Simple Steps to Knitting

Knitting has has a resurgence in recent years, and it’s really as easy as one, two, three. In this brand new title, Simple Steps to Knitting, we start you at the very beginning, taking you through all the different types of yarn, needles and all the other tools you might need to finish your projects. The easy-to-follow tutorials then lead you through everything you need to know, from your first cast on through to combining stitches and adding embellishments and fastenings before you’ll find some really great patterns from our wonderful designers.…

To begin knitting, it’s pretty straightforward, as all you need are two things: a pair of knitting needles and a ball of yarn. The yarn that you decide to use will play a part in determining which needles you work with, so let’s start by looking at the many types of yarn available to you. Yarns are made with a wide variety of fibres; most are natural, some are synthetic, and others blend different fibres together. All yarns have different textures and properties, and will affect the look and feel of your finished project. For example, wool is stretchy and tough, alpaca is soft and luxurious, and natural and synthetic blends are durable with other enhanced properties. When choosing a yarn you also need to consider its thickness, usually called…

Knitting needles come in many types, sizes and materials. Once you become more familiar with knitting, you may find that you prefer one type over another, but the variations are designed with different patterns and yarns in mind. This guide will explain the features of each, but the best way to decide which needles suit you is to practise and find the ones that feel most comfortable. Learning to knit on bent, dull or rough needles will be a frustrating process, so it’s worth investing in a good pair that feel nice in your hands to get started. To practise knitting, it’s better to work with thick yarn as this will make it easier to spot mistakes. If you’re getting started with yarn that is Aran weight or thicker, your…

NEEDLE ORGANISER When you’ve built up a collection of needles of all different sizes and types, storing them can become tricky. A needle organiser keeps them all in one place and protected against damage. Depending on your preference, you can get either a needle roll or a bag, which is like a long pencil case. PINS Useful for pinning pieces of knitting together when sewing up or pinning out to get measurements, pins with large heads are ideal, as they won’t get lost in your work. ROW COUNTER Used to keep track of how many rows you’ve knitted, this is another helpful tool that will save you from counting the stitches in your work. There are different types of counters available; some sit on the end of your needle and…

This is an easy and quick-to-learn knot. The slip knot is, in fact, the first loop you will place on the needle when you begin a piece of knitting, and it will form the first stitch. There are many ways to create a slip knot, and as you practise making it, you might find that you develop your own technique. Here is just one way. Top tip If you find it difficult to grab the loop with a needle, use your index finger instead. Then, when you’ve made the loop and tightened it, just slip it onto the needle. 01 Make a circle Lay out a length of yarn. Pick it up close to the ball and cross it over the yarn end (called the tail) to make a circle.…

It will take practice to hold needles and yarn comfortably. You’ll mostly hold the yarn and a needle in one hand at the same time, which can be complicated. For now, do what feels comfortable. As you improve, you will find a technique that works for you. There are two styles of knitting: holding the yarn in the right hand is called English style and holding it in the left hand is called Continental style. However, knitting is ambidextrous, so whether you’re right or left handed, try both to see which you prefer. ENGLISH STYLE 01 Position the yarn With your palm facing you, wrap the yarn around your little finger on your right hand. Take it across your next two fingers then under your index finger. You need to…