Tips for Beginning Knitters

Knitting is a wonderful hobby. Once you learn the basics, you will be able to make many wonderful items for yourself or to give as gifts to your friends and family. Here are some tips to help you as you are starting out in this exciting endeavor.

1. Keep it clean.

The most important thing to remember is to be sure your hands are clean before you start knitting. You do not want to get anything on your handmade item that could stain it or ruin it in some other way. Washing your hands takes away most of the doubt as to whether this can happen.

2. Keep it neat.

Another way to protect your finished project is to be sure your fingernails are cleanly trimmed. You would hate to get almost done with a complicated knitting project just to have the yarn snag on a fingernail and have a large bit of pulled thread. This can ruin a project and be heartbreaking to the person working on it. This is especially true if you are just beginning to learn to knit and this happens on your first project. So, before you start knitting, inspect your fingernails and get rid of all snags.

Your project can also be snagged by any jewelry you are wearing. Make sure to take of any potential sharp jewelry before you begin knitting.

3. Keep it simple.

Using yarns that are fuzzy and have lots of loose bits will make learning to knit very difficult. It is best to use a smooth yarn for your first few projects. It is easier to see where the stitches are and how the yarn is supposed to be on your knitting needles.

4. Do a sample.

If you are planning on kitting a sweater or some other garment that needs to be a certain size, it would be wise to knit a sample swatch first. Put this sample through a wash cycle or two. This will show you how much, if any, the garment is going to shrink during washing. You may need to adjust the size according to this information. It is better to find out before you are finished with the entire project, than after.

5. Do a read-through of your pattern.

If you are working on a project that is using an unfamiliar pattern, be sure to read the pattern through first. If there is anything you are not familiar with in the pattern, you can try and find help online. YouTube has a large amount of knitting tutorials. You might also try on Ravelry (www.ravelry.com).

6. Ask for help if you need it.

Never be afraid to get help if you get stuck. Most people who knit love to talk about it. And, most enjoy sharing their expertise on the subject, as well. And, it never hurts to talk to someone who has been knitting longer than you have.

Hopefully, these tips will get you on your way to a most enjoyable hobby. It can be frustrating when you are trying to learn a skill and there is no one to help. Once past the beginner stage, you will be able to make many beautiful items with your knitting needles. Just be patient. You will get there.