Learning to knit can be expensive; you’ll need to pick out needles, some hopefully attractive yarn, and then plenty of books. Books filled with how to instructions, patterns, explanations of types of yarn and then who knows how many books and to explain all the different techniques, knitting jargon and charts, much of which will be repeated over and over in every single book.
So how do you know which books to pick? How do you know which ones are going to work for you… and which ones are going to be a waste of your money? You could spend hours upon hours sitting on the floor of a bookstore reading knitting book after knitting book, while your backside goes numb. Or you could open up your internet browser, click a few links and save yourself all of that potentially wasted time by learning to knit online. Best of all? It’s free!
One of the best places to learn to knit online is KnittingHelp.com. Bursting at the seams with helpful hints and tips… on everything from casting on and binding off all the way to intarsia and knitting abbreviation translation charts! However, the very best part of KnittingHelp.com isn’t how much information is contained in just one site – it’s that most of that information is in video form. You can read the instructions, hear the instructions and then see whatever technique you are interested in learning right on your computer screen – over and over again! No more trying to decipher line drawings or patterns done in avocado green on size three needles. These videos are clear, well filmed, and the techniques are executed slowly enough that you can see everything going on. An all around fantastic site for knitters of all levels, and an exceptional reference site.
A second site, with fantastic tutorials on some of the more frustrating knitting techniques is Stitch Diva Studios. They are primarily a knitting and crocheting shop, but their knitting tutorial for short rows is incredible enough to warrant mentioning. They also have beginner techniques, such as casting on and the knit stitch; however, where they really shine is in their more advanced tutorials.
Next on the list is Knitty.com, the premier online knitting magazine. Here you will find some of the most incredible, and some of the funkiest, patterns on the web. Again, all of these are free for your personal use. If you are feeling adventurous, stop by their archive. With hundreds of beautifully photographed projects, complete with pattern instructions, there really is something for everyone. Some of the up-and-coming knitting designers submit their patterns to Knitty.com – you are almost guaranteed to find inspiration! Knitty.com also has a forum for knitters, new and old alike, as well as insightful articles on knitting and knitters who spin.
Those are the top knitting sites on my list – if you have a favorite not mentioned here, leave a comment and let the knitting world know! Next Saturday – Yarn Shops: The Big, The Artsy, The Handspun. If you’d like your favorite or your own yarn shop mentioned, leave a link and we’ll review it next Saturday!
Peace and knitty,
Oriri
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My friend showed me how to cast-on and the simple knit stitch. Everything else, I learned from watching those videos on knittinghelp. I would sit at my desk, with my knitting in hand, and click replay over and over again!
I love knitty, and magknits has quite a few good patterns too. I find that I pick up most of my patterns from the knitblogs that I read though.
For online yarn shops, knitpicks is my first choice, though I do like WEBS, yarnmarket, and yarnzilla, as well.
It’s so hard, though, isn’t it, to not be able to TOUCH the yarn??? Every now and then, I just need to head to my LYS and spend a little time wandering through all the yarny goodness!
aya
I love Knittinghelp! You told me about it and I layed the stupid book aside. Lol I need and shall check out the other two as soon as the homework is completed!.. and find my hidden needle. *pouts* -British-