Simple winter knits for beginners
Over the past few winters I've been practicing my knitting. I was taught to knit originally by my grannie when I was younger, so I knew the basics, but I had never really practiced until I became interested again a few years ago. I have been buying wool and needles from markets and op shops and teaching myself using youtube.
I never like to spend time practicing something just for the sake of it, I like to make something that I can use, so I have been trying to find things to make that help me to refine my technique, but are also simple and ultimately useful. Obviously I can't launch into huge projects while I'm still struggling to knit consistently and neatly, but I managed to find a few small things to knit that have really helped me to gain the confidence to make something larger.
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| This is what I made this winter to practice before I make something bigger. |
Here's what I have come up with as suggestions for beginner knitters to practice:
- Headband or ear-warmer - this can be as simple as a strip of 10-15 stitches knitted in either garter stitch or stockinette stitch, keep going until it reaches around your head and then stitch the ends together to form a band. For something different you can add stripes of colours, or try a fancy knitting stitch.
- Button-up snood - this is just a short scarf (you could make a scarf, but that takes longer!), again, you can add stripes or fancy stitches. I took the opportunity to practice ribbing at each end and added button holes. I started with 30 stitches and knitted until it was long enough to go around my neck.
- Snood in the round - a great way to experiment with needles "in the round" is to knit up a simple snood. If you get it twisted, its called a helical snood (great for covering mistakes!).
- Arm-warmers - this is a great way to practice knitting on double-pointed needles. Just make a hole for the thumbs using the same technique as for a button-hole. I like to add stripes to this one too, but could also be done with a fancy stitch. Ribbing at the top stops the top from folding over.
- Tablet or phone cover - we bought a new tablet and I decided to knit a cover for it instead of buying a cover. I just knitted a long strip in the right size and sewed up the seams. Again, you can add whatever techniques you need to practice.
- Socks - this might seem like an odd one for beginners, but after you've figured out double-pointed needles, you have most of the skills to finish socks as well, you just have to really concentrate on the pattern!
Lately I have been side-tracked with crochet, so I haven't knitted anything bigger yet. I am wearing my arm-warmers and ear warmer as I type though!
What do you think is a good project for learning to knit?
See below Amazon Affiliate links for a few knitting books that I find useful including the one I mentioned above. If you buy through these links I get a small commission at no extra cost for you. If you're reading this on email or blog reader, you will need to visit my blog to see all the links.
Previous posts about knitting and crochet:
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