How I learned how to knit

It seems like there are a lot of people who have expressed an interest in knitting, but haven't known where to get started. I'd like to share how I went about it, it's not as intimidating as you think!

A little over ten years ago I decided I wanted to learn how to knit. This was before the days of YouTube, so I found a website and printed out step by step directions. I only ever learned how to do the knit stitch, but it made me happy enough to churn out a few scarves. Fast forward to April 2013 when I was dealing with crazy anxiety. It was suggested that I knit to help combat some of the stress/anxiety that was overwhelming me. Even though I had not picked up my needles since I initially learned a decade ago I decided to give it a shot.


Rochelle turned me on to the Stefanie Japel Knit Lab class on Craftsy. Once I tried it I was hooked! I loved the Craftsy platform and how I could rewind/skip back to re watch techniques that I was having issues understanding. I loved the projects and I especially loved the instructor Stefanie. It's true that I could have just watched some YouTube videos, but I can't express how helpful it is to watch someone work on the exact same project as me and guide me through it step by step. Or stitch by stitch, rather ;) Plus, it is awesome being able to bookmark the techniques I struggle with and watch them when I need them.


After getting down the basics I purchased other Craftsy classes by Stefanie and have since learned how to knit in the round, use double pointed needles, and use magic loop! I joined Ravelry, got addicted to Andi Satterlund's patterns, and made my first big color work project. All this knitting has been great for my anxiety and of course I don't mind the finished products either :)


There are so many amazing resources available on the World Wide Web and it's exciting to learn about a new hobby, especially a crafty one. I hope that any of you who are hesitant to learn how to knit will take the plunge. Whenever you learn something new there are bound to be mistakes (you don't even want to know how many times I've said, "shit!"), but the best part is that yarn will unravel, so you're not "out" a bunch of money, you're just out a little of your time.

To the knitters out there: how did you learn to knit? What advice would you give to someone just starting out?