Unsuspecting Victim
So, let’s say you had the chance to ensnare an unsuspecting victim teach someone to knit. I get to do just that next weekend, and I’m totally looking forward to it. But in the interest of making the process as smooth as possible, I thought I’d poll the collective. What do you wish you had known when you were learning to knit? Or what was the best thing you learned as a beginner? I have a general plan, but I’d love some suggestions!
I think the best thing I learned, and then happily passed on when I taught other knitters, was that there is no wrong way to get there, and regardless of how one makes the stitches, if you are happy with what they make, then it’s perfect!
My Aunt Bev taught me to knit when I was 7 and she was visiting us for a short time. She showed me how to cast on, knit garter and told me to work on my tension. What she didn’t show me before she left was what to do if I dropped a stitch! Needless to say, I quit knitting early in life because when I would drop a stitch I would frog the entire project and start over – not much fun. Sound simple and silly to mention but definitly include how to pick up dropped stitches!!
Through the fence
Catch the sheep
Back we come
Off we leap!
There’s no such thing as the knitting police. If it works for you, it’s right.
Have fun with your kitting.
Don’t start with a scarf – too long and boring. Wash cloth, maybe, but not a scarf.
Use nice wool, even to start.
I wish I’d learned how to throw the yarn with my left hand, early on, as it fixed a lot of the problem I’d had for 20 years when knitting with the yarn in my right hand. But some of that also has to do with my ambidextrousness (with preference to left hand). So, you know. It depends!
I think a good thing to do is to teach them something *fun* to make, even if it’s a little hard (or seems hard). Knitting squares may be educational, but it can get boring. And really – socks can be easy for a beginner, if you help them through the tricky bits! (And that’s what felted slippers are for, anyhow – felt out the mistakes!)
It took me about two years to sort out the way a stitch should look on the left needle so that I could make things look right on the right needle – the ‘mount’ as I later learned it was called. It’s one of the main thing I try to teach new knitters so that they know how to read that most basic part of knitting anatomy.
Why did I keep at it those two years? Good wool and nice bamboo needles.
I agree with Jessica. Wooden needles and yarn that has a bit of liniar stretch to it is best for beginners. Yarn that doesn’t stretch…such as one ply Noro…is difficult for beginners to get the needle into the stitch and metal needles are way too slippery for them. Most beginners keep their hands back away from the stitches too. Encourage your student to keep a finger on the stitch being worked.
How to count rows and read stitches! I agree that you should start with a nice wool. Maybe a hat?
Tho she knit continental, my teacher thought it would be easier for me to learn to throw. After years of throwing it took a great deal of effort to relearn in continental. And well worth it. People I have taught to knit say learning to do continental from the start isn’t bad and they thank me for it.
The thing everyone forgets by the time that first scarf is finished is how to cast on for the second project. Inevitably the person is far away the next time s/he wants to cast on, and how did that go? The first cast on I teach is knitting on. Even children love this and find it easy to learn. The only trouble they have is remembering not to stack more stitches onto the left needle while starting that first row. And later, even over the phone, it’s easy to explain how to cast on for the next project.
I learned so long ago it’s hard to remember what the problems were. I will say long stockinette or garter stitch scarves are boring. I remember I was very tight with my knitting and had to loosen up.
I learned continental for which I am eternally grateful. It was easy to learn throwing with the right hand later when I wanted to do colorwork. I think continental teaches you to use all of your fingers and feel your tension differently.
Definitely teach them to purl and not just do garter stitch. It keeps things interesting. Maybe a small hat knit flat…small enough to learn a few techniques without being overwhelming.
How exciting for you to introduce someone to knitting!