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Permalink Reply by Susan the Blue Lake Knitter on January 29, 2009 at 9:05am: Vikeena,

I started out not knitting anything. I just knitted what you would call swatches. I practiced knitting, purling, cast ons and cast offs. Then like an idiot I knitted three doggie sweaters using a circular needle. When they were finished I knitted my husband a sweater - it didn't look perfect by any means, but he loved it and wore it.

I knit a few scarves, a couple of hats, then got turned on to socks. Yes more in the round stuff.

Every knitter is different.

I taught my neighbor to knit, and she too is a slow learner. She has been knitting scarves and washcloths with some success. Her main problem is that she knits way too tight.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact me via my page. Just click on my picture, and leave me a comment. I'll do anything I can to assist. I love knitting and love helping others.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Elianastar on January 29, 2009 at 9:08am: Hi Vikeena... can I give you a cyberhug? ((((((((((((((Vikeena)))))))))))) EGBOK! [Everything's Gonna Be OK!]

Oh my gosh, I truly DO understand! I learned to knit about 45 years ago... and am maybe three days ahead of you! LOLOL!!! I've never done a sock or lace or sweater or much of anything beyond scarves or afghans or those ugly little slippers that were mandatory first knit projects when I was ten years old. I've only recently knitted my first hat and poncho!

In honesty, I have not been knitting all that time... I stayed with crochet, which felt easier and more satisfying to me, but have always preferred the fabric of knitting and envied the patterns withheld from most crocheters... sweaters that one would actually be caught dead wearing.

I, personally, define the "first level" as mastering some reasonable measure of even tension and the ability, and confidence, to do all the main tasks: cast on, knit, purl, at least one left slant increase, at least one right slant increase, at least one left slant decrease, at least one right slant decrease, and a decent cast off [bind off]. If you don't know how to do all those, or are not confident doing all those, I highly recommend a book called "First Knits" by Kate Haxell. KnitPicks doesn't carry it but you can read my review of it @ amazon.com: [if the link doesn't work, or appear below, look up the book at amazon]

<<a href="http://www.amazon.com/First-Knits-Kate-Haxell/dp/1564775607/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233246525&sr=8-1">>

Grab a skein of worsted weight yarn and size 8 or 9 needles and work your way through each tutorial, and work them until you feel confident and personally pleased with the results. I recommend making two or more of each swatch project. Then, maybe do a pattern or two from the book using the techniques you mastered.

Completed? Welcome to "Master beginner knitter" :-) You are now, at least, an "Intermediate Knitter" according to most resources. WaHoo!!!

Next level? Whatever you WANT it to be! Sock knitting? Join the Sock Knitalong [KAL], get the book and supplies, and make everyone there crazy with your "stupid questions" and join the sock craze. Sweater knitting? Join the Sweater Workshop [SW] KAL and do likewise. Etc... [I'd personally save the lace knitting for something small, like hat or glove embellishment, until you feel more confident of your skills, but, if you are the intrepid sort, join the Lace KAL!]

I actually highly recommend the SW KAL... and not just because I'm currently IN that KAL! LOL! I recommend it because it is the perfect next book tutorial to follow up First Knits. Your first project from the Sweater Workshop book is a Sampler of basic knitting skills and techniques that you might run into in a sweater pattern. The second Sampler is optional, learning more decorative stitching options for sweater embellishment. And you'll have other people who have either never made a sweater before, or never successfully made a sweater before, to help and encourage and support you through the learning curve to your first sweater. Working through your first sweater project with the KAL, you'll emerge with a lot more confidence in your knitting skills, at least one completed sweater... and some good supportive knitter friends!

From there, the knitting world is your oyster! I fully believe you'd not be intimidated by many projects with this experience and skill set. You'll have learned to read pattern directions and feel safe testing any stitch pattern you run into. Perhaps most importantly to me, you'll understand pattern design sufficiently to not require a pattern to knit almost anything your heart desires. :-) That's ADVANCED knitting level!

If you are determined... and it sounds like you ARE... all you need is practice and confidence. I truly believe working through these two books will take you far past "a little bit more than beginner knitter" which is setting the goalpost lower than you'll require to tackle projects more complicated than basic scarves.

Happy knitting, Vikeena!

StarLysandra
Portland, OR

[Note to KnitPicks Staff, check out the "First Knit" book and consider it for the store. :-)]; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alison on January 29, 2009 at 9:16am: What do you want to make most? If there's something that you'd really like to make for yourself, we can help suggest a beginner or advanced beginner pattern that will teach you the skills you need to keep moving in that knitting direction. For example, the Lace 1, 2, 3 pattern is a free lace pattern that teaches you a basic lace pattern and shows you how to adapt different yarn weights for use in different projects. If you want to learn Fair Isle, we have a basic cardigan pattern and support tutorials and videos.

This is just my experience, but when I was just starting to knit, I didn't think much about learning techniques as such. I would just think to myself "Hey, I wish I had a nice pair of warm mittens!" and then I'd find a pattern (by searching or asking folks), fumble my way through it, learn a few things, and sometimes have to make a *second* pair of mittens. For me, the best way to improve my knitting was just to, well, knit a whole lot and screw up sometimes and finally make something I liked.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Suzanne on January 29, 2009 at 8:00am: I am making a Christmas stocking to felt. I am using double pointed needles. For some reason, my first stitch (edge stitches) in each round on the heel flap do not look correct. It looks like there is a knot under each stitch. What am I doing wrong. I am trying to be careful where my yarn is. I have knitted socks in the past and I have not had this problem although it has been a year since I knitted. I am getting frustrated. Can you offer me a suggestion. It is a Knit one row, Purl the next at this point in the heel flap.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by nuts2knit on January 29, 2009 at 8:13am: The knot at the edge seems to form when you switch from purl to knit. To avoid this and to make a nice chain on each edge (which will make picking up the gusset stitches easier) do this: On the knit (right side), slip the first stitch and then continue to the end of the row. On the purl side, slip the first stitch, purl across to the next to last stitch, KNIT the last stitch. Turn your work and continue, making sure that when you slip the first stitch on the knit side and then knit the next one, that you are bringing the yarn BETWEEN the needles and between the slipped stitch and the next one, NOT around the end. I hope that is clear! It should make a nice chain on each edge for you.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Suzanne on January 29, 2009 at 8:44pm: Thank you. I tried your tip and I now have a nice chain edge. It would be nice if the pattern instructions would include that tip. It would have saved me alot of time and grief. I appreciate having a website to go to for help.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Susan the Blue Lake Knitter on January 30, 2009 at 4:12am: I was very surprised that it didn't. Every sock pattern I have tells you to always slip the first stitch. Glad you got it fixed.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on January 30, 2009 at 6:30am: Susan: I have a lot of sock patterns, and some have a different edge, but most say to sl the 1st st or else sl the last st, so you end up with that nice row of exactly-the-number-you-need sts along each edge. If I'm using a sock pattern that doesn't have the sl st edge, I often modify the pattern and put one in. --Peggy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Susan the Blue Lake Knitter on January 30, 2009 at 6:14pm: I've even used that method on other items that are st st, where you are going to join or use a binding, like this vest I'm knitting. I realized early on what I would be doing and didn't like the finished edge, so I immediately stitched to the slip stitches. It made the ribbing go on easier and it looks much better then it would have otherwise.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on January 30, 2009 at 6:21pm: Susan: What a good idea! My friend Rob is doing the Nori Scarf in Silk Garden by Jared What's-his-name that everyone is doing, and it has sl st on both edges. It's K1, P1 across and work in pattern for 2 rows, then switch to another colorway and do 2 rows. He discovered that it was easier to hide the yarn changes if he worked across the right side, then sl the first and last st on the wrong side. (Not that there is really a wrong side of K1, P1, but the second row of a colorway. The scarf is gorgeous! --Peggy; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Susan the Blue Lake Knitter on January 30, 2009 at 6:56pm: I'll have to check out that scarf. I will have nearly two full balls of the yarn I'm using left over from the vest, and Noro Silk Garden is the same type of colorway that I am using... just different colors.

I tend to find a methodology that works in certain applications, and when I think it fits with another application due to appearance or ease of knitting, I pull it out and use it again. It may not be following the pattern exactly, but I think it makes things look better.This particular trick works best when knitting any items where you do st st for all pieces and then have to assemble later, no matter what type of join you use. Those smooth slip stitches let you know definitely where to start.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Knit Picks Admin on February 4, 2009 at 10:42am: I'm working on a mindless K1 P1 scarf right now with 2 colors of Andean Silk (these scarves are very easy and make great gifts). Anyway, I slip the first stitch of every row, but not the last stitch in order to have a clean flat edge. And I carry my yarns up the side of the scarf and switch colors every 2 rows so that I don't have to cut the yarn or weave in any ends. And I still count the slipped stitches.; ▶ Reply to This