Today’s back-to-school day and…it’s drizzling a bit so perfect weather to show you my Humphrey Cardigan (pattern by Fernand Tricote). It’s soooo comfy!
When I was a little girl, I started knitting scarfs, but never managed to bind them off since I kept losing or adding stitches! My great-grand-mother was the epitome of the perfect lady of her age (she was born in 1889 and died in 1991!) and knew crochet and knitting. It took me quite a long time to take up any wool-work, but at the age of 39, I started crocheting because I thought that knitting was too difficult to learn by myself.
Crochet was fun, but I never went outside of my comfort zone and just crocheted throws and amigurumis. Then I decided to take up knitting.
Here are some of the tips I can give to a newbie knitter like myself that started knitting 18 months ago.
{Tip #1: Find your own method of knitting}
There are numerous ways to knit. Since I began with crochet, I was used to hold my yarn with my left hand. My great-granny taught me to knit the English way, with the yarn in the right hand. Hence my dilemma! I then decided to teach myself how to knit continental-style during one week-end. That’s great for me.
{Tip #2: 4-ply yarn is great!}
It’s never good to try knitting one yarn that has lots of strands because you *might* just catch some strands and not the whole lot of them and, at the next row, you *might* wonder if that’s a full stitch or 2…I loved using Red Heart‘s Super Saver (even if shipping to France is a bit steep!). For my socks, I use Buttinette’s value packs.
{Tip #3: Know your ABC}
Casting on/Binding off, Knit and Purl will be your best friends in your knitting adventure. Youtube is great with very good close-up videos. I set up a Pinterest board as a reference.
{Tip #4: single-point or circular needles?}
I started with single-point straight needles then changed for circular (KnitPro’s are amazing, I even tried the wooden ones for large gauge). It’s a bit different to work with circular, but I like that a lot.
{Tip #5: Choosing an easy project}
OK…I chose socks, one project that many think as “difficult”. It’s not as long as you have an awesome sock-a-long like Winwick Mum‘s. The best! You might want to give it a try.
{Tip #6: Swatch? Gauge? What????}
I was the bad student at the beginning, the one that never took the time to knit her swatch to get the right gauge. What for? Since I was knitting socks for my family, I just needed their feet for reference!!!
Now that I have moved to “trickier” projects like cardigans with “real” yarn (wool+silk+ expensive stuff!), I really take the time to do my swatch!!! And I also block my work. I had to size up my needles for Gustav whereas Humphrey is spot-on…never take things for granted!
{Tip #7: Finding a pattern that attracts you}
That’s not easy, really; Some patterns are worded in a way I don’t really understand!! Ravelry is a gold-mine for free patterns and some designers also offer free patterns so you can get a grasp at their way of explaining things.
{Tip #8: Learn to tink}
Tink??? like in Tinkerbell??? No, that’s knit read from right to left!!! So tinking is unknitting and it must be learnt…trust me…
{Tip #9: Go to a yarn store}
Advice is graciously given there and you can get some help.
{Tip #10: relax!}
I have a strong tendency to be so tensed that my shoulders go up my ears when tackling a new pattern/stitch/etc. So relax…and ENJOY!
This article may contain affiliate links
I never thought that knitting would bring me so much joy!
I may be a slow (very slow!) knitter, but I find the steps to knitting a garment so soothing, even if I make mistakes, even if I have to start again (and again…and again!).
With knitting I can be among my family whereas sewing puts me in my guestroom/sewing-room:laundry room…
Sewing is also more time-consuming to me. I don’t like stopping right in the middle of, say, a pocket or a waistband whereas I can stop knitting in the middle of a row and start again a bit later.
I’m so happy to be able to knit things for me (and for others too) apart from socks or hats.
I love wearing what I knitted (and a bit proud too…!)
Here’s I’m knitting a Humphrey Cardi whilst wearing my Gustav Cardi (I blogged about it here). I’ve got a thing for blue…
Knitting is soothing, especially when feeling the scrumptiousness of yarn. Drops Karisma is the yarn on my needles right now for Humphrey and I’m in love with the 1*1 ribbing. So soft, I can’t wait to wear this cardi.
I love learning new things and I felt a superstar when understanding how to knit the (future) pockets. I had a bit of a ‘bleh’ moment when I carried my yarn BEHIND my work but then, thanks to the magics of the Internet, I found the perfect video that explained everything to me.
I’m eager to go and find the loveliest buttons for Humphrey and then I’ll knit Sigrid (instead of Marcello because we’re going into summer, aren’t we?!?).
So the BIG question is: what color should I choose for Sigrid??? Oh, how I love asking this type of question (no black, my cats have white fur!)!!! A new project is always fun.
Newer Posts