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Knitting 101: Learn Everything You Need to Get Started - from the History to 
the Basics

Article Description:
====================

When some people think of knitting they picture little old
grandmas slowly passing the hours away, but not anymore. Knitting
is a wonderful hobby that can provide anyone with a plethora of
pleasure and relaxation - not to mention adorable blankets,
scarves, hats, clothing and more! You can learn to create
handmade knits for yourself and for all the people you love with
just a little practice and patience.


Additional Article Information:
===============================

1034 Words; formatted to 65 Characters per Line
Distribution Date and Time: 2008-04-17 11:24:00

Written By:     Christine Beals
Copyright:      2008
Contact Email:  mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]



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Knitting 101: Learn Everything You Need to Get Started - from the History to 
the Basics
Copyright (c) 2008 Christine Beals
That Dog Blog
http://thatdogblog.com/



When some people think of knitting they picture little old
grandmas slowly passing the hours away, but not anymore. Knitting
is a wonderful hobby that can provide anyone with a plethora of
pleasure and relaxation - not to mention adorable blankets,
scarves, hats, clothing and more! You can learn to create
handmade knits for yourself and for all the people you love with
just a little practice and patience. When you give a lovingly
knit gift, part of you goes into it, which in turn creates a one
of kind, unique treasure. Your time, talent, the vivid color of
yarn you select, even the sentimental thoughts and feelings you
have as you work all become a part of your beautiful knitted
gift.

One of the earliest known examples of knitting was found in
Egypt. Finely decorated cotton socks were found in the end of the
first millennium AD. Although experts belief this was the origin
of knitting, the first knitting trade guild was started in Paris
France in 1527. Today, knitting is a popular passion and hobby
for people of all ages. Statistics according the Craft Yarn
Council of America show that in the United States the number of
women knitters age 25-35 increased by 150% in the two years
between 2002 and 2004. It’s become so popular today that there
are now many groups and classes forming to share this recreation
and hobby with others.

While some people prefer to join a group or class others enjoy
knitting in the privacy of their own home. With that in mind
before starting a new knitting project, there are few things to
keep in mind. First find a comfortable, cozy chair or couch where
you feel comfortable to work for long periods of time. Make sure
the chair has good lighting surrounding your work area as well.
Another important thing to remember is to read through any
directions or steps before you start. Always keep in mind that
learning a new skill, such as knitting, requires lots of patience
and practice. But most of all you should remember to have fun
while you knit. If you get stuck or discouraged, take a break
with a brisk walk, have a snack or even just take a deep breath
before going back to your current knitting project.

The first place many knitters start is with a cast-on stitch.
Casting-on is the term for making the foundation row of stitches
on your needle. This type of stitch is recommended for beginners,
intermediate and even experienced knitters. Also, keep in mind,
there are many different methods of casting-on. Other methods to
casting on are: the single-stitch, the double-knitted, the
crochet edge, the long-tail, and the cable cast-on. Experts agree
that is recommended to learn the knitting cast-on as your first
method because it’s simpler than the others and leaves your
project with an edge that stretches well. As you become a more
experienced knitter, you may wish to explore the other cast-on
methods.

Once you have your stitching down, the next step in exploring
knitting is the knit stitch, which is also known as the garter
stitch. To put it simply, knitting is the art of creating a
fabric by making interlocking loops of yarn, with two basic ways
of creating these loops. The first way is ‘knitting’ which is the
action of inserting your needles through the bottom of a loop and
pulling a new loop down and the through the first loop. The other
way is known as ‘purling’, or the action of inserting your
needles from the top of a loop and pulling a new loop up and
through the first stitch.

Gauge is another important factor to knitting. Gauge refers to
the number of stitches and rows a knitter makes per inch using a
certain type of yarn and needles or hook. Gauge greatly varies
from person to person, so it is very important to make sure you
are achieving the gauge of your particular pattern. Basically,
your gauge determines the size of your finished piece. Hence if
you don't get the proper gauge, the garment will not come out to
the intended size. If you are knitting with a thick yarn you'll
make bigger stitches and have very few stitches and rows per
inch. If you are knitting with a finer yarn, you'll make smaller
stitches and have more stitches and rows per inch. To determine a
proper and accurate gauge swatch, cast on or chain enough
stitches to equal approximately four inches and work in pattern
for four inches. Take your stitches off the needle and, without
stretching the fabric, place a tape measure on your work and
gently pin where the tape measure reads one inch.

When addressing gauge, you should also be conscious of the
different varieties and types of needles to knit with. Classic
circular needles are a popular choice with knitters today.
Another popular choice is the double pointed needle. There are
even needles, such as the straight needles that are great for
lace knitting. The tips on these needles are specially tapered to
make it easier to dig into a stitch. Each type of needle offers
different advantages and should be checked out accordingly to
what you’re looking for and what type of project you’re working
on.

After you have learned the basics of knitting you can start to
think about and focus on ribbing. Ribbing is a border that is
commonly used on the cuffs of those cozy sweaters, hats, and
scarves you will be knitting. It is used because it produces a
stretchy fabric and it is made with a combination of those knit
stitches and purl stitches we touched on earlier. Ribbing can be
done with any number of stitches, but two or three is what is
most common.

There are many important steps, and stitches, along the way when
acquiring the skill of knitting. What’s so wonderful about
knitting is the variety of options that are available to be made.
Many different colors, yarn types, needles, stitches, patterns,
and looks can be uniquely created by you and only you - making
your knitting project a perfect work of art that can never be
duplicated. 




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Christine Beals is a professional writer who provides information
for The Knitter's Niche http://theknittersniche.com/ where 
you'll find information on nitting and other crafts. 
(http://theknittersniche.com/category/knitting/) The 
Knitter's Niche is a part of the Go! Blog Network.



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