Great Knitting Projects For Beginners
So you're learning to knit! Terrific! You've probably found someone - maybe more than one - who is eager to teach you the basics and help you learn to love knitting like they do. Or maybe you're going it alone, learning the basics of knitting for beginners from an online tutorial, or from a book. Either way is fine, they both work. Regardless, you can only knit swatches for so long before you want to try a real project. Lucky for you, you only need to know a few basic things before you can make something using knitted stitches.
Before You Attempt A Project…
First, you should know the basics of knitting for beginners. If you've taken a "knitting for beginners" class of any time, you've already come a long way! You know that knitting takes two sticks, not just one hook like crocheting, or a needle like cross-stitch. You should know how to cast on - which is putting stitches onto one of the needle so they can be knitted.
You also need to know how to knit, and hopefully how to purl. Other basic skills that can be useful, depending on the project, are to increase and decrease stitches, often using a yarn over stitch. Once you know these and have practiced with them, you'll need to know how to cast off - which is getting the stitched off the needle and fastened securely. A good way to practice these skills are by making small swatches of knitting, or even by making a potholder, which is a small project.
What Projects Are Good?
There are many good projects for those with beginning knitting skills. These include any basic projects that don't have a lot of complex things like increases and decreases, or changing of colors. Learning about knitting, for beginners, can be terrific as long as the project is not too difficult. Consider making a scarf with basic knits and maybe purls as a first project.
You will get to cast on and cast off, with knitting and maybe purling in between, but there is no shaping involved. Also, the gauge doesn't matter on a scarf, so your needles can not be too big or too small, and your stitches don't need to be as carefully made the same size. A scarf is a perfect first project!
Another great project for someone with beginner knitting skills is an afghan. Though it will take much longer to make than a scarf, for someone with beginner knitting skills it is a way to get a lot of practice on those basic skills. Whether knitting in garter stitch or stockinette stitch, by the time the afghan is complete, the skills will be cemented into the beginning knitter's mind!
Maybe you don't want a scarf, or to take on the lengthy project that an afghan would be. The perfect project for some beginning knitters is a washcloth. Made from cotton, these are terrific to use at the kitchen sink or in the shower. The cotton is a wonderful fiber to work with, as it doesn't tend to split like some fibers.
Whatever level of knitting you are able to do, there is a project for you to increase your abilities, and maybe to learn more skills in the process! Don't hesitate to try something new.
