A pair of needles and some yarn is all you need to start knitting. This craft is very versatile and can be adapted to fit your skillset and project goals.
Beginners should choose a soft, smooth fibre like wool or acrylic yarn. Choose a pair of straight needles or go circular with two needles connected by a cable for round projects such as hats.
Origin
The origin of knitting is difficult to pinpoint with certainty. The oldest known knitted artifact is a pair of socks dated to the 11th century AD, although it’s possible they were even older.
They show bands of colorful stitching that might have been used to ward off the cold. But they also show that the fabric was created with a single needle in a technique called nalbinding. This method creates knotless fabrics and is different than knitting, which uses two needles to make loops of yarn.
As technology shifted from hand frame knitting to rotary and powered circular machines demand for female workers grew. Knitting became a symbol of independence and self-reliance among the women of the time. Even Martha Washington, George’s wife was a dedicated knitter.
Stitches
All knitting is based on two basic stitches; the knit stitch and the purl stitch. From these stitches you can create a wide variety of textured and smooth knit fabrics.
For example, a simple broken rib stitch uses alternating knit and purl stitches every row to create a unique vertical zigzag pattern. The seed stitch is similar but reverses this sequence on every row to create a wavy texture.
The use of different stitches can also add a visual element to your knitting, such as the basket weave stitch. These types of stitch patterns are usually worked in even rows, with the first few rows being a single repetition of the pattern. For clarity, the repeated steps in a row are marked with single asterisks or double asterisks (depending on the yarn manufacturer). These markings share information about the pattern and can help you avoid mistakes.
Materials
For the beginner, you’ll need yarn in your desired color and knitting needles of a size appropriate for that yarn. You’ll also need a stitch marker and tapestry needle, which are used to weave in loose ends and sew together pieces of knitted fabric.
The repetitive nature of knitting allows people to focus on a task without feeling like they’re “wasting” their time. Studies have shown that engaging in knitting and other types of needle art can reduce the symptoms of depression, anxiety disorders and more.
The process of knitting also encourages hand, eye and brain coordination and teaches counting skills, as well as a sense of purpose. It is a great hobby for people who live alone or have difficulty socializing with others.
Patterns
Whether you’re creating a swatch with a specific yarn or knitting a garment, it’s important to have a clear understanding of how your pattern will work. This is especially true when it comes to knitting stitch patterns. A stitch pattern determines how your knitted fabric will look and can create a variety of textures. Examples include slipped stitches, rib knitting, cables and more.
Oftentimes, the construction of a garment is what sets it apart from other knitwear. For example, CocoKnits has a unique way of constructing set-in sleeves that make her sweaters stand out from the crowd. This kind of innovation makes for a truly desirable knitting pattern. Similarly, choosing an unusual yarn can also help set your pattern apart. This is especially true if it’s an obscure yarn that doesn’t get much mainstream support.
Techniques
Knitting involves looping yarn through needles to create a two-dimensional sheet of fabric. There are many different ways to create these stitches, and this variation yields a wide range of different effects in the finished fabric.
For example, the stitch known as moss stitch is created by knitting every other row and then purling every other row – which results in a beautifully textured motif! Other techniques, like the kitchener stitch, joins two rows of live stitches leaving no seam and is great for joining necklines, toes on socks, or shoulder seams.
While there are many different knitting methods, the most basic is the knit stitch. From there, nearly all other techniques are variations of it. It’s important to understand the difference between knitting style and knitting technique – how you hold your needles and yarn matters!
