Knitting is not just for your nanna any more. Everyone from kids to celebrities, such as Demi Lovato and Ryan Gosling, have taken up this soothing and creative hobby. So give it a try yourself with this guide from Olympus on Main to help you get started. 

What You’ll Need

You don’t need much to start out. Essentially just some knitting needles, a skein or ball of yarn, scissors, and a pattern. A bag or basket to keep everything together when you’re not working on it, a crochet hook, sewing needles, and a journal for record-keeping are all optional, but can come in handy. Be sure to get the correct knitting needle size and yarn weight specified in your pattern. Check out this supply guide from The Spruce Crafts for more information.

Where to Buy Knitting Supplies

You can find just about everything you need at a discount store, one of the several specialty yarn and craft stores in Carrollton, or online. There are even pre-assembled beginners kits from online knitting stores such as We Are Knitters, with everything you need for a cute and easy starter project such as a beanie.

How to Get Started

Picking up the basics of knitting doesn’t take long, and you can do it from the comfort of your own home. There are many helpful books available, such as “Stitch ’n Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook” by Debbie Stoller, and both free and paid video tutorials and classes that will teach you the basic knitting stitches and techniques. Local yarn and craft stores may also offer in-person classes and assistance, although current availability may be limited due to COVID-19.

We strongly recommend that you practice casting on (making the first stitches on your needle) and knitting straight rows of the various stitches BEFORE you jump into your actual project. Once you’re done practicing, you can just unravel the practice rows and re-use that yarn.

Start With Something Relatively Small & Simple

Don’t be overly ambitious with your first (or second) knitting project. Save the Aran sweater or large Afghan blanket with complicated stitching until you’ve had a bit more practice, otherwise you risk becoming frustrated and never finishing. As you build confidence and speed with a couple of projects under your belt, you can successfully tackle progressively more elaborate and large-scale designs.

Whether you plan to make gorgeous hand-knits for all your friends and family or you just enjoy knitting’s therapeutic and meditative rhythm and don’t even care about the end result, knitting can be so much fun. For more enjoyable activities and lifestyle information, check out the Olympus on Main blog.