Originally published in print February 2021.
If baking bread wasn’t (ed. note: isn’t) your thing during quarantine, chances are you considered taking up another unexpected trend of 2020: knitting. In recent years, Nordic countries have established a new visual direction for knitting, which contains, at its core, the interaction of simplicity and good design. But knitting isn’t an immediate skill – it requires careful planning and time for improvement. Here’s the quickstart guide for someone just getting into knitting.
- Stitches.
Knitting is the sum of two stitches, the knit and the purl. Stockinette stitch is the most common alternation of these stitches, and resembles a flat series of braids on one side (knit) and horizontal waves on the other (purl). Both sides are knitted in garter stitch. In ribbing, stitches are knitted to create perpendicular ridges and purled to form indents. The effect is a stretchy fabric. The easiest way to understand these stitches is to look at them in ordinary pieces of clothing.
- Notation.
Notation depends on the language in which the pattern is written, but in English, k means knit and p means purl. Co is cast on, which is how you create the stitches at the beginning of a project. Kt2g means knit two stitches together in a right slant. Decreases that are left-slanting are ssk, or slip slip knit. Kt2g and ssk decrease stitches in a garment, for example at the crown of a hat. Fortunately, the knitwear designer will typically include a key with the abbreviations used.
- Patterns.
Now that you’ve understood stitches and notation, it’s time to find a pattern. Knit a scarf as your first project. The Spruce Crafts and Purl Soho have easy, free patterns. Once you’ve got your foot in the door, sites like Ravelry, which is a resource for knitters and crocheters, can be useful for finding patterns. Designers will post their patterns there, likely at a price (5 euro is standard), but there are also free nuggets to be found. PetiteKnit is one of the more popular pattern designers online.
- Yarn and Needles.
There are many different types of yarn, and they come in many different colours. Go to a yarn store if you can: show the sales assistant your pattern and they’ll point you towards suitable yarn and needles. I’ve found that using good quality, natural yarns increases the likelihood of wear. Remember to keep the yarn labels for washing instructions. If you’re choosing yarn and needles on your own, pay close attention. The yarn you use will require a corresponding needle size. Check the recommended needle size on the yarn label. Check the size and type of needle (straight, double-pointed, or circular) in your pattern. Make a ‘swatch’ or a sample with your yarn and needles to match the pattern’s gauge. On Ravelry, you can look up projects that used the yarn you’re interested in. Later, you might use multiple strands of yarn at once. Until then, be patient.
- Getting started.
On the topic of patience, you’ll need it for this part. First, watch a tutorial on casting on. Then, watch a tutorial on the knit stitch. Cast on 20 stitches and knit on straight needles. Once you’ve got that down, learn to purl. When you try ribbing, use a smaller needle size and do a 2×2 rib. Now you can start your pattern. If your knitting looks like nothing the first few rows, continue. It will take shape. Continental style knitting is faster than English style knitting, but learn the latter first. Don’t be afraid to ‘frog’ (unravel) if your work looks wonky or you made mistakes – I do this all the time. Before you know it, you’ll be casting off your scarf. And look up blocking!
Congratulations, you’ve learned to knit! In the 2010s and 20s, knitting has experienced a resurgence. Now more than ever, patterns are stylish. Resources are at your fingertips. Yarns are diverse. Ultimately, there’s freedom in knitting. If you worry about sustainability, choose an eco-friendly yarn, and if you like hats that are just the right amount of oversized, adjust yours to your liking. It’s all in your hands.
