Learning to Knit? My top five suggested first projects
Since 2020, there have been so many people looking to get into knitting. The world has had its ups and downs, and people really need a hobby that they can feel good about. Also, in the event of an apocalypse, this is at least a useful hobby. I wanted to make a post listing my favorite knitting projects for getting started. All of the below patterns have been made by me, and all of them are available for free on Ravelry. There are a lot of really great patterns that are available for a price, but I never want money to be a barrier to entry to a fantastic hobby. Once you've got this under your belt, you can decide for yourself how you continue searching for patterns.
Hats are a really easy and great way to get started with knitting. They don't take too long to knit up, and you can practice almost any stitch with them.
Scarves are often the first project recommended to a beginner, but I disagree. They're long and straight and quite frankly boring. A lot of new knitters start a scarf and halfway through, want to switch to something else. The starter projects I've put below all have some sort of interesting feature to them. This is meant to keep the knitter engaged and hopefully finish the project.
Shawls are a great way to take on a longer project with some interesting patterns. Most shawls contain lace motifs. These can be challenging to a new knitter, but the following are all meant for beginners.
The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief
Socks are a very specific item of clothing. Everyone's foot is slightly different, and it takes time to find out what works best for you. For example, I've knit Hermione's Everyday Socks multiple times, and I've learned that I need to cast on fewer stitches to get the fit I want. This also varies depending on what type of yarn I use.
These sock patterns will give you a good foundation for what it takes to make a sock.
Hermione's Everyday Socks
When it comes to sweaters, I recommend working with a larger weight yarn, like worsted or DK, for your first sweater. A larger yarn will knit up faster, and this will help you keep your motivation if you're doing a simple stitch.
Thanks for stopping by—let’s knit something wonderful together! My ask box is always open! Feel free to drop a comment.
