Knitting is a relaxing and fun kind of hobby. What was once associated with older adults has now found its way to a younger segment. We have men and women in their early 20s and 30s taking up knitting either as a way to pass the time or to help them relax.
You may have a similar reason for wanting to get started in knitting. Whatever those reasons are, you'll need a good knitting kit to enjoy it fully. So we're giving you tips on what to include in your knitting kit and nuggets of wisdom to help you get started.
Everyone starting their knitting should put together a set of items to ease them into learning the hobby. A beginner knitting kit adults use must have the following items. Getting them will help you improve your knitting skills and enable you to finish excellent-quality projects in the long term.
A set of needles is an essential tool for knitting. They come in different needle diameters from 5 mm to 9 mm and are made of either bamboo or metal. So be sure to buy a set of at least two.
Yarns also vary. Besides colors, knitting yarn threads also have different textures and weights. In addition, yarns have different types, such as fingering, worsted, bulky, and baby. You may choose different yarn colors and consult a yarn chart, or the store attendant can help you out with what you need.
Unlike sewing threads, yarns are too thick and they are impossible to cut using your hands. You'll need a decent knitting scissor to cleanly cut part of the yarn once you're done with it. Scissors can also snip out tangled ends of your work to make it look appealing. Get a small, stainless scissor at a yarn or sewing shop.
A knitting kit for beginner adults will not be complete without a kit bag. You have to have something that holds all your knitting items together so you can carry them anywhere and store them neatly in one place. A kit bag will help you do that. Choose a zipper bag with a decent size that can at least fit your needles, the current yarn you're using, and your work-in-progress.
This tool is very helpful for both the beginner and the experienced knitter. For example, sometimes you lose track of what row you're working on and can't get to where you last finished. Row counters are tools that give you a number to help you locate the row you need to pick up.
If you're working on a project with a set pattern and material, say a beanie, you'll need to be accurate with your stitches and rows. Many factors can affect your projects, such as needle size, yarn weight, and stitch height and width. All these will affect the garment's size. This is where a knitting gauge will help. It will let you get the right measurements for the right fit.
Markers are helpful tools for beginning knitters. They can be made of plastic or metal and are used to mark a row or the end of a stitch that may not be obvious to the eyes.
Knitting projects with yarn loops hanging on the needle's length can be delicate. Loops might slip off the needle and derail your progress. That's what point protectors are for. They prevent yarns from sliding out as you do your knitting. But, of course, it also protects the knitting needle's tip.
Knitting is similar to sewing or embroidery. You'll need a few good tips to help you get started in the right direction. So here's what you must know before looping yarn on your knitting needle.
Part of learning something is knowing the terminologies used. For example, if you've ever tried operating a sewing machine, you'll know how it's similar. You need to know some parts of the machine and how it works before operating it.
Knitting is the same. To know how to operate the needle and the yarn well, you must study the terms and abbreviations. Words such as KSP, K2tog, Approx, and Alt reads like machine terms at first, but these are essential abbreviations that will help you excel in knitting.
It's impractical to buy the premium yarns during your first few knitting sessions. We know yarns are such eye candies and appeal to the sense of touch, but rein yourself in and stick to the cheap ones. It's a practical choice because you'll make mistakes, and you want to pay less but learn more from the experience.
Buy a yarn skein with 100% acrylic on its label. That's a cheap yarn but it will still look good. Avoid chunky yarns that weigh heavy because these are expensive. Stick to the basics.
Your knitting needle should also be basic. No double-pointed needles for now. Save that for advanced stuff. We recommend a single-pointed needle made of bamboo if you're sticking to a single needle diameter.
For size, a US 8 (5mm) is ideal. On the other hand, if you're adventurous, you may want to purchase a set to practice different needle thicknesses until you find the right one for you.
Before you set out to knit, learn the basic styles first and find your comfort zone. There are two basic knitting styles: English and Continental. English is a technique wherein you loop or wrap the yarn on the needle. The Continental style is when you use the needle to scoop the yarn.
Targeting a sweater project on the first try is ambitious and may take time to finish, given a beginner's skill. It will only cause frustration. So try a simple project at first. Something that is easy to do and gives you fulfillment—try a swatch first.
As a budding knitter, a kit is a pouch of joy. There's just something about having everything you need in a bag, ready to be opened like a gift whenever you want to. In a way, kits have a way of inspiring a beginner to start and to keep them going. Because it gives them all the things they need, all they have to do is knit to their heart's content. Whatever your reasons are for knitting, you'll be delighted to learn more about it. So go ahead and check out our blogs. We've got reviews and buying guides for knitting products to help you assemble your perfect knitting kit. See them all now.
