Lessons Learned: 6 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Knitting

Knitting is a wonderful hobby. It's a great way to meet new people, make incredible items, and keep those hands busy when watching the telly. But there are definitely things I wish I'd known when I first started. Here's my list for everyone just starting out.

1) Frogging is not a sin. 

Yes, I know. That's hours of work! You just put so much effort into it! But trust me, it's better to frog than to end up with something that doesn't fit, doesn't suit, or has a glaring error that you can't overlook. Not only that, but frogging helps you understand your technique: you learn how to pick up stitches that you've frogged back to, and requires you to learn the skill you messed up the first time. Frog away!

2) Learn to read patterns.

Lesser Ury [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Yeah, I know, it looks like an indecipherable code at first, but after letting myself relax enough to look up unknown abbreviations, I loved being able to do so much more with my knitting than scarves or squares. Even though video tutorials now can walk you through projects, there is such a wealth of tradition, knowledge, and skill in patterns. They're worth it. (Hint: Ravelry.com is a great place to find new ones.) Speaking of patterns...

3) Try the pattern you're putting off. 

By Miia Ranta from Finland (Jääkukka for Teija  Uploaded by Fæ) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Come on! What's the worst that's going to happen? You have to frog? In that case, refer to number 1 on this list. 

Trying hard, scary patterns has been an incredible learning tool, as they often incorporate new techniques and stitches. But in the age of youtube tutorials and plenty of how-to websites, I'm never far away from a knowledgeable teacher. Just cast on!

4) Buy a crochet hook.

"But I'm a knitter!" you cry. Fair enough. But plenty of patterns have crochet cast-offs or ways to cast on, and having a hook around to grab and catch a stray stitch when it's too small for fingers is always helpful. Not to mention the next item on my list, which is...

5) Learn how to pick up a dropped stitch.

By Elkágyé (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Dropped stitches. The beginning knitter's worst nightmare. Let's face it, we've all started our first project, dropped a stitch, and not known what to do, so we just kept going. Or we had to frog back days later, weeping over wasted time until we got down to the lost stitch. 

Using a crochet hook to hook the stitch up is such an incredibly freeing skill to know! No more do I panic when I let stitches off my needles. There are many other ways as well, for the hook-averse: Love-Knitting.com has a great list of five techniques. Find your favourite, learn it, and never fear the dropped stitch again!

6) Take it a stitch at a time. 

Even the most complex pattern eventually comes down to a stitch-by-stitch process. Take each one as it comes, and the piece eventually creates itself. 

If you're paying attention, you'll note that most of these come down to trying new things, taking a deep breath, and never being afraid to fix my mistakes. And you'd be right! New skills come at a price, which is normally making mistakes and facing the anxiety that comes with them. But in the end, it's worth what you learned from the experience.

Good luck to all the new knitters out there, and I wish you the best in your new hobby!