Learn to Knit with Camellia Fiber Company
Here at Camellia Fiber Company, we want to create an environment where you feel welcomed and your creativity can blossom. Whenever we create new resources, we do so with the goal of building an inviting, warm community where everyone is respected and cherished.
We have a special place in our hearts for knitting. Most of us here at CFC knit, and we love sharing our love of knitting with others. If you’re curious about learning to knit, we’re thrilled to be launching a resource to get you started: the brand new Camellia Fiber Company YouTube channel.
Knitting is so much more than a hobby; it can be a wonderful gift to your mind, body, and soul, too. Knitting has been shown to reduce anxiety and increase an overall sense of wellbeing, plus, learning to knit can bring you opportunities to connect with other knitters and build community.
We know it can be overwhelming to learn a new skill like knitting, so we’ve crafted our new knitting tutorials with beginners in mind. From shopping for your beginning knitting supplies to finishing your first knitted piece, we’ll walk you through the foundational skills of knitting.
Make yourself a cup of tea, curl up, and let’s get you started on this new and rewarding creative journey!
Knitting Essentials for Beginners
Before you begin your first official project, we recommend knitting up a small piece of fabric--also called a swatch-- to practice and master the foundational skills of knitting without having to worry about following a specific pattern.
Here’s what you need to begin knitting:
Yarn
There are thousands of yarn options out there, but we suggest using a worsted weight yarn in a light color, like our Merino Worsted in our signature Camellia colorway. The light shade will make it easier to see what you may need to work on as you practice.
Knitting Needles
Choose a pair of straight, wooden knitting needles. Wood knitting needles provide more grip than metal needles, so there’s less risk of dropping a stitch while you’re practicing. As for needle size, go with size US 7, 8, or 9.
Patience
Remember, you're learning a new skill. Be kind to yourself, and don't be afraid to unravel your work and start again.
What weight of yarn is best for a particular project? Why are there different types of needles? You have questions, and we have answers. Our introduction to knitting video can clear up any confusion and serve as a resource to help you find the right supplies to start knitting. Want to make things even simpler? Take the guesswork out of buying beginner knitting supplies with our Beginner’s Kit, assembled with love just for you.
How to Start Knitting: Casting On
With any knitting project, you must first create the number of stitches you’ll need and place them on your needle. This process is called casting on.
For beginners, our favorite casting on method is the long tail cast-on. Starting with a slip knot and a long strand of yarn, you’ll create the first row of stitches to serve as the beginning edge of your swatch or project.
Take your time as you learn with our casting on video tutorial. Casting on is a vital skill for learning how to knit, and it’s one you want to be sure you’ve mastered before you move on.
Knitting Basics: Learning the Stitches
You’ve got your supplies. You’ve practiced your cast-on until you have a beautifully neat row of stitches, just waiting to become something lovely. Let’s get stitching!
There are two basic stitches you’ll need to learn: knit and purl. These two stitches are by far the most commonly used in knitting, and they make up the basis of nearly every knitting pattern you’ll find. Once you learn these, the sky is the limit!
Knit Stitch
When you use this stitch, you’ll see a neat “V” shape on the front of your work, and a “bump” on the opposite side (called a purl bump).
Purl Stitch
With purl stitches, the purl bump appears on the front (or “working”) side of your knitting fabric, and a “V” appears on the opposite side.
To start, learn these two stitches separately using our knit stitch tutorial and our purl stitch tutorial. Then, you can combine them into what’s called stockinette stitch (see what this looks like in the purl video).
Once you’re ready to use a knitting pattern for a specific project, you’ll see these stitch names abbreviated as “k” for knit and “p” for purl. To keep patterns from getting lengthy, you may see several additional abbreviations in knitting patterns, especially advanced ones. Need help keeping track? Download our free knitting abbreviations guide, and slip it in your knitting bag so you’ll always have a tidy tool to help you decipher patterns.
Finish Your Knitting: Binding Off
Finished the last row in your pattern or practice swatch? Congratulations! You’re almost ready to take your piece off the needles and into the real world.
In the same way you needed a method to get stitches on your needles to begin, you need a method to get them off your needles to finish—but you have to do so securely to keep your hard work from unraveling. That’s where binding off comes in.
If you've mastered the knit stitch, binding off adds a small additional step. Learn how to bind off with our step-by-step tutorial. It can be tricky to bind off without dropping stitches, so don’t be afraid to experiment with how you hold your needles during this step. Find what works best for you, and—just like with anything you’re learning with knitting—don’t be afraid to undo your work and try it again.
Learn How to Knit with Camellia Fiber Company
Maybe you've been wishfully eyeing beautiful yarns for a while. Maybe a friend or family member knits, and you want to join. Or, maybe you relish in the thought of giving heartfelt handmade gifts to your loved ones.
Whatever is behind your curiosity, we’re here to give you the tools and resources you need to get started on your knitting today. With our thoughtfully designed Beginner’s Kit (coming soon!) and our newly launched YouTube channel, all of us at Camellia Fiber Company can’t wait to help you become the knitter you always wanted to be. What are you waiting for?