The best way to increase my skill in knitting.

[eastkygal]

Just curious, what is the best way to increase my skill in knitting. I'm bascially teaching myself. I'm proficient at the following:
garter and purl stitch
simple hats (I've never knitted in the round)
simple toys
scarfs
simple sweaters (though there is always something a little off with them)

Many have told me that it looks like I'm pretty good at what I've been making, but I'd like to make more variety of things. I look at some of the patterns (especially knitting in the round and double sided needles) and think yikes... should I even waste the yarn. How did you increase your skill level?

[mkmb129]

My first knitted project was a hat, in the round. I thought it was easier knitting in the round then on straight needles. I got about an inch into my hat when I realized I'd twisted my stitches.. I recommend the long tail cast on to prevent that. It was a piece of cake, best part about knitting in the round is no need to purl if you're doing the stockinette stitch (I loath purling). Double sided needles were only a tiny bit confusing, knittinghelp.com helped me (watched a video). My first dpn project was mittens, and it came out well. I've just about completed my first pair of socks on dpns, and again, simple as pie. Just jump in and give it a try, it'll be much easier then you think. I grafted the toe of my first completed sock last night (kitchener) and it was so easy! I definitely recommend watching a video if you're concerned, but really, I thought myself from a book mainly. The only way to get better is to knit! I've only been knitting since mid-Novish and I'd say I'm pretty good. I've done about 6 or so hats, a pair of mittens, a pair of socks, several dish cloths, and I've got a bunch of half done projects OTN. I wasn't so great at ribbing, but after a couple pairs of socks and the waiste band of a curly purly soaker, I'm a pro now. Happy knitting!

[WNB]

I think the best way to increase your skill is just to try new stuff. If you're worried about wasting yarn, get some cheap acrylic stuff that is readily available and have at it. You might waste some, but you won't be out a lot of cash.

Knitting in the round is -not- hard at all. It is knitting a tube. That's all. Cast on, then, instead of turning when you get to the end of your CO row, you bend your needle around and just keep on knitting the first stitch you cast on. That's really all there is to it.

If you don't have circular needles or DPNs, though, I'd recommend learning how to wrap and turn for short rows. They are really handy and come up a fair amount, so knowing how to do them without showing holes is pretty useful. (A short row is just a row that you don't knit all the way across, but turn back and knit or purl in the other direction.)

[mommyddeville]

I think you're on the right track knitting all sorts of different things. Just do something new. You won't waste the yarn. . . if it looks horrible, rip it out. I don't go buy cheap acrylic to try new things. I use my good yarn. I find that I'm more devoted to a project if I use good yarn and good wool is much, much more forgiving than even the best acrylic.

Don't worry about circular knitting or dpns. They look imposing, but with everything else you know how to do, you could do both of them with just a little bit of learning.

Also, if you're anywhere close to a yarn store, go there. Don't be afraid to just browse. I've gotten some of the best tips and tricks, and found some good yarn that I never would have found, just by browsing at my LYS.

[ekortering]

I'd suggesting purchasing Elizabeth Zimmerman's "Knitting without Tears" or "Knitting Workshop." I second buying the best yarn & needles you can afford. It will make all the difference.

[flapjack]

I think you should find a pattern that you would love to knit, buy some beautiful yarn and then cast on. What's the worst that can happen? You have to frog? so what?

[ReikiMommy07]

Practice is really the best way to improve any skill. The more you make one item, the better you'll get at it. The more you knit in general, the better your knitting will be. And the more patterns you try, the more skillful you'll become. You may not notice it, but suddenly you'll look back and go... "WOW! I couldn't have done that ___!"
Happy knitting!

[ReikiMommy07]

Originally Posted by flapjack

I think you should find a pattern that you would love to knit, buy some beautiful yarn and then cast on. What's the worst that can happen? You have to frog? so what?

mama!

[Ecstatic]

Knit, knit, knit, knit, knit, and then knit some more. Warning: it becomes addictive.

I started off thinking I needed to practice on acrylic so as not to "ruin" other, good yarns. That was my biggest mistake. Acrylic is not fun. At least, I could never enjoy knitting with it. I wound up chucking the acrylic and buying some gorgeous merino, found a gorgeous project, and then I learned as I knit. A good quality yarn makes SUCH a difference. In your knitting, in learning, in appreciation, etc.

[CallMeKelly]

I am also giving a to buying beautiful yarn... it makes it so much easier to pay attention, to make things perfect when you have something you enjoy looking at to work with... IMO. I am trying to learn new things and after asking on Ravelry was pointed to several sampler afghans and blankets/purses as well... seems a common way to learn new stitches and methods...

[Glover_Girls]

:

I also need to work on my skills. I'm self taught and muddle through projects. I have some great illustrated books that my Mom handed down to me that have helped immensely. I've also gone to the LYS for advice. But I've certainly done my share of frogging.

I would find a smallish project and get some fabulous yarn and just dig in!

[eepster]

When you look at those more complex patterns is it the knitting that is scaring you or is it reading the pattern? If it's really the pattern you find intimidating, then maybe just start knitting without patterns and make it up as you go along.

[Animal_Lady]

I would also recommend starting to do gauge swatches. It gives you a feel for the yarn on different size needles, and a feel for the pattern. As a bonus, when you have about a gagillion gauge swatches, you can always make a crazy quilt with them. Just buy an extra skein of yarn and try out different size needles on that yarn. It will help you learn if you are a tight or loose knitter. And it's fun to do if you want to cast on something new, but don't want to start a whole new project. I have a whole shoebox at home dedicated to my swatches.

[Malva]

For a long while, I picked my projects so that each new one would teach me a new skill:
From memory, I went in that order: pattern reading, increases and decreases, different cast-on technique, chart reading, lace, knitting in the round, knitting with dpns, cables, i-cord, short rows, socks, different bind off technique, etc.

Next up, I plan on learning intarsia, fair isle and garment construction.

[chicagomom]

As with mothering, I've learned a whole lot about knitting well from just hanging out with other knitters while they knit. The internet is a great source of videos (youtube and knitting help) and articles, and I've come to these many times. Magazines like Interweave Knits have complex patterns, but they also have great articles on how to do stuff.

As for yarn, I think it's a mistake to knit with yarn you do not like. Honestly with the internet and sales, one can find very nice wool, alpaca, silk for the same price as the cheap acrylic stuff. It's much more inspiring to knit with something you want to finish because you want to wear it (or can't wait to gift it).

One of the best ways I've found to increase my skill was to knit mittens. Mittens can be done in the round, with/out color changes, can have lots of shaping/decreases/increases or be fairly straightforward. They are great practice objects. Hats are in the same category, but even easier as they don't have thumbs.

So make a hat and then some mittens. Once you finish you'll feel like you can do anything!

[tulips117]

Also you can check out knittinghelp.com for some videos on various techniques and such. Have fun!

[xanandali]

I agree with all of the above. Especially using nice yarns that you enjoy to touch and look at. I'd definately keep working on different things. Sweaters are usually pretty good because they use pretty much every knitting skill and you can do baby ones to give as gifts and still get all the practice to get better. I also agree that finding a knitting group or hanging out at your LYS is helpful.

[utopia760]

i have been teaching myself too.I just keep knitting! When I see something I like I make it. If im having trouble I go to knittinghelp.com I feel like im at the intermediate level I have even done socks.Just dont let things scare you jump right in!

[utopia760]

by the way knitting in the round scared me to now i love it the only thing i have trouble with is not twisting stitched on circulars. so i start on double pointed then put it on circs.

[pradiata]

I'd recommend checking out a bunch of knitting books at your local library. Flip through all the books until you are totally inspired by something and just DO it. Don't worry about complicated instructions - you only ever need to look at the NEXT line of instructions, not all of them at once (although it does help to read through the whole thing once so you're not surprised later.)

Also, try knitting up a sample swatch with some delicious yarn and trying out new stitches you haven't done before. Since it's only a swatch, you can't go wrong! (and you can go for as long as your yarn holds out) Cabling is really fun and it's easy once you've done it a few times - plus it just looks so "advanced".

Have fun. Play!