It’s a knitting renaissance. You see people in the least likely places with their knitting needles clicking away. You wonder what they are making. What is it about the knitting craze?
Recalling the beautiful handmade sweaters, scarves, and afghans that you’ve seen, you wish you knew how to knit, too. Oh, to be a fiber artist and create those gorgeous textiles.
Then the warnings flood your mind. Remember when you tried it 20 years ago and it was a complete disaster? It was confusing and your hands couldn’t grasp the skill any more than your brain could. It looks too complicated so why go there now?
But whenever you see knitters, they seem so calm…even peaceful. It seems they also like to knit in groups, too. Talking, laughing, and bonding over something that seems repetitive yet lovely.
If you feel the pull to this ancient craft, it’s easy to find lessons along with a plethora of tools and supplies to help you get started.
Check out this collection of sources for knitters from a seasoned knitter.
Learn the Basics
A Google search turns up hundreds of learn-to-knit opportunities – videos, webinars, self-paced online tutorials, in-person classes, freebies, and paid or subscribed courses. Depending on your learning style, you can choose from one of the courses here.
#1. Instructables
Autodesk Instructables offers instruction in a myriad of topics, among them knitting. The knitting course is designed by knitting expert Becky Stern whose designs have been featured on national news programs, late-night television, and in business publications.
Ms. Stern combines written instruction with illustrative videos that help you learn step-by-step. Pause, rewind, and refer to instructions until you master each step.
To build confidence and motivation, she has students make four projects – a basic scarf, a ribbed scarf, a hat, and a pair of mittens. It’s a great skill-building program.
# 2. Nimble Needles
Another online source is the free tutorials from Nimble Needles. This business is owned and operated by an experienced Austrian knitter named Norman. Yes, men knit, too, and Norman’s work is followed by more than half a million people.
His philosophy is to teach people the why as well as the how of knitting. He uses high-resolution photos and videos to ensure people can see how the stitches work together to create a lovely design.
#3. The Complete Learn to Knit Video Course for Beginners
The Absolute Beginner Knitting Series offered by StudioKnit is a paid course. Novices get step-by-step video tutorials to follow along and build their skills.
Kristen McDonnell’s well-planned program covers the basics as well as more advanced techniques. The course fee covers downloadable and printable sources. A shopping guide, workbook, and stitch pattern book are provided for ongoing reference. She also includes lifetime access to videos and knitting books.
Kristen’s goal is to inspire as well as teach students about the craft.
Finding Yarns that Work for You
Choosing fibers and colors is a blast. But you need to put some thought into it before you buy.
New knitters should use a smooth yarn that isn’t fuzzy or fluffy so they can better see what they are doing. Select a light color over a dark color for better visibility as well.
Also, check the pattern instructions. They will tell you what type of yarn works best for the design and often recommend a specific brand. It’s a good idea to take the recommendation when you are first learning to knit.
#4. KnitPicks
KnitPicks offers a wide selection of yarn, both in fiber and weight. Their site is easy to navigate, giving you filters that take you right to the type of yarn you want.
Want a washable wool? Worsted weight? A shade of blue? Easy peasy.
Thumbnails of the yarns appear. Then click on a pic for more information. A window appears with all the details about that specific yarn – fiber content, weight, gauge (you’ll learn what this is when you take a lesson), length, and care instructions.
Checkout is simple, too. Credit cards or PayPal are accepted and shipping is free with orders of $100 or more. Also, watch for discount codes for buying in quantity or lower free shipping amounts.
#5. WEBS Yarn Store
A Massachusetts-based business, WEBS rich history began with weaving equipment and supplies and later evolved into a full fiber arts provider.
WEBS offers top-quality brands in gobs of colors including Debbie Bliss, Cascade, and Berroco to name a few. These brands cost more than some other sites, but for special projects – gifts or future heirlooms – it can be worth the investment. And higher-quality yarns are likely easier to work with.
Their site also has filters to help you find the perfect yarn for your project. Filter on brand, fiber, weight, color, features, price, and sale items. The color selections are extensive.
WEBS also runs regular sales as well as a discount program. Certain discountable items are reduced by 20% or 25% depending on the amount ordered.
#6. Annie’s Craft Store
Another online source for yarn is the long-established Annie’s out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. With a great philosophy of service, they provide an extensive selection of yarns.
This site is a lot like the others in product offerings, ease-of-use navigation, and simple checkout.
While you can still buy individual skeins of yarn, Annie’s also offers kits. A kit includes the pattern and all the yarn needed to create the project. Buying your yarn this way eliminates the dilemma of yarn choice for a given design.
Knitting needles and other supplies can also be purchased along with the kit if you don’t already have what you need on hand.
Choosing a Pattern
Most likely, your lessons will include the pattern to use. But after you are on your own, you get to choose projects that suit your fancy.
Patterns are everywhere. Sometimes it’s hard to choose because of the multitude of sources and designs.
You can find free patterns as well as patterns for sale with a simple Google search. But be careful which sites you use.
Typically, free patterns are designed to entice you to buy the supplies from that source. It’s not necessary to buy anything, but it can ensure you have a compatible yarn for the project.
Following are some good online places to get knitting patterns.
#7. AllFreeKnitting.com
Want to curb costs with your new hobby? AllFreeKnitting curates great free knitting patterns of all kinds and for all skill levels. For the low, low cost of your email address, set up an account that offers an email newsletter.
But that’s not all. Your account gives you the opportunity to comment on patterns and add your own notes to them. You can rate patterns and you get a “Knitting Patterns Box” to save patterns that you like and plan to use.
For the more passionate knitters, members have the opportunity to write guest blogs. Acceptable topics range from knitting tips and tutorials to baby hats and adult ponchos. Some submissions are paid if demand for certain information is there.
#8. Purl Soho
This New York City fiber arts shop has grown from a small brick-and-mortar establishment to include a significant online presence. It serves fiber creatives for knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and sewing.
When you visit the landing page, their quality pops out. One of the great features of the site is the free patterns along with many others for sale.
More experienced knitters may download a free pattern with their own idea of a yarn that will work well with it. If you’re newer to the craft, they recommend one of their own yarns so you can be confident you have the right fiber and weight.
Purl Soho makes getting a free pattern easy. Click on the picture you like and it opens up with photos, a yarn recommendation, and instructions. If you want a hard copy of the pattern, just click the Print link and send it to your printer.
Purl Soho also offers bundles (their term for kits) to take the guesswork out of purchasing a pattern and yarn. Knit Alongs are another way they strive to serve their customers. Sign up for an account with your email and you will find even more.
Join a Knitters Community
Once you catch the knitting bug, you will want to talk to other knitters. Get advice. Learn new techniques. Brag about your yarn stash. Socialize with like-minded people.
If you’re lucky enough to have a great knitting shop in your town, you can probably find a group there. But busy people are increasingly going virtual.
#9. Ravelry
Ravelry combines the best of Pinterest and social media to create its community of knitters. Sign up for a free account so you can join the fun.
Friend other knitters and communicate via messaging. Take pictures of your projects both in progress and finished to show off your work. Get help when you’re stuck on a difficult stitch. Find patterns, yarn, and tools.
Ravelry is the go-to place for virtual community.
#10. Meetup
Meetup.com is a great resource for all kinds of interests including knitting. Local knitting groups sometimes advertise their meetups on this site. And tons of groups meet virtually using Meetup to attract participants.
If you don’t already have a Meetup account, it’s simple to register. Be sure to set up interests in your profile by searching for knitting-related keywords.
You’ll find your knitting tribe in no time.
#11. Knots of Love
Another great way to find other knitters is to knit for charity. Knots of Love started in 2007 to make beanies for people going through chemotherapy and NICU blankets for premature babies. They have created more than a half million items for people in need.
Find a few knitting friends and make a commitment to creating for this worthy organization. It’s a wonderful way to hone your skills while you are giving to others.
Join the Knitting Renaissance
Children as young as 6 or 7 and up are learning to knit and having a great time doing it. Something other than screens to look at, right?
You can be one of those women or men who carry their project bags everywhere they go so they can get in a few rows while waiting for an appointment or a child’s piano lesson.
Enjoy the fruits of your loving labor when you share your handmade items with friends and loved ones. Feel the joy of giving a unique gift made with your own hands.
Imagine the luxurious feel of a knitted fabric as you run your hand gently across a sweater or afghan that you created on your needles.
It’s a hobby with results that establish family heirlooms. Teach a child to knit and leave a legacy.
Finally, once you get into it, knitting is peaceful and meditative. A stress reliever. A mind sharpener. Your release. Your sanity.
When you know how to knit and purl, you have become a fiber artist.
Sherri DeRhodes - Freelance Writer 