Whether you choose to knit wool or other natural fibres, there are essential aspects to selecting the right product. You’ll need to take these aspects into consideration to ensure that you get the right knitting supplies for your particular project. It’s important to think about the size of the project, your own personal preference, available materials, how much you\’re willing to spend and whether you have any specific requirements. The following guide offers some basic advice on choosing the right knitting products.
In terms of needles, knitting wool is usually the most appropriate, particularly if you\’re just starting out and are knitting with fine needles. Longer needles can achieve more tension and help to increase the weight and diameter of the finished piece, but they are harder to handle. If you prefer a lighter product, consider using acrylic yarn instead. Longer acrylic yarns are available in a range of weights and are therefore easier to obtain. Choosing a high-quality acrylic yarn is also an option that may give you greater control over the type of knitting wool you use.
As well as needles, you\’ll need to choose a good yarn. Different knitting wool will have different characteristics, such as durability, colour and softness. It’s always a good idea to do a little research before you buy your yarn so that you end up with something that will work best for you. There’s no point risking your new hobby just to make a quick buck.
A beginner’s kit usually consists of a pair of knitting needles (usually long double needles), yarn and a knitting thread or cable. Yarn can be of many different types, depending on what you intend to knit – bulky, stockinette or cable knitters will all need different types of yarn, and it’s a good idea to get some practice with different yarns before buying your first ball of it. Once you’ve got some practice with different kinds of yarn, it\’s a good idea to invest in a couple of quality knitting needles to replace the one you just used for your first project. Having a couple of quality needles on hand will ensure that you won’t need to purchase another set of needles before your second project is finished.
The knitting needle that you use will be important for knitting a straight line. However, if you’re only knitting small items then a fine pointy needle may be better for you. Beginners will also require a knitting thread or cable in order to continue their project without having to stop every time they reach the required point. The most commonly used knitting threads and cables are a knitted cotton cable, a nylon coated knitting needle and a lace blend.
Once you have the knitting needle size and the appropriate knitting thread/ cable or yarn type, it’s time to get down to the business at hand – knitting! To make sure that your first project is a success, try using a worsted-weight cotton knitting yarn. Remember that it is easier to stretch the wool than it is to pull it. Once you have the basic measurements for your project worked out, use a conversion table to measure the gauge or size needed. Needle sizes can vary quite a bit from brand to brand and one brand may not be necessarily smaller or larger than another brand.
There are four primary yarn types which include Merino, silk, acrylic and woollen. Each of these yarn types has different qualities and characteristics that make them appropriate for various projects. For example, Merino wool is one of the best quality yarn types available and comes in an incredible range of colours. Although this type of wool is harder to work with, it’s also stronger and less expensive than many other types of wool. Another advantage of using acrylic knitting yarn is that you can purchase it in so many different colours that it will match almost any colouring that you need to achieve.
It\’s now time to begin the construction process. To continue knitting, you simply need to continue knitting around the loose ends that you have created along with the previous stitches. Once all of the loose ends are complete, simply thread or tie them securely. It is always a good idea to start and finish a project on a new row, rather than working from the same spot on the previous row. This way, your new yarn can easily cover all of the loose ends as you work. Once you finish the project, simply remove the loose ends and secure them with a few stitches so that you can start knitting again.