help with knitting?

Question

is there a site or really good book I can use for help with knitting? I know the basics- I can knit and purl but I would like to start making sweaters and other things, when I look at a pattern, I do not understand what the letters and instructions mean. everything I find is either basic basic or way advanced- I need something to bridge me from basic knitting and purling to whatever all the other stuff that it is telling me what to do but not how to do it!! Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am looking forward to making something other than a scarf.

Answer 1

You might also try http://www.knittinghelp.com

That website has lots of video clips that demonstrate various knitting/purling techniques, including some advanced ones. Googling "knitting abbreviations" may also help you with the pattern reading part of it, at least. Good luck!

Answer 2

I highly suggest both Knitting for Dummies and Teen Knitting Club: Chill out and Knit Some Cool Stuff.
(Despite the very un-"cool" title of the second, it's really a book I like, although it includes only knitting, purling, ribbing, and seed stitch, so my first choice would definitely be Knitting for Dummies.)

A free site for knitting in instructions is http://www.lionbrand.com/learnToKnit.html , also a great resource.

As for translating abbreviations, http://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/faq-search.cgi?store=/stores/eyarn&dictionaryOfAbbreviations=1 should work well. :)

Good luck!

Answer 3

As UofM said, http://knittinghelp.com is a great website and resource for those of us bridging from basic scarfs to more advanced topics! It has videos on how to do all the easy things (increases, decreases, cast on, bind off, etc.) and how to do more advanced things (heel of a sock, 2 color knitting, cable stitch, button holes, etc.). The glossary on the webpage also gives definitions of what the pattern abreviations are, along with links to a video of the technique if available. The forums are also helpful places to ask questions. Free patterns labeled by skill level are also available. All-in-all it's a great website for a beginning to advanced knitter.

Answer 4

I work at a knitting shop and by far the best-selling book is by Debbie Stoller. Look her up. She has three awesome books: two for knitting and one for crochet. It has actually cool and not frumpy patterns and awesome, easy to follow instructions. Definately check it out.

Answer 5

Paton's has 3 Next Steps In Knitting booklets available that are excellent, inexpensive references that take you from scarves to sweaters. I would strongly recommend them to you.

Answer 6

Here are some links.

Here is a link to learn to knit:

http://learntoknit.lionbrand.com/

Knitty Gritty is a great show for beginners and more learned knitters.

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_dkng

http://www.knittygritty.com/aboutshow.htm

You may want to start out with learning simple crochet before you tackle much knitting.

http://learntocrochet.lionbrand.com/

http://www.officialguidetocrochet.com/?hop=findinfo&OVRAW=beginners%20crochet&OVKEY=beginner%20crochet&OVMTC=standard

You can take knitting and crochet classes at Michael's craft stores
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/static?page=knitcrochet

Answer 7

In stores like walmart, there are always good books on crfts and knitting.

Answer 8

there's lots of knitting stuff here: http://knitting.about.com/