We learn so much over the years. Much of it by trial and error 😉
This is certainly the case in knitting and crochet!
With this in mind, and to share our learning, what are the best knitting tips or pieces of advice that you would suggest to a new knitter?
There could be so many!
In no particular order, mine would include:
~ accept that your first project may not be as perfect as you would like – any mistakes and unevenness are a natural part of the learning process – embrace them! They make your project unique!
~ there is no right or wrong way to hold your knitting needles or your yarn, as long as it works for you – try different techniques to find the most comfortable one for you;
~ make notes about your project and about any changes you make to the pattern, so that you can do the same again next time (or improve it!);
~ learn how to fix mistakes (they happen!) so that you can move past them quickly and get on with The Knitting;
~ although it might feel like a waste of time, making a swatch before you start a project is a good idea, partly to check the size, partly to see if you like how the worked yarn turns out (different yarns have different properties) and partly to see how you get on with the pattern/stitch before you commit to a full project;
~ ask for help! If you don’t have a local yarn shop, or a knitting neighbour, there are lots of on-line resources and communities such as Ravelry where you’ll find tips and ideas. Knitters are a generous bunch and love to share their craft!
What would be your tips or advice for new knitters? What were you told when you first picked up your needles, and which of those tips worked (or didn’t work!) for you?
I’d love to hear about them – thanks for sharing!
🙂
yarnsmithery 
I’m more of a crocheter, but this would apply for all-
YouTube is your friend. Everything I know about knitting and crochet came from YouTube videos. It’s a brilliant self help resource.
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I agree – it’s almost as good as having a friend sitting next to you 🙂 There are some excellent videos on there. Great suggestion! Thanks for commenting – I appreciate it 🙂
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You’re welcome 🙂 I’m glad to help
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1. Use stitch markers to count your stitches. You will quickly lose the ability to count past 5, so be safe and include stitch markers. Later, when you’re sure of the count- you can take them out. (I usually don’t- I’ll just slip them when I’m knitting.) If your project already includes instructions for stitch markers- make your count markers a different color, so you can distinguish between them.
2. Dangly stitch markers can work, you just have to remember one thing: if your yarn is in the back- flip the dangly part to the front of your work as you slip the dangly stitch marker. If your yarn is held in the front- flip the marker to the back. This way- it will not get knitted into your work, and you won’t have to figure out how to extricate it.
3. If you’re not getting a technique- search for a different way to do it. TechKnitter is great for providing different ways to do known techniques. As a matter of fact- TechKnitter is just great. If you haven’t visited her site- go bookmark it. Trust me- you’ll need to know how to do something she’s explained sooner or later. http://techknitting.blogspot.com/
4. Learn to read your knitting (or crochet). It can be as simple as paying attention to how knit stitches look on your needle as opposed to purl stitches. But learning to read your work can help you spot a problem in the row you just completed, as opposed to finding it when you’re done.
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Oooh, yes, those are excellent tips – thank you! Thank you for the link to Techknitting too – I hadn’t come across this, and will definitely follow it up. I love learning new tips and techniques and really appreciate your sharing these with me 🙂
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