Top Of The Best Knitting Tips for Beginners

Top Of The Best Knitting Tips for Beginners

Knitting is a great hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It’s a relaxing activity that can be done while watching TV, listening to music, or just enjoying some peace and quiet. And, of course, there’s the satisfaction of creating something beautiful with your own two hands especially when you buy high-quality knitting patterns online.

If you’re new to knitting, there are a few things you’ll need to know to get started. Here are our top 10 knitting tips for beginners:

Tip 1: Use chunky yarn and thick needles

When you first start knitting, you’ll realize that there are lots of different types of yarn and needles available. For absolute beginners, we recommend using a chunky yarn and 15 millimeter needles. This is because chunky yarn is soft, easy to work with, and knits up quickly. If you’re new to knitting, you probably don’t want to spend hours and hours working on a scarf in really fine yarn. Using chunky yarn and thick needles will make your first knitting experience as fun as possible.

The stitches will be big, so you can see exactly where you’re going and you won’t get lost. It will also be easier to fix mistakes. Chunky yarn is generally more forgiving and easier to work with than finer yarns.

So there you have it, our top tip number one is to use chunky yarn and thick needles to make your first knitting experience as fun as possible!

Tip 2: How should I hold my knitting needles?

When you first start knitting, it may feel a little bit awkward holding the yarn and needles. You might not know which is the right or wrong way to hold them. But there really is no right or wrong way. There are two common ways to hold your needles: over the top or underneath.

Knife hold

To hold the needles over the top, place your dominant hand on the needle with the stitches. Hold the needle between your thumb and forefinger, with your thumb on top of the needle and your forefinger underneath. Your other fingers should rest lightly on the needle.

Pencil hold

To hold the needles underneath, place your dominant hand on the needle with the stitches. Hold the needle between your thumb and forefinger, with your thumb on the bottom of the needle and your forefinger on top. Your other fingers should rest lightly on the needle.

There are other ways to hold the needles, but these are the two most common. Experiment with both methods to see which one feels most comfortable for you.

Practice makes perfect!

As with any skill, it takes practice to learn how to hold the needles correctly. Don’t get discouraged if it feels a little bit awkward at first. Just keep practicing and you’ll get the hang of it in no time.

The right way is the way that feels best for you.

There is no one right way to hold the knitting needles. The most important thing is to find a method that feels comfortable for you. Experiment with different methods until you find one that works for you. And don’t be afraid to change your method as you get more comfortable with knitting.

Tip 3: Starting your second row of knitting

When you’ve finished your first row of knitting, it can be a little bit tricky to know where to start the second row. Some people might pull on the yarn too tight, which can make the stitches look uneven. Here’s a tip on how to start your second row without any problems:

  1. Hold your knitting so that the stitches are on the left needle and the yarn is coming from the back.
  2. Insert the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle.
  3. Knit the stitch as usual.
  4. Continue knitting the stitches on the left needle, one by one.
  5. When you reach the end of the row, turn your work and start again.

Here are a few more tips to help you start your second row smoothly:

  • Be careful not to pull your yarn too tight. This can make the stitches look uneven and can also make it difficult to knit the next stitch.
  • Make sure that your needles are touching when you insert the right needle into the first stitch. This will help to prevent you from accidentally knitting into the wrong stitch.
  • Keep track of how many stitches you have. It’s easy to lose track of stitches when you’re first starting out, so it’s a good idea to count them after each row.

With a little practice, you’ll be able to start your second row of knitting like a pro!

Top Of The Best Knitting Tips for Beginners

Tip 4: Make a tension square

A tension square is a small square of knitting that is used to determine your knitting tension. Your knitting tension is the number of stitches and rows that you knit per inch. It is important to know your knitting tension because it will affect the size of your knitting projects.

To make a tension square, you will need:

  • Yarn
  • Knitting needles
  • A ruler

Here are the steps on how to make a tension square:

  1. Cast on 20 stitches.
  2. Knit 20 rows.
  3. Bind off.
  4. Measure the width and length of the square.
  5. Divide the width by the number of stitches to get the number of stitches per inch.
  6. Divide the length by the number of rows to get the number of rows per inch.

Once you know your knitting tension, you can use it to adjust your knitting patterns. If your knitting tension is too loose, you will need to use smaller needles. If your knitting tension is too tight, you will need to use larger needles.

Here are a few more tips to help you make a tension square:

  • Use a yarn that is similar to the yarn you will be using for your project.
  • Use the same needles you will be using for your project.
  • Knit the tension square in the same stitch pattern you will be using for your project.
  • Count your stitches and rows carefully.

With a little practice, you will be able to make tension squares like a pro!

Tip 5: Don’t worry about tension if you’re a beginner

If you’re a completely new knitter, you don’t need to worry about tension too much. Just focus on learning the basics of knitting and getting the hang of it. Once you’ve got the basics down, you can start to worry about things like tension.

But even if you’re not a beginner, it’s okay to not worry about tension too much. There are many different ways to knit, and not everyone has the same tension. As long as you’re happy with the way your knitting looks, that’s all that matters.

Tip 6: Picking up where you left off

If you’ve put your knitting down mid-row and you’re not sure which way to start knitting again, don’t worry! Here’s a simple way to figure it out:

  1. Look at the needle that has the yarn attached to it.
  2. If you’ve knitted the stitches on that needle, then the needle should be held in your right hand.
  3. The needle with the stitches that are yet to be worked should be held in your left hand.
  4. Just hold your work like that and start knitting again!

Here are a few more tips to help you pick up where you left off:

  • If you’re not sure which needle has the yarn attached to it, you can always count your stitches. The needle with the most stitches is the one that has the yarn attached to it.
  • If you’re still having trouble, you can always ask a friend or knitting instructor for help.

Tip 7: Fixing dropped stitches

Dropped stitches are a common problem for knitters, but they’re easy to fix! Here’s how:

  1. Find the dropped stitch. It will look like a ladder of stitches.
  2. Count the number of rows that the stitch is dropped. This will tell you how many stitches to knit up to reach the dropped stitch.
  3. Knit up to the dropped stitch.
  4. Insert the needle into the dropped stitch from back to front.
  5. Bring the yarn up and over the needle.
  6. Pull the yarn through the stitch on the needle.
  7. Knit the next stitch.
  8. Repeat steps 4-7 until all of the stitches in the ladder have been fixed.

Here are a few more tips to help you fix dropped stitches:

  • If you’re having trouble finding the dropped stitch, you can use a stitch marker to mark the spot where it should be.
  • If you’re knitting in the round, you can fix dropped stitches by knitting them up as you come to them.
  • If you’re knitting flat, you can fix dropped stitches by knitting them up on the next row.

With a little practice, you’ll be able to fix dropped stitches like a pro!

Tip 8: Dealing with mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes when they’re knitting. It’s part of the learning process! The important thing is to not let mistakes discourage you. Just take a deep breath, fix the mistake, and keep going.

Here are a few tips for dealing with mistakes:

  • Don’t panic! Mistakes happen to everyone. Just take a deep breath and relax.
  • Identify the mistake. Once you know what the mistake is, you can figure out how to fix it.
  • Fix the mistake. There are many ways to fix mistakes in knitting. You can usually find a tutorial online or in a knitting book.
  • Don’t dwell on the mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. Just learn from it and move on.

Top Of The Best Knitting Tips for Beginners

Tip 9: Joining in a new ball of yarn

If you run out of yarn or want to add a contrasting stripe to your knitting, you’ll need to join in a new ball of yarn. Here’s how:

  1. Cut a new piece of yarn about 12 inches long.
  2. Thread the yarn tail from your old ball onto a tapestry needle.
  3. Insert the tapestry needle into the back of the next stitch on your needle.
  4. Bring the yarn tail from your new ball up through the stitch and over the tapestry needle.
  5. Pull the yarn tail from your old ball through the stitch and then through the loop on the tapestry needle.
  6. Pull the yarn tail from your new ball to tighten the knot.
  7. Trim the excess yarn tails.

Here are a few more tips to help you join in a new ball of yarn:

  • Make sure the knot is secure, but not too tight. You’ll want to be able to remove it later if necessary.
  • If you’re knitting in the round, you can join in a new ball of yarn by working the first stitch of the round with the new yarn.
  • If you’re knitting flat, you can join in a new ball of yarn by working the first stitch of the row with the new yarn.

With a little practice, you’ll be able to join in a new ball of yarn like a pro!

Tip 10: Weaving in ends

When you’re finished knitting a project, you’ll need to weave in the ends. This is a simple process that will help to prevent your knitting from unravelling.

Here’s how to weave in ends:

  1. Thread a tapestry needle with a 6-inch tail of yarn.
  2. Insert the needle into the back of your knitting, about 1/4 inch from the edge.
  3. Bring the needle up through the front of your knitting, about 1/4 inch from where you inserted it.
  4. Repeat steps 2-3 until you’ve woven in the entire end.
  5. Trim the excess yarn tail.

Here are a few more tips to help you weave in ends:

  • Weave in ends as you go when possible. This will help to prevent them from becoming tangled.
  • If you have a lot of ends to weave in, you can use a tapestry needle with a longer tail of yarn.
  • Weave in ends in a colour that matches your knitting. This will help them to blend in.

If you have any other tips for people just starting out knitting do let us know in the comments below and we would love to see your first-time knitting creations as well. 

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