Tips for Understanding Knitting Instructions
While knitting is a fun and relaxing hobby overall, one of the most frustrating parts of the process may be trying to decipher the knitting instructions. This is especially challenging if you are a beginning knitter, and you are still trying to get all of the abbreviations and stitches straight. However, there are some tips in reading knitting instructions that will help you get off on the right foot when starting any new project.
What you won't Need to Worry About
When you are just getting started on some basic knitting projects, there are a few parts to the knitting instructions that you won't need to be concerned with. The first is the size, since most beginning projects, like scarves and purses, will come in a one size fits all pattern. The other component that most early knitters won't need to regard is the gauge. This measurement will tell you if your yarn and stitches are on track as far as size with the knitting instructions. Again, basic projects generally won't need to worry about gauge. At some point, both of these steps will become more significant, but in the early stages of your knitting endeavor, try to focus on the basics of the pattern.
What you Should Worry About
The skill level that is listed at the beginning of most knitting instructions can save you a lot of frustration during your project. Many patterns are simply too complicated for someone who is just trying to get the knit, purl sequence going, so wait on the knitting instructions labeled for intermediate and advanced knitters until you have a little more experience under your belt. There are plenty of fabulous projects for the beginning knitter that will give you a sassy wearable or a cute home accessory without having to pull your hair out over knitting instructions that you are simply not ready for.
It is also important to heed the type of yarn that is required in the knitting instructions. While you may not be able to find the specific brand or yarn recommended at your local yarn shop, you should be able to find one in a comparable weight and texture. Worsted weight is the most common type of knitting yarn, with chunky yarns coming in a bit thicker and sport and fingering weights measuring out much narrower, respectively. By choosing a yarn in a similar weight, you can rest assured that your finished project will look similar to the model in the knitting instructions.
Knitting is a fun and rewarding hobby that becomes easier the more projects that you complete. If you are a beginning crafter, one of the first steps will be to learn how to read your knitting instructions properly. Once you've got that skill down, the sky is the limit on what you will be able to create!
