Hi I am a beginner with no experience in Knitting/ Crocheting.?

Question

Hi I am a beginner with no experience in Knitting/ Crocheting. I want to purchase knitting needles & crochet hook. But i don't know what sizes & shapes for the needle to buy. I gave a google search but that does not help. Could anyone enlighten me on this?
Thank you for your response :)

Answer 1

Hi the best way to buy your needles and hooks is to pick a pattern you want to make and all knit and crochet patterns tell you what size needles or hooks you need to make the pattern. If you choose a pattern with different sized needles each time, you will gather quite a collection. I advise you to start with thick yarn patterns with thicker needles and hooks until you are ready to tackle more difficult patterns with smaller needles. Also, start with scarf, cushion, throw rugs, simple bags and accessories and then work up to patterns with shaping in them, such as hats, sweaters, jackets, baby items, etc. Even if you don't think you'll use them, start with easy, straight edged items until you've practised knitting and crochet, know how to read patterns, know the terms and abbreviations used, and you have confidence in yourself.
Also, a good place to get free patterns from is: www.freepatterns.com. Become a member for free and you can access thousands of free patterns for knit, crochet, sewing, quilting cross-stitch, plastic canvas and paper craft patterns. All Free! They will also send free e-mails with patterns, tips, ideas and more, whatever you choose them to send to you, all free.
You will also need a few extra items to knit and crochet. Scissors or snips, blunt needle for sewing in ends and seams, stitch holders, stitch or row counters, tension ruler, and it would be even a great idea to make yourself a knitting needle and crochet hook roll . I will tell you how.
Using a double knit yarn and the needles it says to use on the wrapper of the yarn, cast on enough stitches to reach both ends of your longest knitting needle. then cast on ten more stitches. now knit these stitches until your work measures 24 inches, keeping your edges straight. cast off. Find a piece of cotton fabric that compliments your yarn and cut it to the size of your knitted work. Turn under each edge of the fabric to the wrong side and sew in place. hand stitch the fabric to the wrong side of your knitted work. take two lengths of elastic, and stitch each piece at one short side of the fabric side of your work, stretching it a little, sew the elastic at intervals that fit a pair of needles across to the other short end of the fabric. take care to stitch through the knitted work as well. With a crochet hook of appropriate size according to the yarn wrapper, chain a lenth twice the length of your needle roll. Sew to one end of the roll, leaving enough length on one end to be able to tie up, then roll it up and tie it up and you are ready to take your knit and crochet with you anywhere.
You can also make a separate roll, but smaller, for your crochet hooks, and you could also make one for your scissors and measure and stitch holders, etc. You can make little pockets on the lining fabric by cutting the fabric a couple of inches wider alnong the bottom edge and turning the bottom side of the fabric to the right side, then turning up the extra two inches of fabric to form one pocket along the bottom of the roll. sew from the top of the pocket to the bottom of the pocket a couple of times along the length of the roll and you can keep things in there that will not hold under the elastic. I hope this hasn't been too complicated for you to follow. Just copy each sentence I have written on a new line. It will make it easier to follow step by step.
I also print out my patterns or photocopy from books, etc, and keep them in plastic sleeves. this makes the pattern portable and keeps it safe from wear and tear and coffee spills. Then when you have finished with that pattern, just slip it into a 3 or 3 or 4 ring binder and collect them all neatly.
Hope this helps you.

Answer 2

If you get a knitting needle get one that you will use a lot of times. Usually the knitting patterns call for 6 or 8. In crocheting there are two kinds of neeedles for crocheting with thread usually patterns call for size 7. If you are crocheting with yarn the hooks at the ends are larger and the sizes will be either in letter or number, Usually G. By giving you these sizes they will probably be the ones you will be using most of the time and you will be using them more than once.

Answer 3

I would suggest getting the book (or borrowing from the library) The complete Idiot's guide to knitting and crocheting. It's a great resource to have on hand and includes some simple projects. As for needles and hooks....I would get a 5mm pair of needles and a 5mm/H hook to start with. They are an in between sizes and not too big/not too small. Eventually you will find yourself buying all sizes.

Once you get the basics down there are so many patterns on line. My favorites are
for crocheting http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory.php
and for knitting http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory.php

Answer 4

Buy some size 8 or size 9 short knitting needles 7" long(childrens size) or 9" long and some Lily SugarNCream cotton yarn.

Go to knittinghelp.com and view the videos.

cast on about 25 or 30 stitches and knit a square. bind off and you have a dish rag.

You can get all kinds of dish cloth patterns to try different stitches and you have a finished piece that you can use right away. Dish clothes make a nice gift also.

Answer 5

take my advice, youll want to start out with bulky or super bulky weight yarn with recommended size needles.

the best place to get your knitting/crochet supplies would be at hobby lobby. they have every single kind of yarn you can think of including knitting needles of all kinds and crochet hooks, and other supplies in addition like stitch markers and such.

take a look at these sites for a pattern and how to read yarn lables.

very easy hat and scarf pattern
http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/kwetq-hatScarf.html

it uses super bulky yarn which means that you get the project done faster
you need 212 yards of yarn in two different colors, you need size 13 straight needles and size 13, 16 inch cord size 13 with size 13 double pointed needles.

http://www.worldknit.com/howto/yarncare.html

this site tells what each symbol means and howt to care for your project once its done.

this site are to translate abbreviations in knitting patterns

here are a bunch of sites to get free knitting patterns
berrroco.com
dailyknitter.com
knitty.com
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/episode_archive/0,2019,DIY_18180_445,00.html
lionbrand.com membership is totally free.
knittingpatterncentral.com
coatsandclarks.com

Answer 6

Decide whether you want to work with bulkier yarn or with finer threads or yarns. This determines the size of hooks or knitting needles to purchase.

The "Learn How" kits usually have medium-sized yarn and suitable hook and/or needles. It is usually easier to begin with such heavier yarn or thread just because it's easier to see what you're doing. I don't recommend beginning with fake-fur or fantasy yarns because it's more difficult to see what you're doing and because such fibers are unforgiving of errors and reluctant to frogging (rip-it rip-it rip-it out and do it over).

One alternative is to haunt thrift stores and get everything as far as hooks and knitting needles go. True excess can be given to buddies as they catch the knitting-bug or crocheting-bug from you.

Answer 7

Well your on your way to learning.. You could try a local yarn store or library to see if they have knitting and crocheting lessons.. Some sites online have videos to show you how also. Hey try to see if your local library has videos on the subject too! Good luck

Answer 8

The size and shape is determined by your pattern. Choose a beginner pattern, preferably a book that will show you all the stitches. Then buy the needles that are called for in the pattern.
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Answer 9

when i wanted to learn to knit, i went to wal-mart to the craft section and bought the teach myself to knit kit. they have one for crocheting too. it comes with everything you need to get started and some begginer projects in the book it comes with. the kits are around $10 if i remember correctly. no more than $13. they have them at other craft stores as well but wal-mart is cheaper for the exact same kit.
hope this helps!