| Life is good. We need to always remember | | | | difficult to work with, so they will require |
| that. Do something worthwhile. Learn to | | | | greater strength from you as you progress, |
| knit. | | | | but that is normal to that particular yarn. |
| | | | |
| Of course, when learning to knit, one of the | | | | Nothing should be so tight as to be |
| first things you need to figure out is how to | | | | impossible to work off the needle. If that |
| hold the needles. | | | | happens, just go back and try again. And |
| | | | again. And, maybe, even again. |
| Knitters, no matter where they live, all knit | | | | |
| in the same fashion. The only difference is | | | | As you progress, remember to control your |
| how you hold the yarn, and in what hand. | | | | yarn and stitches with your right index |
| | | | finger. Or you may use several fingers for |
| There are two basic ways in which to knit. | | | | control. This is relevant to keeping all |
| One is the English (or American) way, and the | | | | stitches on the needle. Especially as you |
| other is the Continental way. | | | | learn to include stitches beyond "knit and |
| | | | purl", such as "yo" or "k2tog" or increasing. |
| To begin knitting in the English method, hold | | | | You don't want to start dropping stitches or |
| the right needle as you would a pencil. The | | | | losing them from row to row. |
| left needle gets held between your left thumb | | | | |
| and index finger so as to control the | | | | You know the deal; you cast on 43 stitches |
| stitches. | | | | and by the sixth row you have maybe 39, so |
| | | | where did the other four stitches go? |
| Some knitters like to knit close to the tip | | | | |
| of the needle, while others prefer the safety | | | | Remember, there is no one method that is 100% |
| of keeping the stitches further back on the | | | | correct; if something works for you, then |
| needles. Either way is fine. | | | | stick with that. |
| | | | |
| In fact, some projects are easier to work | | | | Be mindful when making stitches; keep a |
| close to the tip than others. You will find | | | | steady hand on your needles, but don't grip |
| this out with the more patterns you knit. | | | | them so tightly that you can't knit a stitch. |
| | | | |
| Your preference, your control, is what works | | | | Relax! It's only yarn. |
| for you! That's the beauty of knitting; | | | | |
| finding your own way. A little bit like | | | | Knitting should become confortable to you, |
| life. | | | | and in the beginning, it won't feel that way. |
| | | | That's normal, too. Only with lots of |
| Keep in mind the word "loose" at all times, | | | | practice will you begin to form your own |
| when casting on. It really does help. And | | | | unique approach to knitting! |
| you do want that foundation row to be pliable | | | | |
| enough to work with. | | | | When you attain that, knitting will be so |
| | | | easy to do, and ideas will pop into your head |
| When you start to knit, hold the needles | | | | all the time, ideas that you can transfer to |
| lightly, and don't let the stitches become | | | | your knitting needles for creations like no |
| too cramped or tight. If you are new to | | | | other! |
| knitting, this will probably happen. Just | | | | |
| unravel, and start again. | | | | For you will have found a gift, a gift which |
| | | | you can bring to the world! You see, in the |
| Knitting should flow easily. Oh yes, there | | | | yarn we knit is the invisible thread which |
| are those chunky, bulky yarns that are | | | | weaves us all... one to another. |