Over more recent years, knitting has enjoyed a comeback, with more and more people taking up the needles. As well as becoming a relaxing hobby, knitting gives you the opportunity to create beautiful crafts, clothes and gifts that are truly one of a kind. Whether you’re brand new to knitting or you’re looking to pick up an old pastime once again, you’ll need a simple knitting kit to get you started. Creating your knitting toolbox doesn’t have to be expensive, though; once you’ve got the basics sorted, you’ll be able to craft for as long as you want to easily and inexpensively.
YOUR CHOICE OF YARN
Choosing the yarn you want to work with is one of the best parts of beginning your knitting journey. As well as a range of colours and thread types, the type of yarn you can stitch with varies widely, depending on the kind of project you’re creating. However, choosing a slightly stretchier wool is a great starting point for beginner knitters, as more flexible fibres can be easily unpicked if you make a mistake.
The Foundry Works have everything you need to get started with your knitting kit, including a wide range of hand-dyed yarn from independent makers. You can choose either a set of high-quality coloured yarns to experiment with or a beautiful multi-coloured singular ball to create a one of a kind craft.
QUALITY KNITTING NEEDLES
Knitting needles come in a range of different weights depending on your experience, and the yarn you’re going to be working with. It’s recommended that you choose bamboo or wooden needles for your first set, rather than plastic or aluminium materials. Wooden needles help you keep control of your wool as you knit, rather than letting your stitches easily slip.
The size and style of your needles can help with your technique, too. For beginners, medium-sized straight knitting needles are recommended to help you master simple knits. If you’re wanting to try more adventurous projects, you could also consider adding circular knitting needles to your repertoire. Rather than straight knits like a scarf or blanket, circle knitting needles help you stitch easily in a round pattern. This means you can create hats, gloves and jumpers much more seamlessly.
YOUR FAVOURITE KNITTING PATTERN
Once you’ve got your needles and yarn to hand, you might find it helpful to use a knitting pattern to guide your next project. As well as helping you master simple stitches with step by step instructions, knitting patterns are a great way to create clothing, accessories or even soft cuddly toys easily. Using a set knitting pattern for your first few projects will give you a chance to experiment with a range of stitches, without the worry of making a mistake that could alter your final piece.
SCISSORS AND SEWING NEEDLES
Rustling up the right accessories will add the final touches to your knitting kit. Having sharp scissors close to hand will help stop your thread from unravelling, letting you cut your yarn closely for the perfect finish to your knitted piece.
You could also look into a sewing needle. Slightly bigger than regular needles, with a wider eye for chunky yarns to easily thread through, sewing needles are useful for finishing off your project neatly and making sure you have no loose ends showing.
A CAMERA TO DOCUMENT YOUR JOURNEY
As well as the equipment you’ll need to begin crafting, remember to take photos of your journey, too! Knitting is a great hobby but especially for those who are brand new to it, it can feel time-consuming and difficult to get the hang of at first. Taking photos of your progress will help you remember how far you’ve come, and give you inspiration for your next project, too.