learning to knit.

I've been knitting for a year and two months now. I love it as much as sewing, it is one of my most favorite things to do. I get so many emails from readers asking me how I learned, how they can learn, and if I can share any advice with them. That is what this post is for :)

When I went to the Sewing Summit last year, I bought some gorgeous yarn and a circular needles in hope of learning to knit. With the help of my sweet friends Amanda and Deeidre, I learned how to cast on for a project and two basic stitches: knit and purl. I started a honey cowl. I tried my hardest to get it to work, but it just was not happening for me. I felt like I was missing something, or that something wasn't making sense. When I got home I ripped out my project and hopped on the internet to figure out what was wrong. I needed to teach myself.

Thanks to a few recommendations, I landed on knittinghelp.com. It is a very informative website that has everything you need to teach yourself how to knit. I watched videos on knitting and purling, and I realized that the English method (where you hold the yarn in the RIGHT hand and throw it around your needle) just wasn't my thing. I watched the videos and taught myself to knit using the continental method, which is perfect for me. In this method, the yarn is held the LEFT hand, and you don't throw the yarn. This made so much sense to me, and everything just fell into place. I am a crocheter, and when you crochet, you hold the yarn the same way as you do when continental knitting. Well, I do anyways. :)

Once I taught myself to knit from those videos, I just fell in love. It came really naturally to me. I have to admit, that may partly be due to the fact that I am very comfortable with yarn. I've been crocheting since I was 7 years old! But really, I truly think that anyone can learn.

All of this to say.... you can teach yourself to knit! You can. I highly recommend the videos on knittinghelp.com. I've watched other videos elsewhere, but I always come back to these. There is also an app on that website that you can buy for your phone, and I use it ALL the time. It is totally worth the money. If you learn, give continental method a try. I know it is not everyone's favorite, but I love it. It is so quick and efficient.
I hope that helps you! Feel free to keep asking questions. Good luck!:) xo, A
PS - These pictures are of the honey cowl I finished back in the fall, I finally took some nice pictures of it. I wear it all the time, and it is one of my favorites. If you are learning to knit, this is a great beginners project. You can find links and details here on my ravelry page.