Please help - novice knitter/sewer

red

Hi all!
I was wondering if anyone could help- bascially i am trying to learn how to knit so would love advice and help and ideas on where to get cheap supplies. Also, as I think it will probably take quite some time to perfect the art of knitting, i am trying my hand at sewing a few things also..so for that i need some supplies - cheap offcuts and ideally a sewing machine...i was thinking of getting the sewing machine from jml as it is small and cheap but is it better to go for something else? any pointers gratefully received!!!

RebekahR

Go and scout the charity shops! You can often get balls of wall in a bag for like 50p or something. Odd cast offs are brill for just practicing on. Do you have a book to follow or are you learning how to knit by using online resources? There was a magazine set that came out a year ago for beginners in a binder. It included an instructional dvd aswell.
Just done a quick search online for you for videos: http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-knit-the-knit-stitch

Ianna

Hi hun. There's loads of helpful websites and easy patterns and advice in this thread plus all your practice bits can go to charity rather than be wasted. A really easy thing to start with is this hat pattern which will help you get the hang of casting on, sewing things together and knit and purl stitch in a small and manageable knitted item. I found these tricky when I started them but can knock them off dead easy now, they're great practice.

I also find http://www.knittinghelp.com/ really easy to use and understand. The videos are great.

Hope this helps!

Samphire

Hey Red, not sure how much the JML sewing machine is, but I've just picked one up in my local Tescos half price at £25. I know almost nothing about sewing machines (having failed to pay any attention when we used them in school), but my Mum who is a keen sewer said she thought it was good value for £50 let alone £25. I don't know if all stores wil have them in, but it might be worth checking. In my store (medium sized) they were with the clearance stuff, haven't seen them in store at full price before though...

Gigervamp

Try your local freecycle group for spare balls of wool, scraps of fabric and a sewing machine!

metrochick15

A good place to look is Wilkinsons, They have large balls of DK for 99p. Also at the minute they have all sorts of fancy wool on BOGOF also for 99p. If you are just beginning I find fluffy wool with loops is a bit trickier to knit.