Knitting from scratch

[sojourner]

After years of seeing knitting as one of the most intensely boring repetitive activities, I have lately been considering starting, just to knit me and the fella some lovely warm socks.

Where the fucking heck would I start?

 

[EastEnder]

If you're starting from scratch you'll need to get yourself a sheep. Do you have any shearing scissors?

 

[wayward bob]

don't start with socks

 

[wayward bob]

If you're starting from scratch you'll need to get yourself a sheep. Do you have any shearing scissors?

i have hand cards, drop spindles and a spinning wheel

 

[Maharani]

You tube. Cast on first step!

 

[wayward bob]

i learnt everything i know from knitting help

 

[Siouxsie]

Definitely don't start with socks, you'll never pick up a set of needles again!
Try a plain garter stitch scarf.....there's plenty of patterns online with 'how to' videos.

 

[Athos]

At the toe end.

 

[Biddlybee]

People learn differently. I always find it easier to be shown something by someone in person - I can move around and pick the angle I want.

Start with quite thick cheap yarn and large-ish needles - easy to see what you're doing and the work grows quickly!

Me76 learned quite recently (and bloody quickly) maybe she's got some tips?

 

[Me76]

I wasn't entirely from scratch as I had learned when I was younger.

I started again with the Art of Knitting magazine and knitting squares. I think a scarf is a good place to start if you want something practical to come out of it. Definitely not socks!!

I got bored of squares quite quickly so then got a simple jumper pattern and went for it. I read lots of blogs, the knitting thread on here to help familiarise myself with terms, common mistakes and techniques to be prepared for and practise first. You Tube videos when I was stuck or confused.

Remember there are only really two stitches. Once you can do those well, and recognise them on the needle, the hardest thing is learning to read a pattern.

 

[sojourner]

Cheers all

 

[geminisnake]

If you find you enjoy knitting and do want to progress to socks I might have needles I can send you. There's no way in feck I'm ever gonna knit socks and I have knitted many jumpers over the years You can buy perfectly good 75% wool socks at the farmers shop in Forfar.

 

[sojourner]

Thanks gem

 

[RubyToogood]

At the toe end.

Actually, you can knit them from the toe up or from the top down. Personally I prefer toe up as you can just knit till half your wool is gone, and then you know you've got exactly the right amount for the second sock with none left over. Top down is more traditional.

On the one hand yeah, socks aren't the easiest thing, but on the other, knitting what you really want to knit is motivating and if you come across a new technique you can just learn it.

 

[bubblesmcgrath]

Knitting is great but in my case I became addicted to it.
It got to the stage where I would knit for hours and hours just because I felt driven to see the finished item, usually a jumper.
I was pretty good at it. Knitted some lovely jumpers, including icelandic style jumpers on circular needles. Knitted a lovely one for my ex...it was a bit too big for him but very cosy.

It's a lovely thing to do...and maybe I'll take it up again....at some stage...when I can control my addiction.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I used to be able to knit when I was a kid, taught by me mam and gran. Forgotten how to do it now, but I'm sure I'd be able to pick it up again fairly quickly.

Carrying knitting with you is handy justification for carrying offensive weapons.

 

[fishfinger]

I used to be able to knit when I was a kid, taught by me mam and gran. Forgotten how to do it now, but I'm sure I'd be able to pick it up again fairly quickly.

I was rubbish at knitting - I managed to knit a coat-hanger cover, with about half of the stitches being dropped I quit knitting after that.

Carrying knitting with you is handy justification for carrying offensive weapons.

Plus, if you don't fancy stabbing someone, you could always knit yourself a gun.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Plus, if you don't fancy stabbing someone, you could always knit yourself a gun.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

After years of seeing knitting as one of the most intensely boring repetitive activities, I have lately been considering starting, just to knit me and the fella some lovely warm socks.

Where the fucking heck would I start?

 

[campanula]

fingerless gloves have taken over from socks as the knitting item of choice for those of us addicted to buying single skeins of beautiful, but eye-wateringly expensive yarns. Hats are also a useful and relatively easy start (scarves can be endless...but cowls are a possible). A free site such as Ravelry has been my knitting revival go-to site - lots of patterns, really useful yarn advice, groups, forums and various tutorials - all so much easier than my tortured attempts as a 6 year old knitting mittens - which made an indelible impression on me - I can still picture them...and the endless trips to the front of class to get my ribbing sorted out again.
Socks can be slow, wear out really quickly, (and special sock yarn is reaaallly slow)...but I know a couple of devoted and addicted sock knitters...oh yeah, I have seen a thing called a sockloom...like an extended cotton reel 'french knitting' thingy (but remain sceptical).
If I could knit and read at the same time, I would be endlessly productive.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

Deffo knit a scarf first. I have knitted on and off since I was a child. I havent done it for ages but I did knit a couple of scarves a few years ago that I wear all the time. They are both in moss stitch which is a piece of piss for a beginner but looks really good

I want to start up again and try some facy lace stitches.....

 

[Mrs Miggins]

Moss stitch

 

[Mrs Miggins]

Double moss stitch

 

[Mrs Miggins]

And heed the advice not to start with socks as you need to use a circular needle and as a relatively confident knitter - I'm not going there without someone to show me how!

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Moss stitch
View attachment 100268

That's a lovely pattern.

All my jumpers are boring fine-knit lambswool.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Not sure if it is possible to knit with lamb chops.

 

[wayward bob]

i prefer double pointed needles for socks, but either way there's a whole world of sock-pain out there - loose enough cast ons/offs, increasing/decreasing, picking up stitches, grafting... i love knitting socks btw, but i don't love it when they shrink/bag on the first wash

 

[Mrs Miggins]

That's a lovely pattern.

All my jumpers are boring fine-knit lambswool.

It is the easiest stitch in the world and creates a great texture!

 

[farmerbarleymow]

It is the easiest stitch in the world and creates a great texture!

Want to knit me a jumper?

 

[Mrs Miggins]

i prefer double pointed needles for socks, but either way there's a whole world of sock-pain out there - loose enough cast ons/offs, increasing/decreasing, picking up stitches, grafting... i love knitting socks btw, but i don't love it when they shrink/bag on the first wash

Yeah - sounds tricky! So many ways to fuck that up!!