Crafty Belles

Knitting is a craft with a rich culture and history. What makes knitting unique as an art is the fact that just about anybody can learn how to knit! All you need to perfect this art form is dedication and practice.

Understanding The Process
The first step to any knitting project has to be the cast on. Start by making a slipknot on the needle, your first stitch. Continue to loop over the yarn and slipping the needle from under the stitch to create additional stitches. You can do this using a single needle or by using two needle, whichever you are comfortable with. Once the stitches are cast on to the needle, the next step would be to add another horizontal row of stitches to make the pattern grow. Create as many horizontal rows of stitches as you would need to finish your project. Once you are done with the stitches and have knitted enough rows, be sure to bind off the stitches to separate the fabric you have been knitting from the needle. You can experiment with stitches and combinations of stitches to create a new pattern for your fabric. If you are not that confident yet, then you can always look for free patterns in magazines and on websites for that perfect sweater, scarf, socks or bag!

Knitting Styles
Knitting styles are categorized based on the how you hold the yarn. If you hold the yarn in your right hand then you are knitting the continental style. On the other hand, (no puns intended!) if you hold the yarn in your left hand, you’re definitely knitting the English way. It is important for you to master both styles as in knitting you will always use both your hands. Hence, it will certainly do well for your speed and efficiency in knitting to master both the English and the Continental styles.

Be Creative!
Once you are comfortable with the two basic stitches: knit and purl, make sure you experiment with other forms and stitches. It is always fun to work with colorful yarns and to create new things. Make sure you use your creativity and experiment with patterns and colors and stitches to make knitting a joyful activity. You never know, these experiments might just earn you some green as well. If your pattern works out well, you can even sell it online to websites or even to individuals willing to purchase it.

Piece By Piece
You cannot knit a whole sweater in one go let me assure you. You will need to knit the pieces separately and then stitch them together to make a whole. Therefore, be careful about your measurements and individual pieces. It always helps to write things down, make a note of the different parts of your project and how you plan to eventually piece them together.