Knitting for Beginners
Supplies, Resources, and Definition of Terms for this Fun Hobby
Knitting is becoming more and more popular, and girls are wanting to learn how to make their own things. First, you have to learn what it is involved.
Knitting is a great deal more fun than you might think. True, it is an “old fashioned” sort of thing. It is also one of those timeless traditions that is passed down from generation to generation. Chances are good that your mother might knit, and her mother, and her mother before her. Back through the history of your family, someone taught knitting to someone else. If your daughter wants to learn this fun hobby, here are the basics of knitting for beginners.
Why Knitting
Knitting is a great way to create beautiful things, such as clothes, accessories, household items, and even jewelry. It is also relaxing and calming to knit. The concentration required for knitting will stop your mind from dwelling on any strife or tension in your life, at least for a little while.
This guide will help you understand what you will need before you start knitting, and how to go about learning how to knit.
Basic Supplies Needed
This is just a short list of the basic things you will need when you begin to knit. Eventually, as you progress, you will acquire all the cool gadgets that will come in handy.
- Needles - a set of kids needles are usually about 7 inches long.
- Scissors
- Crochet hook - for picking up dropped stitches.
- Yarn - something just a bit thick is easier to learn with.
- A pattern - choose something that states “beginner.” There are sites all over the Internet where you can find cool patterns for making many different types of things.
Free Patterns on the Internet
Before you can start knitting all those great things you find, you will need to learn the basic stitches, and the meaning of those complicated sounding terms. They sound hard, but once you get the hang of it, you will discover that it is actually pretty easy, and fun.
Basic Terms and Definitions
- Cast on - a slipknot placed on one needle, then hooked with the yarn to the other needle, the first step before you can begin
- Knit - the plain stitch, a main knitting stitch
- Purl – seam, a main knitting stitch
- Make – increase
- Decrease one - taking off a loop without knitting; then knit one, and pass the other over it (as if you were casting off)
- Decrease two - slipping one, knitting two together, and pass the slipstitch over.
- Raise - knit the bar of thread between the two stitches as one.
- Twisted knitted stitch
- Twisted purl stitch
Now, you are ready to start your adventure into knitting. You will learn a lot more as you go along, but hopefully this article has piqued your interest and you will find knitting to be an enjoyable way to spend some free time.
