knitting
i’d like to go to michaels this week and get some beginner’s knitting supplies.
i know a few of you out there are into the yarn arts - can anyone make some recommendations of the right needles to start with/a good book to teach me what i’m doing?
seconding most of the replies — size 8 is good (not small enough to be finicky, not big enough to be clumsy), bamboo all the way (NOT METAL YOUR YARN WILL FALL OFF ALL THE TIME), worsted weight yarn. when I walked into a yarn store five years ago and told them I wanted to make my first scarf and what yarn should I use they said cascade 220, which was perfect — not hairy or uneven, lots of pretty colors, very affordable, sold everywhere.
as for learning to knit I would honestly start by looking around on the Internet — I bought stitch and birch but in retrospect it was more psychologically comforting than actually useful, and I don’t like most of the patterns so I never really used it again (if you need a book, look around for one that has good instructions and patterns you actually like). the internet has videos too which I found essential for some things.
on your first project — a scarf is the default for a reason, but I feel like most people start with a garter stitch scarf because it only requires you to learn to knit. I would strongly recommend a ribbed scarf, because you’ll learn how to knit and purl, and purling isn’t any harder than knitting, so it’s good to be equally comfortable from the start. by the end you’ll probably also be able to tell a knit stitch from a purl stitch by sight which will wind up really important. also ribbing looks really nice and is really warm.
finally, learning to knit is kind of like losing your virginity — at first you’re like AUGH OH MY GOD THIS IS HORRIFYING HOW COULD ANYONE EVER DO THIS FOR FUN, then you’re like “oh this is actually sort of okay,” and then before you know it you’re like “this is the awesomest thing ever I don’t even remember who I was before this came into my life.” pick yarn you like, be comfortable with some imperfections, be patient, and have fun!
I think Debbie Stoller’s instructions in Stitch and Bitch are good, but it’s true that the patterns in it aren’t great so it may not be a worthwhile purchase. I imagine it depends on your learning style — I know some who have found watching YouTube videos the best way.
I’d disagree with isabel when it comes to starting out with a rib stitch. When I teach folks, get them master the knit stitch first. Purl is basically a backwards knit, so it’s not a stretch once you can do a knit. Knitting every stitch allows you to get the hang of the actions of knitting and develop your tension-keeping (poor tension is what makes new knitters’ work looks wobbly — don’t worry, you’ll get better with practice!).
But yes, choose larger needles and yarn, and don’t choose a novelty yarn that’s super fuzzy or something. Pick something that’s worsted or chunky weight (these are the actual terms you’ll find on yarn labels) that’s nice and plain and smooth and go for it.
