Knitting is great for expressing your creativity because it’s fun and easy to get the hang of. However, it can be just as easy to fall into a rut and feel like you’re not making any progress. Bored of knitting squares? Are the patterns too confusing? Luckily, with a nudge in the right direction, you can tackle all manner of projects and impress not only your family and friends, but yourself.
What makes a knitting project difficult? To newer knitters, more types of stitches and bigger items might seem harder--think cable sweaters. However, this is far from true. Size only correlates to your patience. If you don’t like long projects, forcing yourself to tackle a full-size blanket might be counterproductive. More types of stitches is a more accurate representation of difficulty, but it’s not the only factor. If you’re making something to wear, there’s a huge learning curve in making it fit. Smaller yarn can be more difficult to knit with as well. Or you can knit in a round, with multiple needles. The number of options is both exciting and daunting. If you want to try a new type of knitting, starting small could be easier and more rewarding.
2. Join a knitting group
Yes, these exist! Chances are there’s at least one group where you live. Try asking at local yarn or craft stores. If you go to college or university, there’s probably a knitting club or craft society. Once joining, you’ll find a fun, diverse bunch of people to chat to and share advice. A knitting group can be invaluable if you’re stuck on a pattern or confused about yarn types. Not only is your knitting guaranteed to improve, but you’ll probably make some friends as well.
3. Join an online knitting site
Online knitting sites can be just as good as real-life groups. Sites like Ravelry even have additional useful features for finding and comparing knitting patterns. For example, patterns on Ravelry have a feature where you can see how many people tried the pattern and how they found it. Some patterns are easier and better than others, and if you’re a beginner, it can be hard to spot mistakes or typos. Online sites make it easy to pick the best patterns and double-check if anyone else is having the same issues as you. The added bonus is that you can share pictures of your creations without feeling guilty about annoying your non-knitter friends.
4. Use the right type of yarn
One of the easiest mistakes is choosing the wrong type of yarn. Not only are there different sizes of yarn, but they’re made out of different materials. From natural materials like wool and cotton to artificial materials like acrylic, it’s important to consider how it’ll feel to knit with and what you’ll be using the finished product for. Wool is impractical if you’ll need to wash your knitting often because it shrinks in the washing machine, but acrylic can feel scratchy if you plan to wear it. If you’re unsure how you’ll use it, you might be best off choosing a blend of natural and artificial. It’s also important to make sure that you’re using the right size yarn with the right size needles. It won’t matter how well you follow a pattern. If your yarn or needles are the wrong size, your finished project will likely look misshapen.
5. Be brave
There’s no punishment for tackling a difficult project. Every mistake is an opportunity to learn, from figuring out how to pick up dropped stitches to re-doing the same cuff ten times. If you really get stuck, you can always ‘frog’ it, and unravel your knitting back into a ball of yarn. In a craft where there is no failure, only the fun activity of frogging, any project you choose will have a win-win outcome.
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Arts & Crafts