One Stitch at a Time: Learning to Knit

As we all know, I love any sort of crafting and creative hobby. In the past, I’ve dabbled in crochet (my stitch count always got off, and things got wonky fast), I currently have a few embroidery projects, and I love a good DIY project. While embroidery is something I can bring about with me easily, I felt like I needed another easily portable craft so I could trade off every once in a while. This is where knitting comes in! 

I’ve always wanted to try, but since crochet got to me first, I just wrote it off. Then after I basically gave up on ever being good at crochet, I just stuck with the sewing and the quilting and the embroidery (when I have a project). 

Thankfully I have a few friends who know how to knit. Haydn of Fox & Fleece(PLEASE go check out her pickle socks!) and Missy of Rich Mountain Fiber Co. helped me out and cheered me on my first day learning! Haydn and I sent videos back and forth, and I went to the yarn store where Missy was able to help me in person!

The first step is casting on. I actually picked up on this fairly quickly! It did take me a little bit to not hold my yarn like you do in crochet, but eventually I got the hang of it. I practiced making a row of 10 stitches on my needle over and over and over until I figured I was doing well enough that I could move on. 

Then came the knit stitch. The first time I tried, my tension was way too tight (which was a common problem in my crocheting as well). Then after my tension got looser, I couldn’t figure out which way to point my needle down to slip the stitch from the left to the right. I would try what I thought was correct, and it would work for a few stitches, but then it got super tight (because I was doing it wrong) and all my hard work would just slip off the needles. 

I watched multiple videos, looked at written instructions, tried and tried, but I couldn’t figure it out. So I texted Haydn again, and she told me to send her a video of what I was doing. DUH! Of course that was a great way to figure this out long distance! 

She explained (in video back to me), that I needed to keep the right needle behind the left when pulling through instead of trying to bring it around to the front. So I practiced… and it started working…. And it worked all the way down the row of stitches! So I turned it around and did it again.. Still working! And again and again and again until I finally had a teeny square! (Perfect size for a makeup remover!) 

I got so excited, I sent a picture of my final teeny square, all cast off and everything, to both Haydn and Missy with a big ole “WOOOOOOOOOOOO”! They were both very excited for me as well!

Next, I learned the purl stitch, which is basically the knit stitch, but backwards? Same concept, different orientation. It took me a while to get used to remembering which side I was on, knit or purl, but I finally figured out the secret of the yarn trail.

Compared to when I used to crochet, I'm enjoying knitting quite a bit more. With this project at least, I don't have to count stitches (I'm sure that will change when I get to more difficult projects), and it's more easy to relax while knitting. I'm enjoying having something I can take along with me to places (although I do need to finish a few embroidery projects as well...).

Right now, because I have to have a SPECIFIC PROJECT to practice, I can't just practice for the sake of it, I'm doing a Stockinette (knit purl knit purl) stitched scarf! I've messed up several times, but thanks to Missy and Haydn, I've figured out how to fix my mistakes!

I've had fun saving projects on Ravelry and getting inspiration for future projects! Here are just a few I want to try. 

Patchwork Socks by autumngeisha

Heirloom Quilt Cardigan by Katryn Seeburger

Ribbon Scarf by Purl Soho

Obviously some of these projects are further in the future than others, but I'm excited to try new techniques like knitting in the round and colorwork!

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If you've been wanting to try a new craft or hobby, I encourage you to pick up something to see if you enjoy it! Tell me about your adventures in this new craft: your struggles, your accomplishments, and what you're excited for!

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