Don't sweat the small stuff - 3 tips to help you learn to knit

When people learn a new skill it is very common to feel inadequate or unsuccessful.

What seems simple and straightforward at first glance is usually a little more complex when you attempt it yourself. However with a little perseverance you will usually be rewarded.

Usually you need to practice things, before getting them right - knitting is no exception. I'm yet to meet the person who can pick up knitting needles and yarn, read a pattern and finish a jumper first time!

When I teach knitting I find it much more useful to encourage people to just keep going, rather than stress about every small error. Yes the end result may be different from the plan, but you have given yourself lots of practice. Hopefully your next attempt will be more inline with your expectations.

The more you try to be perfect when you start a new skill the more disheartening it is when the results are less than perfect. Accept your new challenge for what it is - a learning curve, understand that the more you persist and the less you criticize your lack of perfection , the more improved you will be!

This is why all my kits are small projects. I want to give people the opportunity to practice a small range of new skills in a short period where they can see results.

Art by Amanda McCavour - Compound Tangle

My three best tips for learning to knit are:

1. Breathe

Often when we are focusing intently on something new we literally hold our breath! That deprives our brains of Oxygen and we think less clearly. So taking deep calming breaths regularly as you knit will really help.

2. Relax

If your hands are gripping onto the needles for dear life and the wool is sweating in your hands, you need to relax. Shake out your hands, shrug your shoulders up and down and breathe.

Don't pull your yarn as tightly - it won't jump of the needles!

By relaxing and creating a looser tension in your knitting you will find it easier and the yarn will behave as it should. Knitting will remain square instead of creeping into a triangle!

3 Don't panic

If you do make a mistake, it's not the end of the world. Don't scrap your intentions because of one small error. Everything is fixable.

Firstly take a look carefully and see where you went wrong, if you knitted a stitch wrongly only  a few stitches (or even a row) back you can unknit it. Known as Tink - check out You Tube tutorials for help online. I actually need to make one myself... so remind me if you need help!

Then maybe look again at the pattern, are you following correctly, when you are knitting in rib or moss stitch you can often forget which stitch you are up to - purl or knit. Just take a moment and find out where you went wrong. Again if it's not far back you can unknit.

If you've created more stitches, then  you can often easily just knit two together at the end of the row.

Not enough stitches, just make one or cast on another to make up the numbers.

If it all seems hopeless - unpull (Frog) your work and start again. Just call that previous knitting a test run. Don't dwell on it, just start again with renewed confidence.

So there you go, have the confidence to start and the persistence to continue without feeling like a failure if you aren't immediately brilliant!

You'll get there in the end.

Malvern Library - beginner knitting group

The Feel Good Project

Winter has well and truly set in now in Melbourne.

I’m wearing a scarf and beanie most days.

Alpaca Slouch Beanie, with Alpaca Super loop scarf

I guess I am pretty lucky that I have a few to choose from, as I am constantly knitting up samples or looking for simple knit styles.

I know the stores are full of acrylic knitwear made in China, but there is something extremely comforting about wearing a hand knitted winter accessory.

It’s hard to explain – there is an element of care and genuine love that seems to be embedded in the fibres of hand knitting.

Also if you have knitted the accessory yourself there is a huge an element of pride and self sustenance involved. Extra points if someone compliments your knit wear – but not even necessary to make you feel good.

So if you’d like to share to feel the love of hand knit winter warmers have a look at the knitting kits I have put together. Something for yourself or maybe the perfect knitted gift.

Alpaca Chunky Short Loop cowl

The patterns are super simple and I have made video tutorials if you need help.

The yarns are beautiful quality and I have selected a small but charming colour palette.

The projects are deliberately small so you can knit and complete and enjoy your efforts. (Instead of being left in a bag as something you’ll finish one day… )

Enjoy your southern hemisphere winter and give yourself a big woolly knitted hug!

So many pictures of me, I do apologise! I need to find an in-house model to do justice to the garments!

Alpaca Baby Beanies

Easy as 1, 2, 3

Knitting Basics

Knitting can be as simple or complicated as you choose.

Here is my super simple guide on How to Knit.

Each of these videos takes you very slowly through a step by step tutorial to get you Knitting.

1. CAST ON

Let's start at the very beginning.

You can't go anywhere until you learn to cast on. Most people will learn how to cast on a lot of times, before you do it habitually. It tends to be the starting block that most people stumble on.

• The first thing you do when casting on is to create a slip knot - so you can adjust your first stitch easily.
• Then - select the style of cast on required as per your pattern.
• A simple cast on is basically knitting stitches and adding them to end of needle.
• I like to do what is commonly called a Cable cast as it creates a nice even edge.

2. KNIT

Learning to knit is like any skill, you get better at it the more you do it. So don't be too frustrated if you find it difficult at the beginning.

For many people it is the uncertainty of how to balance the needles and not let the stitches slip off.

My number one tip is to hold the needles near the tip firmly but not gripping. Use your index finger in your left hand to gently hold and manage the stitches. Your hands will relax once you get the hang of it.

Also - breathe.... seriously - when you concentrate so hard on learning a stitch you often forget to breathe. So breathe in through your nose then as you breathe out relax your shoulders.

3. CAST OFF

Congratulations if you've made it this far!

For me, this is the most rewarding step. Casting off your knitting and sitting back to admire your project.

Casting off is really very easy. Just remember not to pull the stitches too tightly so you don't get a puckered or drawn in edge.

If you can do these 3 steps you are your way to becoming a knitter.

The next step I would suggest is learning to Purl  - but you can wait to get the above 3 steps under your belt before you move on.

If you are looking for a simple project to start with, all my What Jane Knits kits are designed especially for beginner knitters. Have a look - find a project and I can send you a kit with everything you need including yarn, needles and pattern.

Good luck and happy knitting.