Category Archives: beginner

BEGINNER PROJECT Toboggan Hat

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Toboggan

There are a lot of new knitters picking up sticks for the first time, so I thought a nice little pattern to get you beyond scarves might serve you well. If you’re already an experience knitter you might want to keep this project in mind for people you end up teaching down the line!

Toboggan is a basic hat knit flat and seamed up the back. It only uses the knit stitch, which I think makes it great for kids as well as adults.

Size

  • Kids L / Adult XS (Adult S/M, Adult L/XL)
  • Circumference (unstretched): 17½ (20½, 23¼)“

Yarn Options

You’ll only need about 100g of yarn for this project, so one ball of any of the following yarns will work:

Needles

Beginners generally do best with straight needles (circular needles tend to get confusing early on). Because you are going to be putting on a bunch of stitches a longer 13″ or 14″ needle is a good idea. (9″/10″ straight needles are my favourite to start people off with, especially for scarves, but for a hat you’re really going to have to jam the stitch on there and it gets uncomfortable).

If you knit tight go up a size to a 6.5mm/US10.5 and if you knit loose consider going down a size to a 5.5mm/US9 needle. (I prefer to knit my hats a little bit tighter on purpose to block out the wind, so I go down).

In general, beginners seem to learn fastest with wood needles: they’re light, easy to use, and they aren’t too slippery (slippery is NOT good for beginners).

Notions

Either will do, they’re basically the same thing, except one is straight and the other has a bent tip.

Accessories

What’s a craft hobby without accessories?! But seriously, a good Pom-Pom *makes* a hat. You can either make your own pompom or buy a real or synthetic fur pompom. Personally, i swear by the Clover brand pom-pom makers (I’ve made A LOT of pom-poms with them). These days, I’m partial to a raccoon fur pom-pom – they’re light and fluffy and the way they bob around makes me happy.

Pattern

I came across Toboggan a few years ago, it was a freebie from Classic Elite Yarns, which unfortunately no longer exists. I’ve found a link for you through the Internet Archive, but be sure to download it and save it in your preferred cloud drive (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, etc) – don’t take your patterns for granted, sometimes the internet lingers and other times things disappear.

The pattern is written in two ways; knitted in the round and knitted flat. Be sure to use the version that suits your skillset. Working in the round will require 16″ circular needles and double pointed needles, but you won’t need to seam it. Working flat uses one pair of straight needles, and it has to be seamed to finish it up.

DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN HERE

Skills & Resources

There are lots of good resources on the web for knitters, it’s really an embarrassment of riches. A few reliable favourites are KnittingHelp.com, VeryPink.com, and Interweave has a great Knitting Glossary. If you want to take a great online class check out Craftsy.

PROJECTS Over Easy, Kelowna & Kinikin

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In my last post I talked about tension, why it’s important and how to do it properly. In this one I’m sharing two projects that inspired me to swatch. In that post I mentioned that it’s a great idea to upload your swatch data to your Ravelry account for posterity, which is already proving handy today as I’m writing from home, without my swatch at hand! All the patterns today are beginner friendly, accessible and affordable.

Photo: Espace Tricot

Over Easy

This is the pattern that got me swatching, Over Easy. I thought it would make a great, quick ‘n easy fall knit, especially for the less experienced knitters. It’s knit in the round from the bottom up, the upper front and back are each worked flat, the shoulders are seamed, and then the sleeves are picked up and knit from the top-down. It’s worked up on BIG needles, and the yarn is fuzzy and hides a multitude of sins.

The yarn I was testing out is Drops Melody, a super soft, light and fluffy blend of alpaca and wool. What I really love about this yarn is that it looks like a bulky mohair, but it feels like a baby’s bum! Seriously, every time I touch a ball I’m shocked that it doesn’t have new-baby smell. The reason I was testing it was because I recognized that it would look great worked holding multiple strands together, but I didn’t precisely know how it would respond on different sized needles, or the difference between holding two or three strands together. It turns out my first instinct was right, I think this pattern would work best with12mm/US17 needles and holding two strands together. If you find you knit tightly on larger needles (some people do, but I don’t) then you’ll want to go up to a 15mm/US19 needle.

Photos: Espace Tricot

Size

  • Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4)
  • Body circumference: 64 (69, 76, 76)”
  • Sleeve length: 8.5 (8.5, 7.5, 7.5)”
  • Length from shoulder to bottom: 18 (18, 21, 23)”

Use the following as a general guide for sizing based on bust measurement:

  • Size 1: if you have a 28″- 34″ bust
  • Size 2: if you have a 36″- 44″ bust
  • Size 3: if you have a 46 – 52″ bust
  • Size 4: if you have a 52″ + bust

Materials

  • Drops Melody (holding 2 strands together): 5(6, 7, 8) balls
  • 12mm/US17 – 32″ circular needles (15mm/US19 if you knit tight)
  • 12mm/US17 – 16″ circular needles OR double pointed needles (15mm/US19 if you knit tight)
  • Stitch marker to indicate beginning of round
  • Tapestry needle to weave in ends
  • FREE Pattern
Photo: Tara-Lynn Morrison

Kelowna

This is the other sweater that got me swatching, Kelowna. This one is knit in the round from the top-down, and is approachable to everyone- at any knitting level. For this sweaterI’d use two strands held together and whatever size needle gets you gauge (my swatch was closest with a 9mm/US13, but you might want go bigger … it’ll be a great opportunity to practice checking your tension!

This might be my next COVID sweater (I haven’t been especially prolific), but I’m not sure which colour …maybe the petrol green?

Materials

  • Drops Melody (holding 2 strands together): 6 balls
  • Check the pattern for exact needle size and lengths (they suggest 8mm/US11, 9mm/US13, and 12mm/US17)
  • Stitch markers (4)
  • Tapestry needle to weave in ends
  • Pattern

If fuzzy isn’t your thing but you like the bones of this sweater check out Frid by Tara-Lynn Morrison – You can use Malabrigo Rasta or Cascade Spuntaneous. If those options are a little too spendy for you right now, try Drops Andes and go down to a 9mm/US13 needle and go up to the larger size).

Photos: Tara-Lynn Morrison
Photo: Tara-Lynn Morrison

Kinikin

Kinikin is a cardiganzied version of the sweater above with a looser tension. Based on my tension swatches I’d use 12mm/US17 needles instead of 15mm/US19 and hold two strands of Drops Melody together.

Materials

  • Drops Melody (holding 2 strands together): 6 balls
  • Check the pattern for exact needle size and lengths (they suggest 8mm/US11, 10mm/US15, and 15mm/US19)
  • Stitch markers (4)
  • Tapestry needle to weave in ends
  • Pattern

PROJECT Beginner Friendly Four Score Pullover

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Four Score

One of the cool things that have come out of COVID is that there are a lot of new and inexperienced knitters out there, so I’ve been on the lookout for patterns and projects that you guys can do at home without the support of an in-person class. I think Four Score is a great sweater project for newbies or just people whose skill threshold isn’t advanced, but they want to try and do something more.

The sweater is worked flat in four pieces, on two straight needles (or circular if you prefer) and sewn up later using mattress stitch. The back and front are the same. A generous 4×4 rib pattern makes this a stretchy, flattering sweater with a bit of cling. It is designed to be worn with 3-6” of ease.

The yarn, Drops Air, is also super accessible. It’s super soft, light as air (hence the name), fluffy (which can be both cozy *and* forgiving), and affordable. I think this project is one you’ll love making as well as snuggling into. It’s a good thing many people are working from home, because when people see your new sweater they are going to ask you to make them one!

Size

Finished Bust: 34(37.5, 41, 45, 49, 52.75) inches or 85(94, 102.5, 112.5, 122.5, 132)cm

Materials

  • Drops Air: 6(6, 7, 8, 9, 10) skeins
  • 4.5mm/US7 needles (13″ straight or 29″or longer circular)
  • Stitch markers
  • Tapestry needle
  • Pattern
https://knitomatic.com/collections/yarn/products/drops-air

Skills & Techniques

The skills and techniques used in this project are not complicated! The most advanced skill is seaming. Don’t let seaming scare you, it isn’t complicated, you just have to do it to practice it. The yarn that this project is made with is a great canvas to learn on – you don’t have to be perfect, the fuzzy aura will obscure so many sins.

  • cast on
  • knit
  • purl
  • ssk (slip, slip, knit – an easy type of decrease)
  • knit 2 together (a very easy type of decrease)
  • purl 2 together (a very easy type of decrease)
  • bind off in rib (knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches)
  • seaming with mattress stitch

Online Support

If you’re looking for help on the interweb I always recommend the following two resources to new knitters:

  • Knittinghelp.com: All the basics with great videos and photos!
  • Very Pink Knits: I usually just google whatever I’m searching for (ex. “knit 2 together”) and “very pink knits” and the right video pops up!

Free Kids Course from Rowan

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Free Online Kids Knitting Course from Rowan

I think a free online knitting course for kids is an AWESOME thing! The internet is teeming with people who want to teach you how to knit for free, but the content is directed towards adults, and anyone who has a kid in their life knows that kids do not learn the same way as adults. Kids also organize and process information in different ways, so the way you approach a pattern needs to be different too.

Rowan’s free mini course teaches kids how to do a few main skill (cast on, knit, and cast off) and some minor skills (simple seaming, sewing buttons & beads & etc, alternating colours, weaving in ends). I also love that the course includes four small projects kids would actually want to make: a puppet, a rosette, a snake and a cowl. The first three projects are very small, which is great because kids have much shorter attention spans than adults and a little bit of instant gratification goes a long way. The course also includes written instructions for four projects; the cowl from the last video lesson and three more bonus little projects (a spider, a kitty cat, and a little purse). The written instructions are clear and easy to follow.

The materials simple, it just requires some thick yarn (my favourite for beginners of all ages is Drops Andes), appropriately sized needles (I like the Knitter’s Pride Basix 9mm/US13 – 10″ for kids and adults), and a large eye tapestry needles (my favourite thing about the Knitter’s Pride tapestry needles is they come in a pack of 4, so when one gets lost, you still have three left!). You’ll also need to source a few buttons, a sewing needle and thread, some large-ish beads, and strings & stuff from around the house. If you have a spare brooch pin kicking around you win a prize!

The only down-side is that the videos are hosted on Rowan’s own website (learnrowan.com) and you have to log in and register for them. I don’t like putting walls between kids and learning, and having to rely on an adult to go to the website and log them in is a barrier. For my niece and nephew I’d keep the login and super password easy for them to remember, and I’d add the site to their tablet’s ‘Home Screen’ so they can go directly to it.

Materials

Many thanks to Rowan for creating this content for kids! If you want to get your kid a book and take their knitting to the next level I suggest Kids Knitting by Melanie Falick; it’s the best I’ve ever seen, and it doesn’t shy away from building up to projects like socks and even a sweater!

FINISHED Beginner Friendly Reversible Wrap

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Reversible Wrap-Cardigan

The Reversible Wrap by Jo Sharp is one of those under-appreciated patterns that’s flown under people’s radar for way too long! It’s an amazing project for newbies, it’s basically made from two rectangles that are cleverly sewn together – easy peasy knitting! The only skills involved are cast on, cast off, knit, purl, basic mattress stitch, and basic wet blocking. The pattern is written for two versions, one long and one short. It’s also reversible, you can wear it right side up, or upside down.

We made the long version and used two skeins of very economical Cascade Eco+ (costs less than $60). It’s a very flexible garment, as is the yarn, so if you want a garment with a bit more drape and stretch feel free to go up in needle size. It’s also a pattern that can be in a warmer winter yarn or a cooler fibre for spring/summer.  Affordable yarn options include Cascade Eco+, Berroco Vintage Chunky, Cascade Avalon, and Berroco Remix Light.

Yarn Options

Approximate Yardage Required (chunky or heavy aran weight yarn): version 1 (short): 400(470) metres, version 2 (long): 535(670) metres.

Winter Yarns

  • Cascade Eco+: version 1 short: 1(2) skeins, version 2 long: 2(2) skeins
  • Berroco Vintage Chunky: version 1 short: 4(4) skeins, version 2 long: 5(6) skeins (use 6mm/US10 needles)
  • Diamond Baby Alpaca Sport: version 1 short: 4(5) skeins, version 2 long: 6(7) skeins (use 6mm/US10 needles)
  • Malabrigo Mecha: version 1 short: 4(4) skeins, version 2 long: 5(6) skeins (use 6mm/US10 needles)

Spring/Summer Yarns

  • Cascade Avalon: version 1 short: 3(3) skeins, version 2 long: 4(5) skeins (use 5.5mm/US9 needles)
  • Quince & Co Kestrel: 6(7) skeins, version 2 long: 8(10) skeins
  • Berroco Remix Light: version 1 short: 2(3) skeins, version 2 long: 3(4) skeins (2 strands held together)

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

Materials

Resources for Beginners

Seaming: If you’ve never seamed before, Mattress stitch is the way to go … there are some good free instructions at  Vogue Knitting and Knitty.

Weaving In Ends: I always go to this comprehensive tutorial from PurlSoho on Weaving In Ends. Remeber, you never tie and cut your ends in knitting, you always weave them in!

Blocking: Wet blocking is pretty easy (it’s basically just washing), but here’s a nice tutorial from Craftsy to help you out.

Everything Else: For the basics like cast on, bind-off, knit, purl, go to knittinghelp.com.

 

Cascade Eco Jo Sharp Cardigan COMBO

NEW Beginner Kits

knitomatic-beginner-kit-display

We created our Beginner Knitting Kit with absolute beginners of all ages in mind. The kit includes a colourful skein of self-striping machine washable vegan yarn, knitting needles, a darning needle to weave in the ends, and a How To Knit booklet with clear instructions and recommendations, and comes in a clear re-closable bag. 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250wknitomatic-beginner-kit-combo

FREEBIE Boxy Lace Top

 

boxy lace top 1.jpg

 

Cancun Boxy Lace Top

This simple little summer top is lace top is super easy and novice-friendly. It’s knit in two  rectangles from the bottom up and then seamed at the shoulders & sides to create the boxy shape. Great for beginners, especially those who want to try their hand at lace.

Yarn Suggestions

Quince & Co Sparrow  4 skeins (or more for larger)

Louet Euroflax Sport  2 skeins (or 3 for larger)

Cascade Ultra Pima  3 skeins

Other Materials

Notes

Not all freebies are created equally, check out some CORRECTIONS HERE.

The pattern is written for one size. To make it wider cast on more stitches, and to make it longer just knit for longer. Be sure to make a gauge swatch beforehand to see how your yarn is for size.

Easy, Fast Projects for Novices & Gifts


Fall has landed and knitting season is in full gear. Welcome back to all of our established stick-handlers, and a hearty welcome to the newcomers. Gift season is coming up in a few months, and we believe that even the greenest knitter can combine hobby and holiday budgets – you just need a little inspiration and guidance.

To get you started …

  • Your new best friend is a website for knitters & crocheters, Ravelry.com. Ravelry is knitters’ Mecca and most of our links go there.  It is free to join Ravelry, and you don’t have to give them any information you don’t want to. They won’t spam you or sell your e-mail address, but if you are concerned feel free to use a ‘junk’ or spare e-mail address to sign up (ie. gmail, yahoo or hotmail).  
  • There is a TON of free technical support on the internet. Knittinghelp.com is an excellent place for novices to start, and Knitting Daily has an excellent glossary of terms. There are many good videos on Youtube from Knit Picks and Berroco. Techknitting is the place for those more experienced who want a detailed explanation.
  • When seaming use Mattress Stitch for a pretty finish.
  • Leave about 5 to 6 inch tails (ends), to make weaving in easier. 
  • Knitting and crochet patterns are a bit like Recipes. They give you your ingredients first, and then directions, often written with standardized abbreviations. An explanation of the abbreviations used, or glossary, is usually included, or you can look them up on the internet. For more on how to read patterns there are some good instruction via the Craft Yarn Council.
  • Knitting needles come in a variety of sizing systems: Metric is the standard in Canada, Europe, Australia & New Zealand. The US has it’s own system, as do the Japanese. If you have old needles that came from Canada or the UK, they might be sized in the older UK system. See this chart for details. Contemporary patterns will give you a needle size based on the country in which it was published.  Vintage patterns often give sizes in the old UK system. The easiest way to find out what size your needle is to buy an affordable (approx $3.50 to $4) little gadget called a Needle Gauge, which measures the circumference of your needle and tells you what it is in the various sizes.  


Dobbs Ferry Cowl
  • Skill Level: Beginner (after Scarves)
  • Free from Martha Stewart Living
  • Yarn: 2 skeins Cascade Magnum
  • Needles: 15mm-32″ circular 
  • Skills: knit, purl, cast on, cast off, knit in the round, weave in ends.
  • Notes: knit with a single strand (pattern uses 3 held together)



Wham Bam Thank You Lamb Neckwarmer



Super Simple Fingerless Mitts
  • Skill Level: Absolute Beginner!
  • Free from Ravelry
  • Yarn: 1 skein Malabrigo Worsted
  • Needles: 4.5mm straight needles
  • Skills: cast on, cast off, knit, seam, weave in ends. 



City Gauntlets
  • Skill Level: Beginner (after scarves)
  • Free: from Lionbrand
  • Yarn: 2 to 4 skeins Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, or 1 to 2 skeins 1 skein Malabrigo Worsted
  • Needles: 5mm needles
  • Skills: cast on, cast off, knit, purl, increase (knit into the front then the back of the stitch), seam, weave in ends.