Hi, I’ve just started knitting. I’m still confused by purl an something else. Anyone have any good tips or tricks for a beginner?
I did find a nice trick though, so I have a beginning of a scarf! The trick is putting a piece of plastic tube on the yarn before knitting, so the yarn goes through the tube. You get it through by tying a knot and pushing through with the needle. It keeps the yarn collected and weighs it down, so you just need to push the tube on the yarn balls to get more thread. It also looks funny, if you’re into that kind of thing. Anyone tried this before? I also have audio cables on my needles, so I can get by without messy yarn, thank you!
I have a purpose with knitting beyond knitting. We’re using the needles as the + in an audio cable. I’m just getting used to it. But the tube thing seems to work. It spirals the yarn up evenly, so you just need to move it and undo yarn from the ball.
About purl: I’m just getting confused by all the terms. I remember knitting distinctly being one thing from primary school. Then putting it in soap and hope for the best. I always got my teachers to do all of it for me. I’m a real beginner.
Granted, I’m more of a crocheter, but I do knit. I still don’t understand what you are referring to by an audio cable. Your best bet is to go on YouTube. There must be a million videos on learning how to knit. Videos are far better than diagrams in learning to knit or crochet.
I’m not a knitter but my SO is and I’ve seen her do lots of projects - no idea what you’re talking about re: audio cables, but there are lots of good videos for basics like knit/purl on youtube…also check out the (huge) community at ravelry.com.
Yeah, I’m still not getting the audio cable thing.
It helps if you realize that a knit stitch and a purl stitch are the same stitch, only reversed. That’s why if you knit a row of knit and a row of purl, alternating over and over, you get a piece of fabric that is uniform on each side…when you’re knitting knits on the front, you’re simultaneously knitting purls on the back, and vice-versa.
Yeah, no clue what half the OP is asking about or describing, but I learned the basics via Youtube, using knittinghelp.com’s videos. The OP should also familiarize themselves with two major styles of knitting: English and Continental and try both to see which they are more comfortable with. (They both accomplish the same thing–it’s just a matter of how you hold your work and your yarn and what motions you make to make your stitches.)
When I first started, I tried English and it didn’t suit me–I found it tedious and slow–but then I tried Continental and it was much more natural and quicker for me than English style. Others are exactly the opposite way around. So I’d try both just to get a feel for them and see if you prefer one over the other. It seems to me that English style is the far more usual style for American knitters, at least ones my age or older (I’m 40.)
If you have access to people who know how to knit, just have them show you. It’s much, much easier to pick up and visualize what you’re supposed to be doing if you have a person demonstrate in front of you and check your work. Videos are second best, and I don’t think I’d ever have learned (or have had the patience to learn) if I started from a book.
Just forget about the cables, it’s not important. My needles are home made and they can connect an audio signal through them every time they touch, if they’re hooked up to a source and an output(speaker), that’s it. If you’re still confused I can post a picture. I have an added mess because of this, so I found a way to tidy the yarn away, a thin tube about 30cm long around the yarn, so the yarn doesn’t get messy.
I guess I’m knitting continental style, and I’m using the knit stitch right now, on what I believe to be the beginning of a scarf. I tried beginning on a QR code pattern, with two colours, but it was a bit too daunting. I’ve heard I knit too tight, and since I also use two threads right now, it gets even tighter.
I’m watching videos and reading how-to’s, but I was just wondering if anyone had some tricks up their sleeve they’d like to share with a beginner… I don’t really have any specific questions, but I figure knitting is a useful craft and I wouldn’t be surprised if some you guys have discovered some neat things while knitting.
Could you explain a bit more about ravelry.com? How do you use it? Looks like a social networking site of sorts?
I mostly knit with my friend via skype and we link eachother to videos we’ve understood. His mom is also pretty into knitting, so he calls her now and then to ask for help.
And lastly, I’m sorry that I’m having a hard time making myself understood. Sometimes I take things for granted and forget that things perfectly normal to me may be alien to another, other times I just struggle to write in english.
Continental is a great way to see who crochets. To me it’s much faster!
I can suggest the following, which will be true for knitting or crochet:
Re: audio. Sounds like an art performance thing? I’m an artist so that’s cool. I’d suggest to buy needles. I have found that my good quality stainless ones make yarn work far easier and better quality of stitches. You might also consider going up in Guage. If the yarn suggests 5, use a 6. Beginners tend to hold yarn too tightly. Without seeing this tube thing, it might be a problem you don’t realize: holding tension too tight. For a while, perhaps, you might consider knitting traditionally until you are more practiced before having it be more of something else? The only reason I suggest this is because since knitting isn’t my forte, I have to really concentrate. I can’t whiz through like I can with crochet.
Don’t start off with too complicated of a pattern. It will frustrate you needlessly. Color changing for a beginner is not easy. Your standard knit on one side, purl on other, is enough for beginners. Learn to walk properly before you run.
I find that scarves, though a typical beginner project, are probably the worst thing. The length of a scarf (equal to your height) is tedious and can get boring for beginners. This causes many to quit. I like smaller projects because they are done faster and give a sense of accomplishment. Pot holders, for example.
Ravelry is a place where you can get patterns, etc.
My best recommendation is to watch videos. Next, if your town has a yarn store (not a craft shop) they will typically have nights where you go and knit. This is good so that you can get actual help. If you don’t have one, try going to a senior home (or church). Many older ladies know how and often love to pass on their gift. I can’t tell you how many awesome new friends I’ve met this way.
I’ve never tried crocheting. I’ve done some other textile work though. Once I made a hooded tabard with wings by hand! And another time a pair of pink, reflective disco tights.
I have to break up your points, sorry.
Yes, it’s part of an extra-curricular exhibition.
I wish I could buy needles, but DIY part of the idea. We usually build things from used stuff, scrap or thrash. I have been thinking of upping the guage though. It gets a bit tight. I think the double thread adds to this, but it just goes so much faster and I have under three weeks until deadline. I’d like to see some results!
That may be true. I have noticed that it should rest so as not to pull the yarn. I put the yarn a bit elevated and always pull out more than enough for a couple of rows. I’ll definitely get more yarn, so I’ll compare with and without!
I’m not very good yet, but I am starting to get the pace. I remember it from back in primary school. I can talk and listen, but watching things gets a bit too much. I can read, sort of… Knitting was never my forte either, I preferred everything else! I guess I have more patience now than then! But it’s going better than expected, so there’s that.
Yeah, I quit that thing. I had to do 50 in a row, so I made a miniature scarf instead.
I’ll probably call it a potholder sooner rather than later. Thanks for the ravelry tip, zombywoof!
We are two people doing this, so we started our own knitting club. We call elderly relatives for tips now and then, or our mothers and such, but I don’t think I’m gonna join a knitting club otherwise. I am pretty interested, but mostly because of the repetative and mobile aspect of it. I bring yarn to school and knit in between other things. I love knitted stuff, it’s really warm! But I think it’s gonna be a hobby or maybe an eventual material to pick up, if I need to. It’s a good skill to have, and it’s pretty low maintenance, though time-consuming.
TLDR; Knitting is better than an iphone game. Druggie high on knitting, fuck yeah!
Haha that’s cute to think you won’t get addicted The worst part, for me, is when you get to the stage where you want to use good quality yarn for a project that needs 10 hanks and each is $18.00! Yikes!
The most important thing to do is have fun, and you’ve got that covered!
Purling is just when you hold the yarn in front of the work instead of in the back and pull it through the front of the stitch, as opposed to knit, where you pull it through the back of the stitch.
Youtube is a great resource because I find the two dimensional pictures in books a bit confusing. I consider myself an intermediate to advanced knitter, and I’m having a blast with my latest project.
Yeah, I will need to keep it on a budget for now, unless I get a sheep! I’m noticing that I’m beginning to have pain on certain points of my fingers, so it’s most likely too tight. I’ve been trying to loosen it up, and it’s getting a bit better now.
When you refer to your yarn ball, do you mean an actual ball that you made yourself or a pull skein from the store? I assume it’s the latter because of your trouble getting the yarn flowing. Make a proper ball and you will not need odd accessories.
No need to purl if you’re making a scarf. Knotting every row gives you garter stitch, which is really nice for a scarf.
Purling isn’t hard at all, but if you’re having trouble, just go back to it later.
Also, DIY is a cute idea, but your needles are your tool, not the product. If you want to enjoy knitting without pain and end up with a decent result, get good needles.
I swear by Addi Turbo circulars, but the typical brands you find at a mass-market craft store are usually just fine. You can also find needles (and yarn) at thrift stores and by asking around. There are a lot of people out there sitting on stashes that they’d like to see go to a good home.
ETA- craft stores lime Michaels usually have 40% off coupons every week.
I’m getting the impression (and please correct if wrong) that the knitting is the secondary aspect of this project. It almost sounds to me like a project in performance art… That the experience is more important. I think that is great and for sure I would love to see/hear the results. That in and of itself is not a bad thing, but then, it’s hard to give advice on actual knitting.
I think that the needles are being problematic (or your grasp on them). I have those turbo circulars, too. There is no comparison to the plastic ones my daughter uses (but mom! They SPARKLE!). The issue of using double strands is also part of the problem. It’s not easy for beginners. I made a hat like this for stiffness, but my arm hurt after a while. This might be the tension and/or friction caused.
As for Michael’s, I’m not sure if she is American. But for those reading that are, Michaels and JoAnne’s accept each other’s coupons. Hobby Lobby does, too, but they are dead to me
I’d definitely call it a secondary aspect, but one I’d like to learn more about. When I’m finished with my home made needles, I’m off to get new ones. Yes, it’s for a performance. I’ll never be a master knitter, I know that much. But I’d like to make some useful stuff too, like a beanie or a scarf, maybe some socks, when I’m practiced enough.
Yes, I’ve felt some pains in my fingers. I think both the needles and my graps may be the problem. With the yarn so tight, I have to pull it out rather forcefully at times, and that’s not how it should be, I think. I quit the double thread after finishing up the patch that was never to become a scarf.
I’m not an american and I’m a man, but info is info. I’ll remember it if I’m ever stranded in america without any yarn.
@Green Bean
1: You are correct. I haven’t really had any problem getting it flowing, but I did have a problem of tangling. You point seems valid though.
2: Right now I’m knitting to knit. My scarf turned into part of a shoe, my next one turned into a mouse.
About DIY, I disagree. Why can’t the needles be a tool and a product? I’ve made a lot of “tools”, with good milage and results. Lots of tweaking and and adjusting usually takes care of discormfort or bad results. I’ll get better needles soon, but right now I need to use my own as I don’t have too much time. Great tip about second hand stores! Thanks.
About needles: I’m upping the guage on the needles a little today.
I think of you really wanted to, you could make needles. The catch would be to have the equipment to make them. You’d for sure need a lathe and calipers, and some sort of finishing media (sandpaper, etc). The smoother they are, the yarn slips off easier. You also need to make sure that they are the same size as each other and consistently sized throughout, or that could be a problem with the loops.
Do you think your hand size/ needle ratio might cause pain? I know with crochet you can get ergonomic handles but I’m not sure how that works for knitters.
Bad News Baboon, no problem. My handle isn’t exactly gender specific.
I’m been using copper coated steel rods around 0.7 mm in guage. I ground the points with a metal file and sandpaper, and finally finished them with finer paper.
I think the size has been bit small, so I hope that will help. I am pretty sure me and the way I’m using them is causing me as much pain as the needles. I think I need to relax and knit looser. I got carpal tunnel from bass guitar years ago, and that had nothing to do with the instrument.
Okay, back to knitting. I knitted a blue mouse, inadvertantly, and I’ve started on something new that I’m unsure what will become.
To me it’s much faster!
The worst part, for me, is when you get to the stage where you want to use good quality yarn for a project that needs 10 hanks and each is $18.00! Yikes!