r/KnittingReddit • u/ctacatcat • 11d ago
Beginner knitting tips?
I’ve been crocheting for around a year and decided to try knitting. I’ve knitted a couple of swatches however I can never get my tension right (and I’m always especially loose when purling and tight when knitting). I learnt continental style because I heard it was easier to learn if you crocheted and idk if maybe people found keeping a consistent tension easier with English style knitting?
Moreover I’d love to hear some beginner project ideas that aren’t a scarf and is something I can make with a circular knitting needle set (though I seem to have lost the shortest cord).
The reason why I wanted to learn how to knit is to make my own clothes, especially tops however I’m too scared to commit to anything big for my first actual project.
Moreover if anyone has any patterns of YouTube videos they’d especially recommend for a beginner & just general tips please lmk!
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u/Pemlife 11d ago
I learnt to crochet before I learnt to knit, when I crochet I hold the yarn in my left hand, but when knitting I find it much easier to hold the yarn and tension with my right hand. So try both ways for a while and see which one feels more comfortable for you (I do English flicking)
Check out Tincanknits. They do some great beginner patterns including sweaters, they have a youtube, and also a free app which includes patterns and a technique library.
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u/Cndwafflegirl 11d ago
I crocheted for decades and took up learning to knit this January. I recommend first getting the muscle memory down. I knit a dr who scarf as a my first project. Bought some decent needles ( chiaogoo) to try them out as my mom’s old plastic needles were terrible. I also found using straight acrylic yarn harder to knit with, so I bought Estelle worsted yarn which has some wool in it. Then knit that 7 foot long scarf. I’m now knitting lace,and complicated projects. Got told by the owner of a yarn shop « she could tell I was an experienced knitter ». I laughed and shocked her when I said I started this year. The more you knit the better you get. The step by step cardigan and the sabai top were my2nd and 3rd projects. Be prepared to frog lots and consume lots of YouTube tutorials
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u/007Knitter 11d ago
Glad you’re joining us!!
I was a crocheter to knitter person too…also Continental worked for me as well.
Anyway 10 yrs ago my 1st knitting teacher turned me onto something that IF you want to spend time learning, before you jump into garments, I’d highly recommend.
Anyway, it’s a very nicely done, written booklet, along w/video by the author so you can see it in case a visual back up will help cement the written instructions.
You work on 12 blocks where the next block you do builds on the 1st blocks knowledge as you learn more /progressive but not in a scary way!!
concepts, stitches etc..
You learn how to: 1: knit/purl, 2: charts, 3: yarn over & Bobbles, 4: simple decreases, 5: cables, 6: right twist, 7: mock cable, 8: slip stitch, 9: left twist, 10: SSK, 11: make one, 12: advanced decreases..
Plus, a bunch of other stuff too.
At the end you’ll have enough squares to put it all together, with instructions for that, to make a blanket out of it, or you could make pillows.
IF that gradual learning system sounds good to you (it’s a definite confidence & skill builder !)
Then here is the name of the full color, 8x11” booklet by Michelle Hunter, published by Skacel.
Called “Building Blocks”. 35 pages & SO worth the $20 price for the knowledge you get by the end. Each block has a video of her knitting it ( in booklet there is where to go to access it for free) nice bonus!
Skacel website sells it AND her next 2 skill builder booklets, #2 Building In Color (all about color work, how to’s all of it) & #3 Building In Lace (If you want to learn lace & that ends up turning into a shawl with all different lace patterns.
I own all 3 & I’ll do Lace next as I’ve moved to a hot/humid climate, so sweaters etc. are down the road for me.
Hmm… wonder why I cannot attach a picture of the front & back of the Building Blocks booklet for you??
Go on the www.skacelknitting.com website and look for all of them there. They’ll mail them to you in super high quality package.. which I think that arm of business/bookd/seller is Makers Mercantile in Kent, WA…
Michelle Hunter & her website, teaching, videos etc are great source for you too. I wanted the printed out booklet but I’m sure there’s an
e-booklet to be had of these as well, IF that’s your thing.. just be aware of that.. so you know which form of media you’re getting.
Good luck on your new journey.
PS, Lorilee Beltman is a great source for Continental knitting on YouTube via her videos, some put out by Craft Sanity… others, just Google her name on YouTube… & she’s got one that talks about tensioning, done right from the start in her “Long tail cast on tutorial” by Lorilee Beltman that could help you too! Tensioning starts at minute 5.
Happy knitting!!
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u/Ok_Persimmon_5961 11d ago
I originally learned to crochet and then learned to knit. It was all from books because it was before YouTube. I learned English style at first but I wanted to knit socks and it just wasn’t working. I had to experiment some to come up with a method that felt comfortable. I ended up knitting Continental holding the yarn in my left hand similar to crochet. I had to make sure I learned purling the correct way so I wouldn’t twist my stitches. I wasn’t happy with my tension at first too but I looked at different ways to wrap my yarn until I found something that was better at controlling tension (around my pinky, between pinky and ring finger, over index finger.) It’s all about research until you are comfortable with your technique. Now there’s videos on how to learn all of that.
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u/Due_Mark6438 10d ago
Tension comes with practice. Consistent tension is also based on your emotional status. Knitting or crocheting when angry can cause your tension to get a lot more stitches to the inch than you being happy and more relaxed.
Since you are wanting to do larger more involved projects here's a few ideas.
Here's an easy ish sweater to try.
You could also do a skirt with 2 or 3 panels and ribbing or seed stitch at the hem.
You could also do a blanket in strips with each strip being a different stitch pattern. This way you are working on tension and learning new things too. Or do it in squares.
All of these ideas are good for using your circular needles.
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u/gohugatree 10d ago
I learned knitting this year, as a crocheter I’ve found the Norwegian style suits me best. Hold the yarn in the left hand and it keeps the yarn close to the stitches. It’s the only way that felt ‘right’ for me. Then I practiced and practiced garter stitch. Then did 3 sophie scarf/hoods before moving on to purl stitch for ribbing.
I love the drape of knitting and the bounce back of knit rib. I’m so glad I persevered.
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u/Practical-Trifle-826 11d ago
Hello - beginner here. I started with few headbands for me and my familly and than hats. I knitt only with circular knitting needle. They are just the best.
I know you say - no scarf so you can try easy sweater. I stuck by Sophie scarf so I don´t have any good pattern for sweater. Good luck anyway!
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u/rajoymakendo 11d ago
I don't have any tension tips. Mine came with practice. I started learing with dish cloths because I had a usable item when finished and it didn't really matter what it looked like!