Anyone with an eye on the latest crafting trends couldn’t help but notice the resurgence of knitting and crochet. Yarn arts are no longer something left to grandma, as young people everywhere are discovering the crafts. To get started, all you need are a few simple supplies. Of course, you need to get a set of straight knitting needles. Also, for a first project, a thick, light-colored yarn is ideal.
So you see, it only takes a few bucks to get what you need to knit a project. Free knitting patterns are widely available. Online is the easiest place to find free patterns. All major yarn manufacturers offer free patterns on their official websites. Often, a free pattern is included on the paper wrapping around store-bought yarn. People running their own yarn blogs write and share patterns for general use. Several major social networking sites also offer sections with free patterns, as well as useful tips and tricks.
After getting the hang of knitting, you may want to try you hand at felting. Felting supplies are easy to obtain, and you can learn the technique quickly and easily. It is important to keep in mind that felting shrinks the size of your project, so prior to felting the piece should always be larger than the intended final size. Felting is perfect for items that benefit from a more rigid texture than normal knitted fabric. Knitted toys and handbags are popular felted projects.
Heat and agitation are the ingredients for successful felting. For this reason, most people felt their projects in their washing machine. The hottest water setting and the highest agitation should give you great felted results.
The perfect first project, whether felted or not, is the traditional scarf. There are a few reasons why scarves make such a perfect first project. First, you need not worry too much about gauge, or “stitches per inch,” that has a significant affect on the sizing of knitted garments. Scarves don’t envelop the body or fit around many bodily curves, so if you knit the project slightly bigger or smaller than the pattern writes, it’s no big deal. It still keeps the neck warm! Also, scarves knit up quickly, giving you a sense of accomplishment in a short period of time.
Knitting and other yarn arts are a great activity that can relieve stress. You can do it anywhere, and easily carry it with you on any kind of outing. If you’re seeking out a new hobby, try out knitting!