Ask avid knitters why you should learn their art and they'll usually answer that it's fun. The basic tools needed for knitting will allow you to create handmade knits for yourself and the people in your life. You can experience the joy of extending this personal touch of you, to the ones you knit for.
Many knitters have created their own personal "tool chest" of knitting tools to carry around with them in a knitting kit so they can knit where ever they go. Some of the tools that can be found in a small Knitting Kit include: * Knitting Needles * Yarn * Crochet Hook * Row counter Knitting requires two needles. You begin by making a slip knot on one needle and "casting on" the number of stitches you need for the project. The basic stitches are created using both needles, wrapping the yarn over one needle and drawing the wrapped yarn through loops on the other needle.
There are different kinds of needles, like straight knitting needles, which come in aluminum, wood or plastic. The plastic needles can become brittle if not used for some period of time. Straight knitting needles come in a range of different lengths and sizes. It is useful to have a range of needle sizes so they can be changed to obtain the correct tension for the project being worked. Choose a length that will hold the stitches required for the project and that you feel comfortable working with. If possible buy a complete set of needles with a case to keep them in, so that you will always have on hand the right size required for any project.
Another type of knitting needle is the circular knitting needle. Circular needles are long, flexible needles with a point on each end. These circular needles are growing in popularity because they eliminate seams and the need to continually turn your knitting at the end of a row. Knitting yarn is a long continuous length of interlocked fibers. This yarn can be made from any number of synthetic or natural fibers. Because of the differences in characteristics of yarns, the type of project will determine the type of knitting yarn.
There are various kinds of knitting yarn available in the market like Wool, Angora, Silk, Cashmere and Vicuna. Ragg knitting yarn, is a thick yarn made from one ply of shoddy and two plies of wool. It makes a great warm sock but a terrible lace tablecloth. Cobweb Shetland knitting yarn makes a flimsy Aran sweater but is perfect for an heirloom shawl. Wool yarn will drive an allergic person to insanity, but another may hate the feel of acrylics. Some natural fibers will felt and become weatherproof; others are poor insulation.
Most yarn is made of plied material. A ply is a twisted strand. If the twist is a firm one, the yarn will be fine; if is too firm, the yarn "kinks." If the twist is loose, the yarn is soft, thick and less hardy.
The "Crochet Hook" has a notch at one end for catching loops of yarn and drawing them through stitches. A row counter is used to count the number of rows that have been knitted. It is a cylinder with a numbered dial that is pushed onto the needle and is turned at the completion of each row. This is especially helpful when working long pattern repeats. The knitting tools in a small knitting kit will help you create almost any beginners knitting project you care to start. Don't wait for the next winter.
Go get your knitting kit started today, so that next holiday, or birthday you can gift all of your friends that personal touch of you.
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