By Jimmy Woodall

Beginners who are interested in knitting should follow basic knitting instructions like practicing with light weight knitting needles and using light weight yarn.

This will help you with your accuracy and evenness, which comes after practice. Knitting basically consists of interlocking series of loops, which gives the fabric elasticity.

As these stitches are the fundamentals of knitting it is necessary to master them. You can also try circular knitting by using three or more needles, but you can make circular knitting by using circular needles.

There are knit stitches and also purl stitches that form the basics of knitting. Alternate use of the knit and also the purl stitches helps you to form interesting designs on a fabric. The way knit stitch makes the loops is by forming it.

Also making loops that will interweave each other. It looks like V patterns when you look at it from the knitted side of the pattern. Then the purl stitch looks like a brick face.

Knitting techniques use a large variety of stitches which include Fair Isle, tuck stitch, slip stitch, Stockinette stitch, striped stock stitch, stock stitch etc. Depending on what you might choose.

During ancient times all young women had to become familiar with the art of knitting. But then due to the invention of knitting machines, it became more of a sort of recreational activity.

Knitting, means the method by which a thread or a yarn is weaved to prepare a cloth. Thread loops which hold together all the threads is known as stitches. These loops or stitches are pulled through each other. The two stitching needles hold the active loops until a new loop is put through them.

Although knitting by using machines belongs to the contemporary times, the art has its roots, in the ancient Egypt civilization. During an excavation in Egypt a beautifully knitted cotton sock was found, which dates to the later half of the first millennium AD.

The first Commercial application of knitting was done in Paris in the year 1527, when the first knitting trade guild was started.

Immediately after the invention of the knitting machine, hand knitting lost its importance. But recent study shows that at the turn of the 21st century, this art has regained its position and is the rage with the people inn the metro areas. To knit the woolen threads into cloth, two knitting needles are used.

These needles are available in a wide variety, ranging from bamboo needles, glass needles, circular knitting needles and so on. The type of the needles decides the distance between two stitches. Hence by using different types of needles knitters can create variations in their product.

As the needles vary in their size and types so does the type of yarn. The two basic types of yarn are the S-twisted yarn and the Z-twisted yarn. Though many knitters use yarns in not more than single color, variations can be created by using different colored yarns.

To increase the durability of the knitted product, a single thread of synthetic yarn combined with pure wool is used. This not only increases the durability, but produces a product that needs much lower maintenance than a pure woolen product.

Once the knitters are well acquainted with the different types of stitches like stockinette, purl, garter, and so on. He can add some decorations to his knitted product, to improve the wear and look of the fabric. Bobbles, sequins, beads, etc. compliment the beauty of a knitted object. Embroidery and applique work can also be done to give the object a professional touch.

If the embroidery on an object resembles knitting, then it is known as Swiss darning. Colored beans, leaves, flowers etc can be added to the final product to increase its beauty. These objects can be knitted into the garment using appliqus work.

Knitting enthusiasts can work magic using different types of stitches, textures, yarns and decorations, once they are well rehearsed with the basics.

Knitting is an art that requires imagination and creativity. After learning the basics, it is your enthusiasm and creativity that guides your way in the beautiful world of knitting.

Hence the beginners who are learning the art of knitting, should keep their scope for imagination wide, to be able to absorb the beautiful world outside.
Visit Jimmy Woodall at his Knitting website, at http://jwoodl.com/knitting RSS video and news feeds

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Article Source: Jimmy Woodall == Knitting – Many Say it is Very Easy – What is Your Opinion?

By Monica Silva

Just learned to knit? Gotten books from the library with nice patterns? Sometimes when you knit it, it doesn’t look like the picture from the book. You can do two things. Pay for a knitting class at a local yarn shop, which ranges from $80 for 4 sessions to more than $100. What if you don’t have the time to take the class just yet or if it’s outside of your budget? Here is your answer: Join a knitting group! The friendly knitters will gladly answer some of your knitting questions, and get the help you need. Is it worth your time? Are there knitters from my age group? Here are 5 reasons to join a knitting group:

1) To understand a written knitting pattern in a book

Can’t figure out a written knitting pattern with abbreviations and no explanations? Do the symbols in the knitting chart look overwhelming? When a new knitter wants to make challenging knitting patterns, they’ll get a knit stitch dictionary book. They can’t wait to knit patterns like the ones in the pictures.

Sometimes the drawings and explanations of terms like “pass slipped stitch over” are not too clear. Don’t be frustrated! Bring the written knitting pattern with you to the knitting group, and kindly ask a member to help you figure out what you are doing wrong. For example, you want to try a “vine” pattern and want to know if others run into the same problems you have. They might know some tips to make the “vine” pattern stay flat or modify it, so it looks like you want it to look.

2) To make new knitting friends.

Let’s say you’re a new knitter. You’re so happy when you knit but you haven’t met anyone else that knits. You want to tell someone what your next knitting project is, or want to know if anyone else tried a yarn brand you like. What can you do? Join a knitting group. Talk about yarn and needles with other knitters in the group! You can also learn new techniques for your next project, and make a knitting friend you can stay in touch with to knit, shop for yarn, or just talk “knitting.”

If you want to meet knitters your age, it’s time to get out there and meet knitters. Don’t be lazy by just looking for knitters your age online. Not every knitter your age spends much time online. Remember that when you meet a knitter in person at a t knitting group, they usually already have a group of knitting friends. They might know knitting friends who have things in common with you.

Think you will not find knitters your age in the knitting group? You won’t know, unless you start going to the meetings. There are plenty of knitting groups that meet weekly and have pictures on their blogs. So, there are no excuses for you not to find knitting friends of your age.

3) Get Motivated To Finish A Work In Progress (WIP)

Is your list of WIPs growing? Sometimes it helps to share your WIPs with another knitter so you get encouraged to finish a WIP. Others can help you understand why you’re putting off a WIP. For instance, you didn’t know that it was because the pattern is too simple, don’t really like the yarn, don’t like the colors you chose and want to try it with another color. These are things that a knitter might not want to admit to himself sometimes, but others can show it to you. It never hurts to get a second opinion on your WIP to improve it.

4) To Get New Ideas by Seeing Other Projects.

You’re finishing your WIPs (work in progress) but seem to go “blank” when it comes to new ideas. You go online and see pictures of knitted projects, see pictures in knitting magazines and don’t’ get inspired with a new idea yet. Start branching out and opening your mind to new types of projects.

See what other knitters in your group are knitting. Ask them how they got the ideas for their project. Are they knitting it for a friend? Ask them where they get ideas for a knitting project. For example, a member might be knitting a sock in the round with beautiful pink yarn. Just seeing the yarn being worked at can inspire you to try a new yarn color, or a lace pattern.

5) Write About it in Your Knitting Blog

Are you a knitter that writes a knitting blog? Are you familiar with the common problem of posting “knitting” related things only? What about if you haven’t knit much in 5 days and therefore can’t post any pictures. You can either tell you readers about non-knitting things or about what you liked about a knitting group meeting you went to.

Remember many knitters don’t belong to a knitting group. They are curious to know where the meeting took place, how many members attended, how old they were, and what they knit. For example, you can post pictures of you and the members knitting, and write about knitting techniques or tips you learned. After seeing your post about the knitting group meeting you went to, some readers might even want to join a knitting group. How about meeting your readers and letting them know when the next knitting group meeting is?

I hope these 5 reasons to join a knitting group will motivate you to make new knitting friends and finish your WIPs. Now, you have a knitting related topic to put on your blog when you don’t have any knitting news. You have no more excuses to join a knitting group.

Monica Silva motivates other young knitters in their 20s, like her, to knit thin scarves and skinny scarves with simple knitting patterns, such as horizontal stripes, diagonal stripes, vertical stripes, and a vertical drop stitch. Silva enjoys turning skinny scarves into belts and also wearing them like a headband. Visit her blog at http://1knitscarf.com to get knit scarf ideas and patterns.

Article Source: Monica Silva == 5 Reasons To Join A Knitting Group