I'm new to knitting and this forum. I've wanted to learn to knit since I was a little girl watching Little House on the Prairie and finally at 33, I took my first knitting lesson this past Saturday and I'm hooked! I was trying to sneak in rows at work today :heart:

I'd like to know how you learned to knit. The thing I'm most curious about is how you learned to troubleshoot, and the "tricks" like how to fix a dropped stitch and the things you just can't learn in an hour-long class.

I've often wished I knew a knitter I could learn from, but I don't know any, so I have to learn a class at a time and by reading sites like this one.

I look forward to learning here.

Hello Moonflower,

I am a brand new knitter. I have only been knitting a couple of weeks and I learned on this site. They have some great video that show you everything from casting on all the way to dropped stitches. They have advanced techniques and everything. This is an amazing site to start with.

I have already knit a scarf, baby booties and now I am working on a shawl. Good luck and dont be afraid to ask questions. Everyone here is very helpful.

Happy knitting!:knitting:

How did you learn to knit?I'll let ya know if I ever learn. :rofl:


Seriously, I learned by a combination of Amy's videos here at KH, and experimenting. Don't be afraid to try things, experiment, and just knit. Who cares if it doesn't come out perfect the first time? You learn from it and try again.

When I first joined here I was struggling to learn and frustrated by a simple ribbed scarf. Now I just knit my own stuff without using patterns. Ok, my stuff is ugly as heck, but it's mine :rofl:

Ya dive in and ya learn.

I took my first class on Sat too. :) But I got bored just practicing the knit stitch so I got on this site and looked at the videos and I'm now starting a dishcloth doing knit and purl stitches. I did make some mistake (I have NO idea what I did) and saw a hole in my work. I looked at the videos but I couldn't make sense of how to fix it. I unraveled it but couldn't get the project back on the needle so I just started over again.
I think with certain things (for me anyway), I need personal help. I have my second class next Sat. and I know they offer personal help certain days of the week for a price of 5.00.

Hello and welcome. I'm new to this site too and am loving it! I started knitting about 1 year ago but still consider myself a beginner. I learned how to cast on, and do the knit stitch, and bind off from my mom (that's all she knows how to do) and the rest I've learned from this amazing site! If you have a question or problem, just post it here and some nice person, or 2, 3, or several (hee hee) will help you!

I bought a laminated page at the UPS store
then did a Google search for some help
and found this really neat websie called knitting help dot com
oh wait, THIS is that site

I also bought a TON of knitting books
and posted and talked to everyone i could find
I even found some knitting groups

ecb

I had a how to book and finally used it. Of course I had watched my mother :heart: for years so I'm sure that made it easier. I feel so fortunate to have someone to go to in reading patterns and showing me the stitches and the easier way to do some things. And the cost is zero!! I love this site also because I have learned a few things and I can get on line and see how to do stitches since I cannot always run back home.

I first learned how to knit/crochet when I was around 10 years. Learned from my grandma the English version. She was so fast in both.
Since then I have been doing items on and off. More so in the past 10 years. I am so hooked. It is relaxing and fun!!
I am making a lot of christmas gifts this year with knitting.
It always helps to learn from each other and I still am learning too.
Love to mess around with new stitches.

Thanks
Kathy

I learned how to knit here on knitting help and then reading lots. I've never taken a class.

I learned in High school from a How To book my mother had (she crocheted and I learned crochet from it too). I just figured out a lot of things on my own and what worked and what didn't work. It helps to learn how to read your knitting so you not which stitch is which and when you've messed up.

I learned by reading the Stitch N Bitch book, watching the videos here, and of course, trial and error. Before I actually knit anything significant, I knit swatch after swatch, practicing different stitches, and, practicing picking up dropped stitches. That way I'd know how to take care of a dropped stitch before I actually had a WIP...lol

Hi! I took a knitting class a few years ago. I had always wanted to learn to knit, but no one in my family knits nor do friends. The class was an hour long for 4 sessions. We made a simple scarf. When someone made a mistake, she showed us how to correct it. I have lot of knitting books and use on line instructions that I use. I'm hooked now. At out local coffee shop, in the winter months, there is a get together once a week to knit and chat. Its great. That way there is always someone there to help out. I've made some knitting friends that way. I even taught my sister to knit and she has already made a scarf.

I learned how to knit in June 1984 from a pattern called "The Pride of Ireland". I still have that ragged old afghan. After an on again/off again phase, I picked up knitting again in earnest in January of 2007 with a helping hand from knitting help dot com for techniques I had not even thought of attempting until now and haven't stopped since.... :D

As for learning how to read stitches and "mistakes" that truly comes with experience. I just ripped 14 rounds from a cabled jumper that I am making for my husband. It took me two hours to pick up and reset all those stitches. Even with some experience under my belt it is still scary to have over 300 stitches free floating with a passel of kitties waiting to lay down on that warm pile of alpaca wool....:frog:

I've been knitting for almost 3 years now and I learned from my MIL, some friends, Knitty Gritty (it was on then) and mainly this site. Thank God for the internet! There is a wealth of information at our fingertips any time of the day or night. :)

I learned mostly from KnittingHelp.com. This site is where I get all my help even now! :muah::heart::muah:

I learned from my mom when I was little, and had her to help troubleshoot. I also did a lot of re-dos, where I frogged and started over again. I became very good at casting ON because I started and restarted projects so many times. But I didn't cast OFF nearly as often, so when I hit college and was trying to cast off a scarf, I had to get my grandma (who happened to be there for parents' weekend) to show me how to do it.

The short answer - in person instruction.

I learned how to knit on pencils with my BFF (still my BFF) in the 5th grade. We made scarves.
kelly.

I learned when I was 8 from my Grandma... I only learned the knit stitch... I made a baby blanket for my baby brother...

Then about 7 years ago I picked it back up, but was really having a hard go at it and stopped again...

Then about 3 1/2 or 4 years ago I started again and found this site, at first I only found the videos, then I found this forum... and I've been hooked ever sense. I watched the videos over and over, even before I knew what a gusset was I had watch Amy knit it. I learned a lot just dong that. I also learned to watch how stitches are made. I messed around, making things that were simple.

Really it mostly takes time and trying new things. Cables used to look hard, so did color work and lace, now I prefer for something like that to be in the pattern so I don't get bored. I have a few mindless knitting projects going but for the most part I don't do a lot of those.

I would really encourage you to get Elizabeth Zimmerman's book Knitting Workshop... she will have you working on stuff that you don't think you can do. And there is a dvd that goes with it that's wonderful too. Her writing is fun to read and will help you.

Glad you have joined us! Welcome to the wonderful world of knitting!

Hi and welcome to KH!!

I learned to knit in 2005 after watching Amy's videos here on KH. For learning how to correct mistakes though you gotta learn how the stitch works. Take some scrap yarn and follow a stitch and see how it works with the other stitches...knit a few rows and then remove the work from your needles and try to put the sts back on...or let one st drop and then fix it. Once you learn how the st works you can do anything. Don't be afraid to try new techniques at all...remember it's just yarn and can be fixed :thumbsup:

I bought the Boye learning to knit kit- then came here, read a lot, asked a lot of questions and watched the videos to figure out the drawings.

I learned how to fix dropped stitches by reading the Yarn Harlot's blog- she had a tutorial on fixing things.

Now I have met some real life knitters at my church and a knitting group so I have people to ask when I need help- but I am finding more and more that I am able to help others- which is pretty darn cool.

I learned about four years ago. I checked out "Stitch N' Bitch" from the library, went to Hobby Lobby for some cheap yarn and needles, and got started. Then, I found this site when I needed help with my first worn item.

The thing I'm most curious about is how you learned to troubleshoot, and the "tricks" like how to fix a dropped stitch and the things you just can't learn in an hour-long class.


1. I bought a learn-to-knit book by Klutz
2. I watched/recorded Knitty Gritty every time it came on (but it isn't on much anymore)
3. I found an awesome LYS
4. I found this wonderful website!

For troubleshooting, there are a lot of tips here on this website. Amy's videos are awesome! Also, there are several great books out there. My favorite is Knit Fix by Lisa Kartus. I keep that book close by me when I'm knitting.

Hello,
I am a new in this forumm and I hope to learn moe and more about knitting

I learned how to knit on pencils with my BFF (still my BFF) in the 5th grade. We made scarves.

I swiped a couple of tintertoy stitcks from my brother and sharpened them in the pencil sharpener and practiced with string.

My grandma taught me to knit when I was little, but I didn't knit anything between the ages of 7 and 31, so I forgot pretty much everything she taught me. I re-taught myself by watching Amy's videos. :)

A lot of the mechanics of knitting, you just learn as you go. When you make a mistake, try undoing your work to see if you can fix it. That will teach you a lot about the construction of knitted fabric. Also, there are tons of helpful videos and tutorials around- here, on youtube, on blogs like www.yarnharlot.ca, and tons of help available from other knitters here and around the web. Check out the 'knitters knear you' section of the forum- you might find other knitters to get together with. :)

I learned to cast on from my Mom, and knit stitch from my Dad. Then about 7 years later, I came across this site and learned the rest. :)

My mom taught me when I was 6 years old, and I've knit on and off most of my life. I stepped it up a notch (or ten) when I got pregnant with my first child. Knitting has been the constant in my crafting life.

Gram taught me how to crochet.
My Aunt bought me How-to-knit book and a pair of size 7 needles for Christmas when I was small..
So the next year for Christmas I made her a sweater...
I'm still learning new things.. Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks???:knitting:

I learnt to knit about 4 years ago now, i had no money to buy my son jumpers and my gran had ten tons of yarn, needles and patterns so i had ago and hey presto i now make everything, its not such a cheap thing now :aww: .

as everyone's said its learning from the video's here etc and then trial and error. i have a scarf that i just cant get, i've started it over 10 times and am still trying to get it right.
welcome though :waving:

susi

www.knittinghelp.com, both the videos and the forums. I'd read any thread that I thought I might end up being interested in so I'd be prepared before I got to the problem.

I did try printing out a page from somewhere else which ended up being English and I didn't take to it. I was using a couple of arrows as needles.

I'm mechanical minded so troubleshooting comes naturally.

I learned from pictures in a book on How to Knit. I've learned a lot more from trial and error and a couple of other books published in the 70's. I've learned even more from this site as well as various links to other sites that people here have posted. I am a much more confident knitter after being here for a year. It is after all only string and sticks and if you mess up you can always rip it out and try again.

I learned about 20 years ago from a How to Book, knitted for a while and then life happened. I read a couple of really good books "The knitting Circle", and "Friday Night Knitting Club". Fell in love again with the idea of knitting and so I picked it back up about three weeks ago and this time I am totaly obsessed. I have made a scarf for DH and 4-dish cloths and now have started my first large project....a beatiful (pictured anyway) afghan.

I can't wait for my day to finish so I can spend a few hours knitting before going to bed. It is my release.

I am new to this site and it is awesome. Everyone is so nice and very helpful.

I am actually new to knitting, been doing it a few weeks now. I have been crocheting since I was 11, and have been wanting to learn how to knit. So, I am basicly teaching myself by using websites and tutorials. Then I found this site! This site has been the best so far at tutorials and getting help, and so far i'm doing good and am very excited! I'm doing my first project, baby booties! LOL.

Thanks everyone, I've enjoyed reading about how you got started. I also made a list of books to check out.

I think I'll buy a skein of cheap yarn to practice on. I wish I learned sooner, I look forward to every stolen second working on my scarf :)

The videos on this site are awesome. I'm sure I'd have been back to my LYS several times already had it not been for those videos!

I taught myself to knit about 3 1/2 years ago now I think with just a book I bought at wal-mart called I can't believe I'm knitting,it came with two sets of needles some stitch markers a blunt tip needle and a counter,once I was able to cast on and knit,purl and cast off I found knittinghelp.com and I have learned most everything else here.

I read about.com's section on knitting to get me started and used other sites (but especially this one) to help me advance. I love the internet :)

Internet...

...specially from KH.com, though I learned the most basic things (how to cast on, knit and purl) on lionbrandyarn.com.


.

i learned to crochet when i was 4 my grandma taught me over the summer when i was staying with her... i used to visit her every summer and she would crochet all the time... when i was in first grade my teacher was pregnant and i made my first real project for her new baby and blanket... after that i read patterns and learned more from that ... i always wanted to knit but it seemed way more complicated. i asked my grandma to teach me when i was about 11... but i couldnt follow it then... when i was 20 and pregnant i had alot of time on my hands cause i wasnt working and i really wanted to give it another shot ... so i bought some books the one that helped the the most was the everything knitting book ... it had a lot of helpful tips and hints... crocheting really helps when u are knitting. crochet hooks are really good at picking up droped stiches... i'm new to this forum but they do have a lot of really good videos... and with something like knitting its easier i think to learn from seeing the movement of the needles and yarn than to try to envision it from still pics in a book ... but i like haveing a book incase the internet is down or something i always have something to turn too when i have a question .

A very interesting subject...!
I learned to knit for the first time (this is my 2nd time) back when my youngest child was first born.
I made friends with a young lady down the street that had just had her second child. We became very good friends.
One day, in conversation, she found out that I didn't know how to knit so she said I must learn... She'd start me on something easy she said - like socks!
Good grief... so there I was using 4 dpn and knitting socks. I knit 6 pair for my father for Christmas that year... couldn't do it now, if I tried.
These days I'm sticking mainly to easy knitting and crochet... mostly making up my own easy patterns in knit and purl.
I just found out how to make a long stitch and a whole new world has opened up... LOL!
Other than that, I'm a button collector and I'm in hopes that my two loves will gel.
TEMA:knitting:
To Knit or not to Knit, that is the question.

I learned to knit in school...that was many moons ago...so it seems like I have been knitting my whole life.I taught myself to crochet about 25 years ago mostly from books....this was pre-internet days, and trial and error.

Summer before last my sister in law picked up a knitting book at the library, Debbie Bliss I believe, and we spent about a month learning to knit from it. I don't know any knitters so I learn to troubleshoot just by practice and now that I found this site the videos and other knitters help. I have gone to my local yarn store and asked a question or two while shopping, they are usually nice enough to help you out. I still have millions of questions though, thank goodness for this site!:knitting:

I learned to knit last week. I have wanted to learn for years but no one seemed to be able to teach me because they all knit right handed, I do everything left handed. Most things I can do with either hand including writing but knitting is not one of them. I did an Internet search for left handed knitting and found this site. So far I have learned to cast of, knit, purl, and cast off in the Continental method and I love it. I can FINALLY knit. I have a long way to go before I can be called proficient but its a start. I have crochet for years and it hurts my hands. Knitting does not hurt my hands in the least. It will be so nice to be able to make things.
Crocee

I learned about 2 weeks ago. Seriously. I saw this scarf at the store, and I was like "I bet I could do that." So, with a little research, I found this site and I've learned everything I know from the video's here! I already made my own scarf and it turned out amazing if I do say so myself!:woohoo:

About three years ago I suddenly decided out of the blue that I wanted to learn to knit. Both my nan and my mom knit but neither had the time to teach me so I sat with a book in my room for hours trying to figure it out before I started university. It never quite happened and then I got to University and found this ama