Knitting 101 for Adults

I just learned to knit and these are the things I used to get me started. But feel free to google youTube videos for these basic elements to learn. I looked at a few to get a feel for different ways to do the same stitches, since there are different styles of knitting (European, continental, etc.). Once I found what felt comfortable for me then I could knit something bigger and more complicated. But stick with these small things first until you get them down.

Make sure you have a simple set of two needles. A short size nine set is fine. I like wooden needles.

The process: see the helpful video for this process and the knit stitch (doesn't show purl)

1. Slip Knot
2. Cast On (there are many ways to do this, so don't be thrown off by different methods)
3. Knitting Stitches: 2 basic stitches are KNIT and PURL
4. Cast Off (finish stitches--take off the needle)

For help learning purl stitch, watch a youtube video [those from CyberSeams (very visual, but not too descriptive to burden you down), or the New Stitch a Day Video (his are very informative and detail oriented) are good]

Patterns of Knit and Purl
Once you know the basic knit stitch and the purl stitch (which is like a reverse knit stitch, with the string in front), then you just put them together in varying patterns. The basic 2 solid patterns are
Garter (knit stitches every row)
Stokinette (alternating rows of all knit stitches, then all purl stitches, etc.)

A great first project is a basic scarf
You can just continue knit stitch all the way, or you can alternate knit one row and purl the other (I prefer the look of this). Make it as long as you want.

Then try a Wash Cloth
Learn to increase and decrease (add or take away stitches to vary the shape (make triangles or a little butterfly, etc.)

Then try a simple slipper... (one with only two needles, nothing fancy. some need four needles)
Learn to vary the knit and purl stitches to make a pattern, including how to make ribbed.And have fun embelishling with MaryJane strap and button or crocheted flower.
Here is a good pattern that is similar to what I use...
http://bevscountrycottage.com/maggieslippers.html

Next step: Cable

Top Classics List for Children and Families

Here is a list of classics for young children/family reading. (from www.TJed.com)

• Aesop’s Fables
• Andersen’s Fairy Tales
• Beauty and the Beast
• The Besty-Tacy Series
• The Bible (click here for suggested passages for young children)
• The Blind Men and the Elephant
• “Casey at the Bat”
• Charlotte’s Web
• Chicken Little
• A Christmas Carol (can be scary–use discretion or paraphrase as needed)
• Cinderella
• Dinotopia Series
• Dr. Seuss books
• The Emperor’s New Clothes
• The Story Of The Other Wise Man
• The Gift of the Magi
• The Giving Tree
• “God Save the Flag”
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears
• The Goose that Laid Golden Eggs
• Grimm’s Fairy Tales
• “The Highwayman”
• Hansel and Gretel
• Jack and the Beanstalk
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
• “Lincoln, The Man of the People”
• Little Boy Blue
• The Little Engine That Could
• The Little House Series
• The Little Red Hen
• Little Red Riding Hood
• McGuffey’s Readers
• Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes
• “Paul Revere’s Ride
• Perloo The Bold
• Peter Pan
• Peter Rabbit
• The Pied Piper of Hamelin
• Pinocchio
• Pollyanna
• The Princess and the Pea
• Puss in Boots
• Rapunzel
• Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
• Rip Van Winkle
• Robin Hood
• Rumpelstiltskin
• Rudyard Kiplng’s Just So Stories
• Sleeping Beauty
• The Song of Hiawatha
• Snow White
• Tales from the Arabian Nights
• The Three Billy Goats Gruff
• The Three Little Pigs
• The Ugly Duckling
• Tom Thumb
• ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
• The Wind in the Willows
• Winnie-the-Pooh
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz