Knitting: Choosing a project

By: Ha Tien Nguyen

Book: Knitting for Dummies by Pam Allen, Shannon Okey, and Tracy Barr 

When first starting a project, first consider your own ability. If you are a beginner, opt for an easier and less complicated project. However, if you are confident in your skills and want a challenge, pick a harder project like making socks and such.

When first beginning a project, you will have to choose from a variety of yarns and needles. According to Knitting for Dummies, "yarns come in different weights or thicknesses. The thickness of a yarn determines how many stitches it takes to knit 1 inch" ( Allen, Okey, Barr, Bird 17). The weight or thickness of your yarn can determine the look and the amount of time it takes to knit your project. Therefore, choosing the correct type of yarn is important. 

If you are having trouble choosing your yarn, use this chart as a guide to help you decide upon the most suitable type of yarn for your project.

After choosing a type of yarn, you must also select needles. Needle sizes range from 0 to 15 and there are around three different types of needles; Straight needles, circular needles, and double-pointed needles. The needles that you choose will determine how many stitches you knit per inch. This will have an affect on the amount of time it takes for your project and the overall appearance. Knitting for Dummies suggests that you use your yarn labels for guidance when deciding upon your needle size because "yarn labels suggest appropriate needle sizes, but the best needle size for your project is dictated by your yarn, your gauge, and... how tightly you knit" (Allen, Okey, Barr, Bird 30). You may want to knit a sample with the suggested needle size before starting your project to decide whether the needle fits your expectations. After knitting a sample with the suggested needle sixe, you may feel that the fabric is more open than you want (needle too large) or too stiff (needle too small). In that case, try another needle size. You can experiment to your heart's content with different needle sixes until you produce a fabric you like.

There are certainly many options when it comes to picking the right needles or yarn. Fortunately, the process of picking the right needles an yarn can be reduced. Luckily for indecisive people like me, a specific project will often recommend a certain type of yarn and needle. When you pick out a pattern for a specific project, it will also include suggestions on which type of materials to use for the project.





For my project, I've chosen to make a Garter Ridge scarf. It's an easy project for beginners. For this project, you'll need...

Needle: US 5 circular needles

Yarn: White Lion-Brand worsted-weight yarn

Pattern: 

Cast on 60 stitches on to needle.
Row 1: knit all stiches
Row 2: Purl all stitches
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Purl
Repeat these four rows until piece measures as long as you desire it to be.
End on row 3.
Bind off and sew in loose threads.

Although it's very simple, I tend to mess up quite often. In addition, it's very time consuming since there are so many stitches in one row. However, I've enjoyed working on my project. It's very easy once you get the hang of it and I've gotten skilled enough to not have to look while I knit. I can't wait to finish it and see the outcome. It would be a great winter accessory. What is your favorite winter accessory?

Works Cited

Allen, Pam. Knitting for Dummies. John Wiley, 2014.

Knitting: Not Just Two Needles and a Ball of Yarn

Knitting: Not Just Two Needles and a Ball of Yarn

Ha Tien Nguyen
Knitting for DummiesPam Allen, Shannon Okey, Tracy L. Barr, and Marly Bird

Knitting has always been regarded as a grandma's hobby. However, many would disagree. Simply ask Cara Delevingne, Lorde, Kate Middleton, and Amanda Seyfried. Knitting is more than just two needles and a ball of yarn. The past-time is calm, relaxing, and centering. In this fast-moving world in which we live, we often forget to take the time to do something that requires us to slow down and refresh ourselves. The repetitive rhythmic movements has shown to help  manage stress, pain and depression. Not to mention, there's a certain thrill and sense of accomplishment that comes with holding up something you've just made with your own two hands. In Knitting for Dummies, the book educates and nurtures knitters in their process of crafting a product worthy of pride and satisfaction.

In chapter 4 of Kitting for Dummies, the book enlightens the reader with a step-by-step instruction of knitting techniques. The very first step of any knitting project is, "creating the first row of stitches... call casting on" (Allen, Shannon Okey, Barr, Bird 58). The casting on process is very important since these create the very first stitches for which every other stitches will be knitted upon. From there, "knitted and purled stitches are made by using a continuous strand of yarn and two needles to pull new loops through old loops" (Allen, Shannon Okey, Barr, Bird 64). Knit and purl stitches are two stitches upon which all other knitting techniques are based since they are undeniably the most simple and important stitches of any other stitches. Through the whole of the text, the authors provide encouraging advice such as, "Learning to knit can be a little stressful. Your fingers have to work in ways they're not accustomed to... When you feel yourself getting tense or frustrated, set your knitting aside and do something else for a while, or head to Chapter 21 for suggested exercises to unkink yourself" (Allen, Shannon Okey, Barr, Bird 57). In Knitting for Dummies, the authors cover every single detail of knitting and provide a very comprehensive manual for learning to knit.

There I was, a ball of yarn in one hand, two knitting needles in the other, and perhaps the most enormous headache of my life. Beginning off, I was quite confused. The hardest part of learning how to knit was learning it off a book. Being a visual learner myself, I had trouble interpreting the given directions into actions. However, by following many of the authors' advice and carefully examining the visual aid, I managed to master the techniques. Through it all, I found the encouragement in book to be very helpful to a struggling novice like me. I personally had a great time learning this new skill and found that my hard work paid off.

What was your predisposed opinion of knitting and what is your opinion of knitting now? Would you like to learn to knit? Why? What would you make if you knew how to knit?

Works Cited

Allen, Pam. Knitting for Dummies. John Wiley, 2014.