How to learn the basics: knitting and purling
I learned the basics of knitting on knittinghelp.com.
I've checked a lot of other resources but in the end this is the one I used and recommend. I'm very grateful to the respective authors for providing such well done videos for free. There are paid lessons out there that aren't nearly as good.
I think their videos have the clearest and easiest to understand instructions. Despite this, I can confess that I had to pause and repeat each sequence about 15 times before I got it right. My first advice to anyone trying to knit is to PERSEVERE. If you're not willing to be very patient and stubborn, give up right now, you'll NEVER succeed. I'm quite aware this is not your usual PC advice, but I'm being nice by telling you the truth.
The good news is that after spending the first hours feeling like I had bottles instead of fingers while trying over and over again to repeat the same hand movement with the same pathetic result, I finally got it. I admit the experience maybe considerably less traumatizing for people who are minimally deft with their hands. I'm giving you the worst version of what the experience of learning the basic stitches may be like so that you're prepared.
The even better news is that after learning the basic stitches, and these are only two!!!, everything else is really simple. Piece of cake really.
These videos also have the advantage of teaching both "english" and "continental" style knitting. You should try both and decide which one suits you better. Note that continental style is a better technique (because it is faster once you've got the hang of it) and it may be worthy to learn it even if you find it more difficult. I personally found English-style a nightmare. I don't know why it's so difficult, considering that the two techniques are almost identical, but I just could not make my hands do it. There is only one reason I'd recommend it, which is if you're learning with someone who uses it, but as I said, the two styles are very similar so it'll always be very easy to understand and adapt instructions from one style to the other.
The only criticism I have for the knittinghelp.com videos is that they're very long and the lady is a bit too verbose. I suggest you watch them once because there is important information even in some of the most boring parts. After that you'll want to repeat some of the instructions many, many times and at that point you can use this list I made for that purpose.
Video 1
cast-on: 2:30
english-style knit-stitch: 6:00
yarn-holding continental-style: 8:20
continental-style knit-stitch: 9:10
slip first stitch: 11:30
continental-style purl-stitch: 14:50
english-style purl-stitch: 17:30
Video 2
alternate K and p, english-style: 0:00
treat inverted stitch: 1:30
alternate K and p, continental-style: 2:30
ribbing: 4:50
seed-stitch: 5:30
garter-stitch: 6:30
stockinette: 8:50
reinserting needles: 12:50
Video 3
binding off : 0:00
purl bind-off : 1:40
finish: 3:00
weave-in the end: 3:30
2nd method (back): 7:40
Felt advice: 10:00
knittinghelp.com has many other videos, most of them very good (and not verbose at all). Just follow the links and enjoy.
I've checked a lot of other resources but in the end this is the one I used and recommend. I'm very grateful to the respective authors for providing such well done videos for free. There are paid lessons out there that aren't nearly as good.
I think their videos have the clearest and easiest to understand instructions. Despite this, I can confess that I had to pause and repeat each sequence about 15 times before I got it right. My first advice to anyone trying to knit is to PERSEVERE. If you're not willing to be very patient and stubborn, give up right now, you'll NEVER succeed. I'm quite aware this is not your usual PC advice, but I'm being nice by telling you the truth.
The good news is that after spending the first hours feeling like I had bottles instead of fingers while trying over and over again to repeat the same hand movement with the same pathetic result, I finally got it. I admit the experience maybe considerably less traumatizing for people who are minimally deft with their hands. I'm giving you the worst version of what the experience of learning the basic stitches may be like so that you're prepared.
The even better news is that after learning the basic stitches, and these are only two!!!, everything else is really simple. Piece of cake really.
These videos also have the advantage of teaching both "english" and "continental" style knitting. You should try both and decide which one suits you better. Note that continental style is a better technique (because it is faster once you've got the hang of it) and it may be worthy to learn it even if you find it more difficult. I personally found English-style a nightmare. I don't know why it's so difficult, considering that the two techniques are almost identical, but I just could not make my hands do it. There is only one reason I'd recommend it, which is if you're learning with someone who uses it, but as I said, the two styles are very similar so it'll always be very easy to understand and adapt instructions from one style to the other.
The only criticism I have for the knittinghelp.com videos is that they're very long and the lady is a bit too verbose. I suggest you watch them once because there is important information even in some of the most boring parts. After that you'll want to repeat some of the instructions many, many times and at that point you can use this list I made for that purpose.
Video 1
cast-on: 2:30
english-style knit-stitch: 6:00
yarn-holding continental-style: 8:20
continental-style knit-stitch: 9:10
slip first stitch: 11:30
continental-style purl-stitch: 14:50
english-style purl-stitch: 17:30
Video 2
alternate K and p, english-style: 0:00
treat inverted stitch: 1:30
alternate K and p, continental-style: 2:30
ribbing: 4:50
seed-stitch: 5:30
garter-stitch: 6:30
stockinette: 8:50
reinserting needles: 12:50
Video 3
binding off : 0:00
purl bind-off : 1:40
finish: 3:00
weave-in the end: 3:30
2nd method (back): 7:40
Felt advice: 10:00
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