Independent Study a series of resources all about how to teach yourself the basics of a new craft.
Knitting is a fascinating and meditative craft that can teach you about fabric, garment construction, and material history all at once! Not everyone is lucky enough to have had a patient grandparent to teach them how to knit, but thankfully it's never been easier to learn. I (Christina) learned to knit from Youtube videos, written patterns, and eventually my knitting group. Here are some resources to get you started.
Here at Acorn Craft Shop we're a big fan of learning by doing. Our best advice is always to find a project that seems suited to your skill level and get practicing. We have recommended a few beginner projects, but you should also go searching for what you're excited by and just try it out! You can always join us for a craft night or a knitting class when you'd like more hands-on instruction, or if you just need some folks to cheer you on.
Materials
- Yarn (we recommend a light colored worsted or bulky weight yarn)
- Knitting Needles (we recommend straight needles to start)
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needles
Terms to learn
- Casting On
- Knit and Purl
- Casting Off
- Adding a new ball of yarn
- Weaving ends
- Extras...
- Increasing (M1L, M1R)
- Decreasing (M1L, M1R)
Beginner Projects
-
Coaster for Beginners by Nimble Needles*
- This is the project I recommend for my Intro to Knitting students. Once you're done with this coaster, try experimenting with some other stitches for coasters!
- Step by Step Sweater by Florence Miller*
- Knit Purl Washcloth by Purl Soho
- Giving Hat by Purl Soho
*these projects have video tutorials to help you out, too
Read
- Knitting Companion by Morgane Mathieu (we carry this in the shop as well!)
- Purl Soho's written tutorials
- Nimble Needles has wonderful written and recorded tutorials to get started
- Tin Can Knits has a variety of starter projects and articles to walk you through them
Watch
- How to Knit Playlist by Sheep & Stitch
- Best Beginner Stitches by Sheep & Stitch
- How to Knit by Nimble Needles
- VeryPinkKnits for clear techniques
Practice
There's a reason why knitting and crocheting circles are so popular; there is a huge benefit of being taught this craft in person. Youtube is great for some things, but when you're ready for more hands on help or you have a problem to troubleshoot, you should come to a knit night or craft circle. Knitters are often extremely enthusiastic teachers; you will probably find someone who would be happy to help with your first project at any knitty meetup!
-
- If you're near us: every Friday from 7-9 at Acorn!
- If you're elsewhere: check out your local library, yarn store, or discord groups
Additional Resources:
Ravelry is an online compendium for knit and crochet patterns. Designers often publish designs on Ravelry as well as their own websites. It also has tools to document and share your own projects! If you're interested in looking for patterns and inspiration, it could be helpful to make an account.
Purl Soho has a huge library of free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials. I made my first 5 or 6 projects from their library. They also sell lovely yarn and used to have a brick and mortar store in NYC!