So You Think You Can Knit...

I remember when I first picked up a pair of knitting needles and a ball of yarn.  I likened it to trying to eat rice with chopsticks.  How in the world are you supposed to take this string and sticks and create something out of it?  How aer you supposed to hold the needles?  how are you supposed to wrap the yarn around said needles once you've figured out how to hold them?

I have two options for you on how to actually learn to knit.  I guess there is a third one, bu I don't suggest reading a book about it.  Even though books have pictures and such, it is just too hard to figure it out if you ask me.

Option #1:  Find a small, locally owned knitting shop.  a lot of these will either offer a class to teach you how to knit, or you can schedule a time to come in and learn.  If you are a person that needs to have someone actually show you how to do it (or tell you what you're doing wrong) then find a PERSON to teach you.

Option #2:  YouTube!!!  it's free and you have about 1.5 million videos to choose from.  If you don't like the teaching style of one video, just find another one.  There's always going to be another video out there.

Once you've decided on which option you'd like to use, you'll have to pick out a first project to do.  Here is some advice:

Pick something that you can finish quickly.  It is very easy to get discouraged until you get your knitting fingers under control.  Here are some options to think about...

-Dishcloths

-Pot Holders

-Scarf

-Basically, anything square with nothing more than the knit stitch and purl stitch.  

Then you will get the hang of it.  I started with pot holders as I have crocheted most of my life and didn't want to make (yet another) scarf.  Candice started with dishtowels and then jumped to a very simple scarf using the stockinette stitch (which is knitting 1 row, and purling the next).

Also, be sure to buy yarn that is pretty, easy to work with, and inexpensive, i.e. a none-decorative yarn, no eyelash yarn, no sparkly yarn, and no super thick yarn.  Get a worsted weight yarn that slides through your fingers easily.

Once you've finished your first project, do another one of the same type.  Consider the first project, a practice run.  Then, once you feel comfortable with a basic pattern, you'll be able to move onto a more complicated pattern with new stitches.

Start slow, and work your way up to speed.  

Good luck, and happy knitting!