Beginning Knitting

Beginning knitting isn't rocket science but it does require some persistence. I recommend starting out with smaller projects that require you to perfect your stitching technique. Beginning knitting on something simple like a scarf is advisable as opposed to a more advanced project such as a hat.

Although there are some complicated scarf patterns available, a scarf is a great project for beginning knitting because you get to focus on the tension and stitches and not worry about various patterns. Most importantly, when beginning knitting is that you learn to keep consistent and loose tension on the yarn.

Many beginners make the mistake of trying to knit too tightly to make the project look neat - but this is a bad habit. You want loose stitches with a consistent tension. After finding your consistency, try making a striped scarf so you can practice changing to different colors of yarn when you knit.

If you are really short on time and want to start on an even smaller project, you can find patterns for dishtowels and washcloths that are very quick and easy to make. Patterns that involve simple rectangles or squares are perfect for beginning knitting. If you really want to hone your skills there are plenty of simple and large projects you can learn with such as shawls, wraps, and Afghans.

One thing you can do to decrease the amount of time that goes into your first few projects is to use a thick yarn and bulky needles. Bulkier needles mean that fewer stitches are required, which allow you to get through your first project more quickly. The tradeoff is that since you are a beginner, practicing lots of stitches is a good thing for you so effectively, by using thicker yarn and bulkier needles, you are slowing down your development as a knitter.

You can more difficult projects that are still pretty easy if you feel comfortable using circular or double-pointed needles. Hats, mittens, and socks can all easily be made with these types of needles. While you'll need double-pointed needles for most patterns, there are some two-needle patterns available.

For your first projects, there is no reason to go spending a fortune on high quality yarns. Stick with something cheap and synthetic. Your first couple of pieces probably won't be perfect or something you want to give as a gift, so you can always unravel the yarn that you used and reuse it. However, after doing this a few times the yarn tends to get stretched and it may become unusable.

Practice changing colors when you are working on your first pieces as it is an important skill to learn. If you are not comfortable changing colors yet, you can try some different colored, variegated yarns for a neat effect. Now find yourself some simple patterns, and give it a try!