Learning to Knit One Stitch At a Time
My goal as a needleworker is to learn and master these four crafts: crocheting, knitting, sewing and quilting. I already have a handle on crocheting although I want to excel in making my own patterns. I am already learning how to sew and in the process of starting my first quilt. While I am waiting to get all of my quilting supplies I figured this would be a great time to have a go at knitting...again.
I shared this photo sometime back when I first gave it a try. After my stitches kept falling off I gave up and put it away...like forever. I literally never went back to it and put it on the bottom of my to do list. I’m sure using those huge needles for my first attempt wasn’t a good idea because it was discouraging. Later on I decided to purchase a smaller set of needles to try again.
I am always terrified that I would get so far in my work and the stitches will drop. I have not a clue how to pick up a dropped stitch. I haven’t watched any videos on it yet because I’m afraid I’d be more confused altogether. I think the best thing for me to do is learn one stitch at a time and figure out the mechanics of this craft.
The other thing that causes me to keep putting knitting off is the fact that I have two toddlers. I’m afraid to be in the middle of a stitch and have to jump up and drop my work. 🤭 It’s easy for me to pick up where I left off when crocheting. Even if some of the stitches get loose I can easily redo them. With knitting that’s not the case for me at least not yet.
It was such a beautiful sunny day last Tuesday. I decided to sit outside and knit while the kids played with their friends. Here is my cast on of 20. I wanted enough stitches to practice with but not too many to overwhelm me.
I’m practicing the knit stitch over and over again until I get comfortable with it. This is how far I got while outdoors. It was pretty smooth going and I didn’t run into any problems or dropped stitches.
I continued doing the knit stitch that night before going to bed and also a little last night. I am proud of myself that I have kept going and didn’t quit when I start loosing stitches. I know my knitting friends can see the mistakes and the gaps in my work. It’s pretty easy to see where you made mistakes with knitting. I wanted to keep going so I just picked up a loop from somewhere and continued. 😁
When I scrunched my work together I saw a vision of a skirt. I thought to myself this could be a real life skirt someday. I began to get more excited about learning this.
Now, back to what I was saying about learning the mechanics. With crocheting I studied and figured out how some stitches come to be and why they work the way they do. It helped me to read and understand patterns better and made it easier to correct my mistakes. I want to do the same with knitting. How are these stitches intertwining together, what makes them stay in place? I started looking closer at what I was doing...
This was in the middle of me completing a row of knit stitches...and I have no clue the answer to those questions. 😄 It will probably take me some time to figure it all out.
After I was done trying to solve the mysteries of knitting I realized I needed to lock in my work. When I’m crocheting I just simply tie a loose knot in my working yarn so the stitches won’t come apart. I didn’t see a way to do that on the knitting needles. I looked up what others do and I saw that you could purchase these needle stoppers...
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Well since I don’t have any of those fancies I decided two small thick rubber bands would do...
Okay some questions for my fellow knitters...
1) Did you purchase stoppers when you first started out?
2) What was your approach when learning how to knit? Did you do a stitch at a time or jump in and did more?
3) How long did it take you to become familiar and comfortable with the basic knitting stitches?
4) Are there any other supplies I should invest in now while I’m starting out?
5) Have you solved the mysteries of knitting! 🤪😂
This is the longest I’ve ever knitted a piece without giving up so I am pretty proud of myself. I know with more practice I will have less mistakes and be able to pick up dropped stitches eventually. I figure if I at least pick up these needles twice to three times a week I won’t lose my momentum.
After I feel comfortable enough with the knit stitch I will move on to learning the purl stitch and possibly making a scarf for my first project. I’ll keep you posted as I move along :)
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Honestly I don't know where my stoppers are any more. I just stick the needles in my ball of yarn. As for dropped stitches, you pick them up using a crochet hook. Hook your way bach up to the needle and place the loop back on the needle. Also, some patterns use dropped stitches on purpose to create lace.
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Thank you so much for these awesome tips! Oh wow, using a crochet hook for dropped stitches sounds cool and doable. Now I’m curious to see if I can do it.
I had no idea dropped stitches were used to create lace.
Lace is usually knit with yarn-over/decrease combinations to create the holes, but dropping a stitch to create a series of holes is sometimes used. My favorite shawl is made in this way https://busy.org/@fiberfrau/dropped-stitch-shawl
Ahhh okay that makes sense. I can see how the yo and decreases create the holes. Thanks!
That’s a pretty shawl!
Well done! You're doing fabulously! The main thing I notice from your photograph is that, even in this first small-scale piece of work, your knitting is becoming more even as you knit more - you're getting a better rhythm and tension. You get better simply by doing it, so my number one tip is: keep doing it 😍
I like that you've picked a nice bright coloured yarn, too - pleasant to knit with andeasy to spot changes, whether they are intentional or they have created themselves.
I didn't purchase stoppers until only the other day - your elastic bands are a good solution and I get them free (wrapped around the mail). I learned when I was about seven - my dad taught me when he saw I was trying to work out how to do it myself. I knew the basics in my teens, but sewing was so much quicker when you wanted to create a garment. Really, though, I have come into my own through #needleworkmonday and all the great knitters and tips which pass through here 😍 💕😘
Yay that means a lot coming from you! I’ve really been focusing on keeping the tension the same so I’m so glad you notice that from my work!
Okay good to know, I like the sound of free so I will continue using the bands for now :)
That is so true about sewing. That’s what I like most about it, it’s much quicker.
I’m so grateful to be surrounded by all of you experienced knitters! I have so many tips at my fingertips that you all have shared . I’ll be going through some of the olds posts to reread things that will help me along the way ;)
Thanks again ~ 😘
That's a good start dear @crosheille! I admit I do great in other needleworks aside from knitting. Well, time to 'follow the leader'...I will ask my daughter to buy a pair of hooks for me.
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Thank you @sarimanok!
Yay join me in learning! Although it’s a bit nerve wrecking learning a new craft I am really enjoying doing something different. I can already tell that once I get more of a handle on this it will be another relaxing activity for me to do in my free time :)
Please share with us your starting progress!
You are doing great! Your starting piece is already very even and looks fine.
Stoppers are nice but I only use them regularly on projects knit in the round on double pointed needles. That keeps things from wandering off the needles as I work.
My advice is to always finish the row so tippy areas only on one needle and then either stopper the needle or scrunch the project up toward the needle end and stick the pointy end into the yarn to hold it.
Yay thank you that’s great to know that it looks even. I’m hoping my knitting will look as even and neat as my crocheting. Basically I hope to get fully acquainted and comfortable with knitting as I have with crocheting! 😄
Okay that makes sense. I think I’ll just stick with the bands for now until I need them.
Really great advice on finishing the row. Thank you!
You've done a great job so far! When I started knitting, my piece would've holes in my work just like yours. I would mindlessly pick up stitches in between 2 stitches and I caught that mistake early on, thankfully!
To answer your questions, I didn't have an issue with stitches falling off so I didn't purchase any stoppers. If I were resting my work for a bit, I'd scrunch it down to the bottom of my needles.
Secondly, I learnt the knit and purl stitch at the same time and played with those two for a while to understand the difference.
Thirdly, it took me the making of a simple beanie to completion to get comfortable with knit and purl stitches.
Fourthly, depending on your interests in knitting, you could get circular needles (to work 'in the round' as well as 'work flat') because you can work on enormous projects on those needles. They are definitely an investment.
Lastly, I have a vague understanding of how knitting works. Atleast enough for me to be comfortable with it haha
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Yay thank you so much! I’m loving all of this feedback and definitely need it. Lol I think that’s what I did. I started with 20 stitches and now have 21. 😄 Maybe it would be a good thing to watch a couple of videos on dropped stitches.
I’m seeing that those stoppers aren’t a necessity. Others have said scrunch up your work and hide the needles in the yarn. Thanks so much for the tip.
Awesome, you just confirmed my next move. I was going to practice the knit stitch for a little longer and then start learning the purl so I could incorporate them together.
Oooh circular needles 😳 I’m so intimidated by them lol. So to do a baby blanket those would be the needles I need?
Thank you so much for your thorough response :)
Ohhhh I am so excited!!! You started to knit, and it looks so good. And you are even thinking of making a skirt 😊 I understand your fears of dropping a stitch too well. Crocheting is so much more convenient in this way. My solution is never (ok seldom) to knit with straight needles. Besides socks, where I use dpn’s I always knit with circular needles and when I stop knitting, I put the fabric away from the needle ends in the middle of the cable and press the needles into a ball of yarn. So far this never unravelled. And if you want to be super secure, you could invest in interchangeable circular needles. Most brands come with stoppers you can click or screw on the cable (instead of the needles).
Here are some examples:
Hiya hiya and Knit pro are very similar in technique (both have screwing mechanics)
http://poststitchknittingblog.com/2017/06/10/interchangeable-knitting-needles-101/
https://www.craftcritique.com/tag/knitting-needles/
I use a different brand of needles, which have a click mechanism, but I am not sure if you can purchase these needles easily outside form Germany. This brand has also crochet hooks (for Tunisian crochet) which fit on the knitting needles cable. I sadly could not find a review of the needles with the stoppers shown in English only the crochet hooks….
So, my advice would be trying out different brands of interchangeable circular needles. I find this form of needles the most versatile and secure. Later I would try out different materials (I love metal) and tip forms (more rounded or super pointy), but this is not necessary at the beginning, I guess.
I started with knitting hats like crazy :-D I made rectangles of ribbing (so I learned knit and purl at once) and sewed them together. I found this very gratifying. But in this area, I would just do what you love, may it be a scarf a hat or littles swatches for a pillow or blanket.
And with the question of time… this is not easy to answer. I first learned the “standard” German method of knitting (western continental) but my stitches never looked good (you could see the rows because my knit and purl stitches had a different tension). Besides I found my fingers hurting from knitting. So, I investigated different ways of knitting and learned the Norwegian purl, which I liked more and then learned combination knitting which is the method I still use. My journey needed perhaps more tie as I learned different hand movements and I am still not a fast knitter but without the method of combination knitting, I definitely would have stopped knitting. I would try to look at knitting as something to discover. There are so many different methods to learn and one will be the right one for you…. Hm I notice I am not giving helpful advice…. :-D
So I just say again, that I am so exited that you tried out knitting <3 <3 <3
Oh trust me, you are for sure giving helpful advice which I greatly appreciate! Wow I am loving the look of those interchangeable needles. I admit I am intimidated by the circular needles though. I always thought you had to be experienced in order to use those. Hmmm now my brain is working. I have heard of Tunisian crocheting but never really looked at it until after watching the video you sent. My first thought was why do we need a cable attached to the hooks for crocheting? Then after looking at what it is it all made sense.
Thank you for those project ideas. I want to make a scarf first but that pillow case idea is nice. I’ve always wanted to buy a pillow form to dress lol! I think it would be neat if I knitted a cover for one. I definitely remember you speaking of combination knitting. I know it will be fun for me to explore the different styles. This has been fun for me already because it’s new and I have you all to talk to about it and many posts you made as a reference when I need it. 😁
Thank you so much for complimenting my first attempts at knitting and providing such a helpful, informative and thorough response! ❤️❤️❤️
I have to admit I loooooove to think about knitting and crochet technique, so I had fun to answer <3
With the Tunisian crochet: this was my first attempt to produce something like a knitted fabric without learning to knit :-DDD But the fabric has absolutely no stretch so its not so nice for clothes (which you know I love to make) and I find it hard on my hands, because the long cable/or hook (you can do it with long strait hooks) bears all the weight.
And your knitting really looks good, my first attempts had more holes than stitches 😂😂😂
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I like knitting! Even though I just know how to make a scarf :P
But it is so relaxing that just for that it is cool to do.
You will get better in no time! you will see :)
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Oh cool! Lol that is what my goal is for my first project. I think being able to knit a scarf is fantastic!
Thanks so much for curating!
It's great that you learn to knit. Kudos to you!
Stoppers - well, when I still used DPNs (double pointed needles) for knitting socks sometimes stitches slipped from a needle. I simply used old corks from bottles where I made a hole in one side. I once saw someone selling little stoppers made from Fimo (plastic clay for children's play + crafting which you can harden in your oven). And my sister sewed me a needle safe (look for them at Etsy). But the rubber band will work, too. And @neumannsalva is right: circular needles are useful in many ways, one of them is that they keep the stitches in the middle. These needles you have is what we think of when we hear "knitting" - but they are rarely used nowadays.
I learned to knit and to crochet at primary school - it took some time for me to get it. And for a decade or more I hated needlework ;)
The mysteries of knitting - I think I will never unravel them (pun intended). There are always other techniques and I'm looking forward to learning about them.
By the way... If you learn to knit by yourself and are a skilled crocheter you might try to learn to knit continental style. You're used to doing the "work" with the right hand and holding the yarn with the left. Just putting the right needle through the stitch and getting the yarn through it - it's not that different from crocheting. It might be easier.
After all this work - have a !BEER
Thank you! It’s long overdue, I’ve been wanting to learn how to knit for the longest.
That cork idea is great too! I’ll look up the needle safes too. Lol I was starting to get the feel that these straight needles I’m using are old school! 😄 It’s funny because I would have never known about circular needles if it weren’t for you ladies. I just thought beginners had to use these straight ones. 😂 I can see circular needles in my future once I get more comfortable with some of these stitches.
I will also look into the continental style. Thank you so much for that suggestion and for all of your tips. This feedback was very helpful and I’m getting more and more excited about this new journey in knitting :D
❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for the beer ~
View or trade
BEER.Hey @crosheille, here is a little bit of
BEERfrom @muscara for you. Enjoy it!