LEARN TO KNIT

LEARN TO KNIT

You can knit and crochet all kinds of garments without being able to read a pattern. However, being able to read patterns can add to your choices, technique, and abilities.

KNIT KIT!

What you need to start >

TEACHERS: Please give students Print-outs of Lesson Plans (above) and any Background Info you choose. Also, please allow the students to take home their Knit Kit (sandpaper, bamboo needles and "practice ball"), so that they can practice every day if they want to. After students have mastered Lesson #6 Knitting, then please allow them to take their Project Yarn home.

PRINT-OUT: "What you need to start"

• yarn: 2 balls (small Practice Ball - 7” around), plus Project Ball, solid color and medium weight (worsted / # 4) is recommended for beginners (later, use multicolored yarns to better hide mistakes, stains, holes from moths, etc.)

• knitting needles: 2 pairs for Project & Practice, use short 9-inch long needle, size 8, wood is best, plastic next, metal can be too slippery for beginners,

• sandpaper (320 & 600) for Homemade Knitting Needles (see directions below)

• cable needle or round (not square) toothpick

• tapestry / jumbo needle, or make your own using rounded toothpicks or mini bamboo 8” skewers (see directions below)

• crochet hook (optional)

• small scissors

• bag: any kind of bag to hold your knitting, yarn ball, and supplies

Homemade knitting needles:

• knitting needles: purchase inexpensive bamboo chopsticks (sharpen in a pencil sharpener) or 10” bamboo skewers (size 8 & already sharpened at one end) available for purchase online, craft stores, and Asian food markets (different lengths and widths could be available). Or purchase dowels at hardware stores or craft stores, and saw to desired length.

• sand entire needle 3 times with 3 grades of sandpaper in this order: 320 then 600 - slightly round off sharpened tip.

• wrap blunt end with rubber band to avoid knitted yarn from following off the needle end. 3rd photo: left needle – unsanded skewer / right needle – finished “skewered” knitting needle!

• tapestry /jumbo needles – purchase rounded toothpicks or 8” mini bamboo skewers (size 3), cut in half, hammer blunt end in order to wedge yarn into wood fibers, then sand pointed end as above. For a second jumbo needle from other half of mini skewer, sand one end to a point (it will take more time since it is a blunt end) and hammer other end as above.

KNIT & CROCHET ABBREVIATIONS >

Knitting & Crochet Abbreviations

HELPFUL LINKS >

(more print instructions
below)

http://www.knittingdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/BeginningKnittingFinal.pdf
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-essentials-of-knitting.html
http://www.lionbrand.com/learn/glossary
http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/knit.html

STANDARDS & GUIDELINES for Crochet and Knitting by Craft Yarn Council
http://media.craftyarncouncil.com/files/CYC_YS_s_and_g_rev2015_6.pdf

LESSONS

The LESSON PLAN is numbered to encourage students and teachers to work in a progressive order so that skills are built on a solid foundation. Although there are many different ways to do things like how to wind yarn, hold yarn, slip knots, and cast-ons, we are recommending only one or two methods in the interest of simplicity and brevity.

TIPS

Hold first stitch on needles with pointer fingers.
Stitches on needles should be about 1 inch from tip.
Stitches should be snug, but not tight. Loops should be able to slide along needle.
After casting on, cut tail end of yarn to about 5 inches so that it is not knitted by mistake.
When you begin a new row, be sure to knit into the front yarn only and not both front and back.
After the first 2 knits, the yarn on your needle can get loose, gently pull on the yarn tail to snug up the stitch.

1. Winding yarn balls >

Always ball your yarn from...
loosely balled yarn, skeins, or hanks.

PRINT-OUT: "Yarn Balling"

VIDEO: "Yarn Balling" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Iho7NEfGQ0

2. How to hold needles >

Tip: Keep pointer fingers on top of first stitches on either needles to keep yarn from falling off needles.

3. How to hold yarn >


Under Pointer Finger	Over Pointer Finger

NOTE: For less tension, place yarn between first two fingers only, or hold yarn any way that feels comfortable!

4. Slip Knot >

PRINT-OUT: "Slip Knot"

VIDEO: "Slip Knot / Cast On" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbH0avDa1BQ

5. Cast On >

PRINT-OUT: "Cast On"
VIDEO: "Slip Knot / Cast On" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbH0avDa1BQ

Knits (v-shaped)
Purls (wavy bumps)

2Knit, 2Purl, 2Knit, 2Purl, 2Knit (an example of "ribbing")

6. Knit >

PRINT-OUT: "Knit" Yarn in back, cross right needle in back...

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt2kuCCwVtg (Tanya Seaman's video)

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkeGgEhdyHw

7. Purl >

PRINT-OUT: "Purl" Yarn in front, cross right needle in front...

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0stkhQkvTqA

8. Bind Off >

PRINT-OUT: "Bind Off"
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4V4DSJ9hUE

9. Dropped Stitches >

PRINT-OUT: "Dropped Stitches"
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eliQ0MXID0M

10. Add Yarn >

PRINT-OUT: "Add Yarn"
VIDEOS: Adding yarn at end of row - https://youtu.be/fWWgxDs5skU/
Adding yarn in middle - https://youtu.be/U9U3cR4bhxU

11. Cords >

Simplest method for cords under 24 inches: Cast on to desired length, then cast off! more coming...

12. Seam & Graft >

PRINT-OUT: "Invisible Seams & Grafts"
READ: http://www.vogueknitting.com/pattern_help/how-to/beyond_the_basics/seaming
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ7KEGUTlJM
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuTlNae-EtM

13. Increase & Decrease >

PRINT-OUT: "Increase & Decrease"

READ: http://www.learn2knit.co.uk/knitting/increasing.php
READ: http://www.learn2knit.co.uk/knitting/decreasing.php
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cibdJgOayHk