How to learn to knit and crochet: detailed instructions for beginners

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Knitting soothes and allows you to replenish your wardrobe with exclusive items. Therefore, Lifehacker has collected everything you need so that you can master this art.

What is required

If you have never held knitting needles or a hook in your hands, then you should start by purchasing these tools.

Knitting needles are:

• Straight lines (A). At one end, as a rule, there is a plug so that the loops do not fall off.
• Circular (B). They are connected by a fishing line.
• Hosiery (B). Double-edged, usually sold in sets of five.
• For knitting plaits and braids (D). They are distinguished by a bend in the middle.

They can be made of metal, plastic, wood or bone. To master the basics, you need regular knitting needles. Steel is best, since aluminum can stain light yarn, wooden ones cling to fluffy threads, and plastic ones often break.

The hooks are made from the same materials. There are models with grips and grips.

Knitting needles and crochet hooks are numbered. The number is the diameter in millimeters. It is usually indicated on the instruments themselves. The larger it is, the thicker the yarn should be. In this case, the material of the knitting needles or the hook plays an important role. For example, steel hook No. 1 will be slightly different from the same plastic one.

Metric knitting and crochet systems vary by country. Consider this if in the future you decide to knit according to English or Chinese patterns, of which there are so many on the Internet.

Yarn is natural (wool, angora, cashmere, mohair, cotton, linen), synthetic (acrylic, viscose, polyester and others) and mixed (for example, 25% mohair and 75% acrylic). For your first stitches, it is best to use synthetic or blended yarns. She is smoother and more obedient.

The label will help to choose knitting needles or a hook for the yarn.

Manufacturers usually indicate the length and weight of the skein, the composition of the threads and the recommended number of knitting needles or hooks. It is better to keep the yarn labels.

In addition to yarn, knitting needles or a crochet, colored paper clips, pins, scissors, and a tailor's tape are also useful.

How to read knitting patterns

Many girls first learn to knit from grandmothers and mothers, and only then get acquainted with patterns and instructions. If you have not had such a school, it is better to immediately figure out how the diagrams are read.

When knitting with needles, the pattern is indicated by cells. The number of cells horizontally corresponds to the number of loops in a row, and the number of cells vertically corresponds to the number of rows. Each cell contains a symbol for this or that loop.

Here are the typical loop designations. But in specific schemes, there may be other signs. Always study them carefully.

When knitting, the rows in the pattern are read from bottom to top and alternately: first from right to left, then from left to right. Circular rows are always read from right to left.

When crocheting, the rules are the same. In circular crochet, the pattern is read from the center to the edges.

Rows in the diagrams are usually numbered: odd rows are front, and even rows are purl. You can also find parentheses or square brackets in the diagrams. They highlight the repeating part of the pattern - rapport.

How to learn to knit

Any thing can be knitted or crocheted. Hand-made craftsmen, as a rule, can do both, but prefer one thing. We suggest you try both knitting techniques to find out which one is closer to you.

Set of loops with knitting needles

There are various ways to knit stitches. The following is considered traditional:

Front surface

Knit and purl loops are the basis for knitting. Having mastered them, you can knit your first simplest pattern - an elastic band. But first, an important nuance.

Every hinge has a front and a back wall.

You can knit for both, but the result will be slightly different. Therefore, the front loops are divided into classic (those that are knitted behind the front wall) and grandmother's (knitted for the back wall). It is easier to hook and pull the thread on the back wall, especially for beginners.

Here's how grandma's facial loops fit.

And here is the classic method for making front loops.

Cast on the loops and try to knit several rows with the front loops: grandmother's or the front one - of your choice. This is the front surface or garter stitch.

Purl surface

Purl loops are divided into grandmother's and classic ones according to the same principle. Watch the next video tutorial, and you will understand how grandmother's purl loops are knitted.

Classic purl loops.

Knit several rows in one way or another. You will get a seamy surface.

Elastic band 1 × 1

After practicing knitting and knitting, you can complete your first knitting pattern - a 1 × 1 elastic. You have probably seen it on sweaters and scarves.

By the same principle, you can knit a 2 × 2 or 3 × 3 elastic band.

Closing the loops

To complete knitting, the loops must be closed. This is also done in different ways.

The Russian method is used most often.

The elastic method is usually used for elastic bands.

To close the loops in the Italian way, you need a needle with a large eye.

How to learn to crochet

The crochet hook can be held like a pencil (left) or like a knife (right).

Try this and that and decide which is more convenient for you. After that, you can start mastering the basic loops. In crochet, these are air loops and crochet stitches and without.

Chain of air loops

In crocheting, any fabric begins with the first loop and a chain of air loops coming from it. You can make the first loop in different ways. Their variety is presented in this video.

Column without crochet

Another basic element in crocheting is a single crochet. This is how it fits.

But crocheted loops also have front and back walls. Depending on which of them you will start the hook and stretch the thread, the pattern of the canvas will change.

Column with crochets

The main thing in knitting is practice. The more you knit, the better it will turn out. Having honed the single crochet, you can move on to a more complex element - the single crochet or multi-crochet.

Knitting Resources and YouTube Channels

During the Soviet deficit, many women were fond of knitting. But there were very few sources for teaching and inspiration. Patterns and various techniques were copied from each other by hand, and also carefully cut out from home economics magazines.

In the era of the Internet, there are many more sources. There are a huge number of sites and YouTube channels on the web with training articles and videos on the topic of knitting.

If, after tying your first loops, you feel the excitement and desire to study further, add the following resources to your bookmarks:

• … The site has a guide to knitting technology, as well as a collection of patterns, patterns and patterns.
• … Here you will find regular and video tutorials on knitting, various patterns and descriptions of products, as well as a demonstration of the work of other craftswomen.
• … A site about knitting and crocheting for kids and adults, where, in addition to lessons, there are also scans of knitting magazines.
• … The site has a training section, as well as knitting sections for women, men, children, and so on.
• … There is a section with terms, symbols, and numerous lessons on knitting and crocheting.
• … This is a handbook that contains information on various knitting and crocheting techniques.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot of knitting sites, including copyright ones. Also, many master classes are posted on VKontakte thematic communities:

• Knitting lovers club.
• Crochet.
• Knitting with needles.
• .

Many knitting channels and YouTube. Moreover, both with lessons for beginners and master classes for experienced knitters. Here are just a few popular ones:

• … “With the help of my lessons, it's easy to learn to crochet and knit because I tried to show everything as slowly as possible,” says the owner of the channel.
• … On this channel you will find knitting lessons and master classes on various knitting and crocheting techniques, presentations of knitted clothing models, and useful tips for needlewomen.
• … "Knitting is always fashionable, beautiful, practical, knitting is always in trend!" - says the owner of this channel.
• … Visual lessons from a girl named Sasha.
• … The name speaks for itself.