choose A Pattern
Find something you really love. Don’t be afraid to try something that looks challenging. The pattern will tell you what is needed to make the project. Reading patterns is easy, and there are lots of web sites that list keys for knitting abbreviations.
-Choose Your Yarn
The pattern will tell you which yarn to use, but don’t be afraid to substitute. As long as the yarn is the same weight as what’s in the pattern, it will be fine. Buy something that you really love; it will make all the difference in your knitting experience.
Now you’re ready to sit, relax, and knit!