Knitting Needles etc.

I am new to knitting and recently bought two different kits for knitting socks. However they both use language that i dont understand and i just cant work out what i am supposed to do. The end result is entertaining though!!!.
Can anyone recommend a simple step by step idiots guide for knitting socks for a beginner?
Many thanks

Check the local JoAnn’s for a book called I Can’t Believe I’m Knitting Socks
The book shows each part of a basic sock in a different color so you can easily understand WHAT they are talking about when they call for the Heel Flap, the Heel, the Gusset, etc.
It also calls for size 4 needles and a worsted weight yarn (Paton’s Classic Wool) which is much easier than starting out with a size 2 needle and very thin sock yarn.

I know how to knit the "Magic Loop" and I hate it. I learned so that I could answer questions at work. HOWEVER, when I knit socks I use a 12 inch circular Addi Turbo for the leg and foot. I use only 2 of the 4 needles in a set of double pointed needles for the Heel Flap and Heel. I use the 4 double pointed needles for the last few rows of the toe only. I HIGHLY recommend bamboo needles for beginners if you are going to use just the double pointed needles because double pointed metal needles are quite slipperly and it is too easy to drop stitches.

Though it is possible to pick up stitches with a knitting needle it is much easier to use a crochet hook (size B for sock yarn; size F for worsted weight yarn).

There are two videos on the internet which explain kitchener stitch. Look for the one in brown and beige rather than the one using only blue yarn.

Is there a full range? Try this link, it may help.

there is a knitting kit that can be sold in shops for 99p…that is i THINK it is a knitting kit, its kind of like one and it a series(first series at the moment i think)…anyway, the question is what is it called? what brand and all that

Are you thinking of the Art of Crochet? http://www.theartofcrochet.co.uk/. Only the first issue is 99p.

There was a knitting series by the same publisher but that’s finished now.

Here they are
http://www.chroniclebooks.com/index/main,book-info/store,books/products_id,5212/title,The-Knit-It-Kit-for-Kids/

http://www.weekendkits.com/gigi-kids-knitting-kit.html

It’s really difficult to say which one is better. They are very similar, but with some differences. I have not used either of these, so my opinions are based on kits in general, and what I can see about these.

You will notice that they all come with instructions, needles, yarn, and patterns. But one has bamboo straight needles, and the other has circular. I tend to prefer the circular anyway, and knitting is the same on either one. But it may confuse, or frighten, experienced knitters. Beginners don’t know the difference.

One has a sewing needle — not necessary, but nice to have. The prices vary.

The really important thing in this whole equation of which is better is the interest of the learner. If they want to learn, they will. If not, no kind of "best" kit will help.

I still feel that a live loving and caring person teaching a youngster is the best way to learn. You get personal attention (children need that) from an understanding adult that gives encouragement, even when they make mistakes. The children need some guidance, some goals to strive for, but mostly they need the sharing that comes from someone giving of themselves to them personally. We lack so much of that in this automated impersonal world. Those old-fashioned values are still important.

If you want to get a kit for your child (grand-child), any kit will do. Even a pair of your old needles, some of your "good" yarn, and your own personal guided instructions. Cast on for them, show them how to knit, and let them go at it! As time goes on, they will ask for other steps.. and you show them. Remember: someone had to teach you once long ago! Have patience.

i’m going gift shopping tomorrow and I need some gift ideas for these people:

parents…what would they like?? (please don’t say macaroni picture frame)

older brother-he’s 14

grandma-i have no clue what to get her….knitting kit maybe? lol

parents….develop some of those digital family pictures they’ve had on the computer forever and put in a photo album

brother….a cool t-shirt

grandma….would probably love slippers

Hey

im knew to knitting and ive just brought a popcorn kit i have knitted before but never followed a pattern… when i say knit i mean i can cast on, knit a garter stitch and cast off! very simple scarf! lol

my pattern says..

first piece
cast on 8sts
k2 rows
3rd row inc 1st at beg (9)
4th row inc 1st at beg (10)
k2 rows
break yarn leave sts on lh ndl

what am i doing? what i dont understand is what does k2 rows mean? what do i do on the 2nd row? i think if i understand this i will easily get on with the patten but am unsure, help is needed thank you xx

OK, you know how to cast on 8 stitches,
First row: Knit across the 8 sts
2nd row: Knit across the 8 sts
3rd row: increase 1 stitch at the beginning, then knit across, giving you 9 stitches
4th row: increase one stitch at the beginning, then knit across. Now there are 10 stitches.
5th and 6th rows: Knit across the 10 stitches
Then break off the yarn leaving a short tail of yarn
I hope this helps.

I bought the George the Giraffe knitting kit at Big W and it came with the two balls of wool and the wool in the plastic bag, but no instructions or pattern can anyone post them or give me a link to where I can find them.

Since there are supposed to be a pattern in the kit, you have a problem. Take it back to the store and exchange it for one that does have the instruction sheet in it. Be sure to have them check the kits to see if others don’t have the pattern either as it looks like someone who put them together was pretty lazy about doing inspections before they were sent out.
The other answer just gives links to learn to knit sites, not how to get the instructions or the pattern themselves that should have been in the kit.

Hi, it’s my friend’s birthday (today) and I want to get her a knitting kit type thing. My budget is 20-25$, so nothing too expensive, please.
I want a teen friendly book or kit or something
Any help is greatly appreciated!

I’d suggest a do-it-yourself kit. They’re usually better. Go to a crafts supplies store that handles yarn and knitting stuff. Get a good knitting book. If your friend learns best by listening, get one with detailed descriptions. If she learns better by watching, get one with good pictures.

Look at the first project and find the supplies list, or ask a clerk to help you with this. Get needles that size and yarn to go with them. Stick to something plain for a first project. Some fuzzy and fun yarns can’t be undone if a mistake is made. Beginners make mistakes. It’s most helpful, too, to have yarn in a medium or lighter color when first learning. Pick a color your friend likes, but in a medium or lighter shade. (Knitting on black or navy or dark purple makes it really hard to see your stitches. That’s what a beginner needs to do, of course: see what she’s done.)

Anyway, get these and put them into a pretty gift bag.

they have to be real english words, not proper nouns. 10 pts to the person with the most. They CANNOT include these words i personally figured out:

gag. gang, gas, gin, giving, hang, hat, hit, kin, kit, knit, nag, sang, sink, tag, tan, tank, thank, thing, thin, think, van

(and you can’t just add a "s" or "ing" to the end of MY words make a new word, or combine them to make compound words)

thanks
thank
thanking
tank
tanks
tanking
than
tan
tans
tang
thing
things
this
tag
tags
think
thinks
thinking
task
tisk
tasking
tin
tins
ting
tings
Han
Hans
Hank
Hanks
hat
hats
hag
hags
hang
hangs
hanging
ha
has
having
hit
hits
his
hi
at
ait
Ag
ask
asking
akin
ash
ashing
aghast
ant
ants
Avis
nag
Nat
nit
nits
Nan
Kat
kin
king
kings
Khan
knit
knits
sat
sit
San
sag
shag
shank
shaking
shant
Shiva
shiv
sank
sink
sinking
sin
shin
skin
san
Stan
sating
stinging
stink
stank
stag
staging
staving
staking
shaking
sang
sing
singing
skating
stin
gait
gaits
glans
gas
gash
gist
gin
gang
gangs
gain
gains
gait
gaits
gating
giant
giants
gag
gags
gig
gigs
Gigi
GI
gnat
gnats
giving
it
its
in
ins
Inga
Inga’s
Ian
Ian’s
IV
ink
inks
inking
vat
vats
via
van
vans
vain
Viga
vining
vast
visa
vista
Vin

I love to knit. Do it every day. I can do hats, scarves, mittens, cat toys, and slippers. I want to move on to socks and sweaters, but I have a very hard time reading knitting directions. I have slight dyslexia and they are so confusing to me.

I have a kit called the knit knack kit which is amazing for anyone like me. It comes with a little book with all the stitches and everything so in case I forgot how to do something or what it is, I always carry it with me. They have a bunch of projects on easily portable cards and it spells out everything for you.
i.e.
Row 1: Knit it stockinette stitch
Row 2: Incease first stitch by knitting through the front and back of the stitch, and knit the rest of the row.
Rows 3-6 Knit in stockinette stitch
and so on and so on.

Any tips or tricks on how I can either read patterns better or maybe a website that has simpler patterns?

hi there!

I am a knitting teacher, and when I am teaching my students who have similar challenges, I encourage them to highlight their patterns in a certain way.

for example, all the knit stitches, highlight in pink
all the purl stitches highlight in yellow
all the increasing stitches highlight in blue
all the decreasing stitches highlight in green

and so on
that way when it comes to reading your pattern, your eyes see the colour first, and then the number following the colour is the amount of times you need to do that particular instruction.

We find that helps a lot, especially if you are using a chart. It makes for much easier and quicker understanding, once you have determined which colours will always be allocated to each particular stitch.

for all your yarn craft questions, there is a free online Crafting Clinic - use the link below

Tracey