Knitting-Getting started

ok size of needles depends on the pattern, it will tell you you need for example 3mm needles.
have you knitted before? if not you need a very basic pattern and hopefully someone who can show you how. i have a booklet thats for new knitters which i could scan (i think)
its relatively easy once you get going but learning the abreviations and how to do the stitches is what takes the time.
personally i would say dont start with a baby blanket, you may well find a simple pattern but it will likely be tedious (my mil has been knitting for 25 years and went spare knitting a blanket for my dd)
i started with simple baby booties and simple baby cardigans, again i have patterns i can scan and email if you can say the sort of thing you want. (i only have 5 a4 folders full!)
hope some of that helps
sue

suzukibabe - Check out your local library, too. They have fantastic books on how to knit and simple starter pattern, many of which are baby things.
There has been such a revival of knitting lately, with the fantastic new generations of yarns. Your couldn't have started at a better time!

Don't forget to check out ebay for loads of patterns and often job lots of needles, which would help you begin your collection cheaply.
I love my knitting.

I'd agree with dorry, scarves are so easy to knit, you just cast on as many stitches as you want it to be wide, and then knit for as long as you want it to be long. Big needles give an open, lacy pattern and knit up really quickly, you can just walk into a shop and pick out whatever yarn you like the look of. simple. You might want to try knitting a square first (you can then unwind it so you don't waste wool). It's a good test of your technique, you should be able to knit ten rows without losing or gaining a stitch.

The library is a great resource for knitting books, I'd look out for stitch n b.i.t.c.h (it doesn't have the full stops there, but the full word gets edited out by MSE!) by debbie stoller, it's a great book, the one book that finally taught me how to cast on and to knit in purl. It teaches you how to interpret patterns, what the different yarns are and what you should use them for etc. Then at the back are some simple patterns for hats, scarves, blankets, bags and even a bikini!

I'm new to crochet and found loads of free pattern websites. There are plenty that have beginners guides and both diagrams and little quicktime clips of each stitch, so you can look up the ones needed for your pattern. These are for knitting too, tho I thought it'd be easier and quicker to start off with crochet - I'm on my 3rd ripple scarf in a week!

just google free knitting (or crochet) patterns - I've now got a whole bookmark folder of sites if you get stuck but really there are plenty! :j

Hope it helps :starmod: :starmod: :starmod:

I agree with all the above and 'stitch & b.i.t.c.h' is excellent. (ordered it from the library).

I, too, am going to start learning to crochet, purpleprincess. Always wanted to so i'm going to give it a bash this winter. It so fashionable to wear crocheted and handknitted things, too.

Getting itchy to get to my needles as I type. It gets so addictive and is so relaxing.