Knitting References for Beginners
By special request, here are my (somewhat disjointed, please excuse the 1am rambling) thoughts on references for learning to knit:
Instructional Knitting Websites:
I taught myself to knit from an assortment of websites. Googling terms such as "how to knit" or "learn to knit" will get you some good results.
I particularly like StitchGuide.com - it has knitting videos that show you step-by-step how to do specific stitches. It's also got a great section on common abbreviations.
About.com has some good knitting stuff, and a ton of patterns as well. It even has a new knitters FAQ. I don't love their website though.
The Livejournal Knitting Community is very active, and is a great place to ask questions (once you have already searched their archives for similar posts). I can't believe much I learn from them!
Books:
The book Vogue Knitting is my very favourite. It's got everything you need . . . from casting on to the basic knit and purl stitches, to increases and decreases, to an entire library of stitches and patterns all the way to binding off, finishing and even designing! Well worth the investment, and I got the "old" one, (from 1989) for cheap off of eBay. I pulled it out this afternoon to learn a new cast-on, and used it last week to design myself a sweater.
Once you get into knitting, I like Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac for spurring on creativity and design. But it's not for the complete novice!
Real People:
Some people can only learn to knit by learning from a real person. Most knitters I know are happy to hook a newbie into the dark ways of knitting. You can find a friend, colleague, or teacher to help you out. Your Local Yarn Store may also be able to give you some help. I personally needed to use diagrams, but I think I am in the minority on this one!
Free Online Patterns:
Knitty.com is probably the biggest source out there. They have stuff for knitters at all levels.
They also have a message board with some of the nicest knitters on the planet.
---
And of course, I learn so much through other knitting blogs. Some of my favourites are in the sidebar.
Do you fellow knitters have any wisdom to share?
Instructional Knitting Websites:
I taught myself to knit from an assortment of websites. Googling terms such as "how to knit" or "learn to knit" will get you some good results.
I particularly like StitchGuide.com - it has knitting videos that show you step-by-step how to do specific stitches. It's also got a great section on common abbreviations.
About.com has some good knitting stuff, and a ton of patterns as well. It even has a new knitters FAQ. I don't love their website though.
The Livejournal Knitting Community is very active, and is a great place to ask questions (once you have already searched their archives for similar posts). I can't believe much I learn from them!
Books:
The book Vogue Knitting is my very favourite. It's got everything you need . . . from casting on to the basic knit and purl stitches, to increases and decreases, to an entire library of stitches and patterns all the way to binding off, finishing and even designing! Well worth the investment, and I got the "old" one, (from 1989) for cheap off of eBay. I pulled it out this afternoon to learn a new cast-on, and used it last week to design myself a sweater.
Once you get into knitting, I like Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac for spurring on creativity and design. But it's not for the complete novice!
Real People:
Some people can only learn to knit by learning from a real person. Most knitters I know are happy to hook a newbie into the dark ways of knitting. You can find a friend, colleague, or teacher to help you out. Your Local Yarn Store may also be able to give you some help. I personally needed to use diagrams, but I think I am in the minority on this one!
Free Online Patterns:
Knitty.com is probably the biggest source out there. They have stuff for knitters at all levels.
They also have a message board with some of the nicest knitters on the planet.
---
And of course, I learn so much through other knitting blogs. Some of my favourites are in the sidebar.
Do you fellow knitters have any wisdom to share?
posted by Linz at 1:05 AM
1 Comments:
You're welcome - let me know if I can help with anything!
Post a Comment
<< Home