How to knit

Knitting is a timeless skill that unites generations, offering not only a way to create personalized clothing and decor, but also a relaxing activity that can help reduce stress. If you're a beginner and want to learn how to knit, this article will guide you through the basic steps, from choosing your material to completing your first project.

Choosing the material

1. Knitting Needles: There are many sizes and types of knitting needles, including straight, circular and double-pointed. To begin with, medium-sized straight needles (4.5mm to 5.5mm) are recommended as they are easy to handle and suitable for simple projects.

2. Yarn: Yarn choice depends on the project, but medium-thickness yarns, such as those classified as “worsted” or “aran,” are ideal for beginners. They are thick enough to see progress quickly without being too bulky or thin.

3. Accessories: Scissors, tape measure, and tapestry needle for finishing are helpful in completing your project.

Learning the basic stitches

1. Assembly: Before you start knitting, you need to cast on the stitches on the needle. Casting creates the foundation for your knitting. One of the simplest techniques for beginners is loop casting, which involves making loops on the needle until you have the desired number of stitches.

2. Knitting Stitch: The purl stitch is one of the two basic stitches in knitting. To make a knit stitch, insert the right needle from the bottom up into the first stitch on the left needle, bring the yarn over the right needle, pull the yarn through the stitch, and slip the original stitch off the left needle.

3. Stocking Stitch: The stockinette stitch is the second basic stitch and is made by inserting the right needle from top to bottom into the stitch, wrapping the yarn around the right needle and pulling the new stitch through the old one. Alternating between knit and stockinette stitch rows creates the plain knit pattern, which is the basis for many projects.

First project: Scarf

A scarf is a great first project because you can practice the basic stitches and see progress quickly. Here's a simplified guide:

1. Set up around 20 to 30 stitches on your needle, depending on the desired width of the scarf.
2. Knit all rows in knit stitch for a garter stitch scarf (knitting on all sides), or alternate between a row of knit stitch and a row of stocking stitch for a scarf in stockinette stitch (plain knit).
3. Continue until the scarf reaches the desired length.
4. Finish the stitches to finish the scarf, cutting the thread and passing it through the last stitch.

Tips for beginners

• Practice the points: Before starting a project, practice the stitches on a small sample to familiarize yourself with the movement.
• Maintain even tension: This will help keep your stitch sizes consistent.
• Don't be discouraged by errors: Making mistakes is part of the learning process. With practice, you will improve.
• Browse features: Video tutorials, books, and knitting groups can offer additional support and inspiration.

Conclusion

Learning to knit may seem challenging at first, but with patience and practice, it becomes a rewarding activity that allows you to express creativity, relax and create personalized items for yourself or as gifts. Start with the basics, be kind to yourself during the learning process, and you will discover the joy of knitting piece after piece.