Knitting is one of the best activities ever (we’re not objective, but we know you agree with us !). It allows to clear the head and to relax, while stimulating our brain. We quickly become addicted to it! But when you’re new to knitting and have never taken a class, you always wonder where to start… How to cast on a stitch? How to achieve an increase in a rank? Do you need one needle or two? What size ? Simple or circular? This is why today, in this article, we are going to guide you in finding the ideal wool and material to start knitting!

What are the essential tools for learning knitting ?

To begin this guide for beginner knitters, let’s review the basics!

First, you need needles. They always work in pairs. If you are a beginner and want to learn to knit without difficulty, choose them that are neither too big nor too thin, but of medium size, like No. 5 or No. 6.

These numbers correspond to the diameter of the needles which will give its size to the stitch. Don’t go beyond that, large needles are not easy to handle for beginners because of their heaviness which risks slowing you down in your learning to knit. The same goes for fine needles, certainly lighter but more difficult to grip. We also recommend, most of the time, starting knitting with straight needles rather than circular needles which are a little more complicated to use.

Finally, take needles 30 cm or 40 cm long, made of wood or metal. Make sure they are pleasant to the touch and that the yarn slides well over them before you start so that you are not embarrassed when learning to knit. Holding your needles well will promote the precision and flexibility of your movements.

 The first tests ?

Before rushing headlong into your first 100% Alpaca noble wool blanket, follow these few essential tips :

We strongly recommend that you first make your first attempts with a wool composed of Acrylic. You can ask to see a sample of the desired wool to get an idea of the result. You can learn how to cast on your stitches and perform the first basic knitting stitches, such as garter stitch or stockinette stitch, with synthetic wool. It is not recommended for beginners to start knitting directly with wool from a noble material such as cashmere for example. Indeed, yarns and wools made from synthetic materials such as acrylic are not really expensive and are perfectly suited to getting started in knitting. Indeed, during your learning, you risk often undoing and redoing your stitches, correcting your mistakes and, consequently, damaging your yarn.

To cast on your first stitches and knit your first rows, we recommend the balls:

• AMY from Distrifil ; 
• RAPIDO PLUS from Annell.

The first project 

Once you know how to cast on your stitches and have mastered the basic knitting stitches, it’s time to get started on your first project ! To begin, we recommend the ALPINA 6 and CANADA balls from Lammy Yarns. These balls are a real pleasure for beginners thanks to their unbeatable quality-price ratio ! In addition, their thick yarn glides perfectly on the needles. Made of wool and acrylic, these balls offer a wide choice of colors. 

In addition, there are many knitting patterns for beginners to, for example, learn how to knit a scarf, a snood and even sweaters. Start first with a project that is not too ambitious so as not to get discouraged and give up at the first difficulty. Instead, choose knitting squares to test the stitches and not get lost when reading the pattern. In 3 words: take your time!

The first project according to the season

For a first winter project with natural yarn, it may be interesting to knit in 100% wool. For this, we highly recommend the PURE LAINE 8 ball from Textiles de la Marque. It can be knitted in needle size 8 or 9.

For a summer project in natural yarn, we recommend using cotton and more specifically, for beginners, the COTON 5 ball from Lammy Yarns. It can be knitted with n°5 needles or with n°6 needles, for the less initiated among you. Today it is very easy to find a model or pattern that you will like on the Internet, so treat yourself!

The garter stitch scarf undoubtedly remains the ideal project for beginners. Indeed, it does not require sewing and does not present major technical difficulties such as increases or decreases. To do this, we advise you to work with a thick wool, easy to knit. On each ball of wool, the needles to use for knitting are specified on the label. The other positive point? No need for a knitting pattern to knit a scarf, simply knit the same stitch to the desired length.

You can also begin with socks. Even if it may seem complicated to you, it’s a rather quick and easy project to complete, you’ll see, you’ll quickly want to knit dozens of them for winter! For this, we advise you to opt for a specific wool for socks.

Knitting kits and crochet kits

At La Lainière de Wazemmes, we offer several knitting kits and crochet kits accessible to beginners in terms of level. We advise you to start knitting with a kit because these are composed of a detailed technical sheet with all the step-by-step explanations to support you in your project but also of all the materials necessary to create a beautiful work. Snood, baby vest, baby blanket, scarf, sweater,…there is something for all tastes, all projects and all colors! All you have to do is order your first kit, grab your needles or hook and start knitting/crocheting.

Mistakes to avoid

When starting out, there are a few things to avoid. First of all, you should not use needles smaller than size 5. It is even recommended for beginners to always use a needle size larger than the one indicated on the label of the ball. 

Secondly, we do not recommend using fancy yarns, such as glittery, fluffy or hairy yarns. Indeed, these are more difficult to handle, which may complicate your learning to knit/crochet.

Finally, as you may have understood, we recommend not to knit expensive wools or noble yarns for a first project in order to avoid damaging it and therefore ruining it.

From now on, you’re holding all the cards to get started and knit the most beautiful projects. So, if you follow our advice, knitting will quickly become child’s play!

AN ADVICE, A MORE PRECISE QUESTION TO ASK US ?

You can contact us in private message via our social networks Facebook and Instagram Facebook et Instagram, or through the chat bubble at the bottom right of your screen right now. You can also reach us by email lainieredewazemmes@gmail.com or by phone at 03.20.57.09.46.

See you soon, for new knitting tips, with La Lainière de Wazemmes !

As a knitting enthusiast, you know that the choice of needles is essential to the successful completion of any project! There are knitting needles of all sizes, all diameters and even different materials. Your choice will depend on your level (beginner, intermediate, expert), your preferences (type of wool, material, specific project,…) and your way of knitting (loose, tight,…). Today, in this article, we are going to tell you a little more about knitting needles so that you can find THE right pair of needles.

Categories of knitting needles 

First of all, there are 3 main categories of knitting needles: 

• The straight needles. Among them are:

1. Single point needles are highly recommended for beginners as they simplify the use and handling;
2. Double point needles are used by the most experienced knitters. They allow you to knit with both sides of the needle.

• Circular needles: The 2 needles are then connected by a cable and will allow you to knit normally but especially to knit in the round, which does not allow the other types of needles. It is in particular thanks to circular needles that you will be able to make hats or socks! Also, the other main advantage of circular needles is that they allow a comfortable work. Thanks to them, no more joint pains in the arms when you knit! They are also easier to carry and you will logically have less risk of losing them (and yes, the needles are linked together!).
  
• Ergonomic needles: A revolution in the world of knitting with this new patented material that makes the needles lighter, more flexible and quieter. The new teardrop-shaped tips allow for smooth and safe thread guidance. The new tips allow you to clip your needles together and use them as a stitch stop. The adaptable needle body from round to triangular section will make your stitches slide more easily. 

Also, for specific knitting and crochet projects or stitches, there are other types of needles such as twisting needles, lace forks, Tunisian hooks and many others that you can find on our website in the sections Other needles or Other accessories.

The diameter and length of the needles

Then, you need to know that knitting needles are based on a simple numbering system with a diameter ranging from 2 to 25. To choose the size of needles you need, you must first know if you are a beginner or an advanced knitter. We invite you to take a look at our knitting essentials, where we recommend a minimum size 5 needle for beginners. Then, for the more experienced among you, the choice of needle size will depend on your preferences but also on your way of knitting: loose or tight. If you prefer to knit loosely, we recommend larger needles and smaller needles if you prefer to knit tightly. 

In addition to the diameter of the needles, you should also consider their length. Did you know that the world record for the longest knitting needle is 3.5 meters? Not to hide anything, needles of this size are reserved for the world champions of knitting

Otherwise, most of the time, needles are between 20 and 40 cm long. If you are an expert knitter, you may be used to tucking the needles under your arms, so it is best to use 40 cm long needles. However, for beginners, we advise you not to complicate your task with long needles, smaller ones such as 30 cm needles will do perfectly well ! 

The materials of the needles 

There are several types of knitting needles, in different materials, but the most popular are plastic, aluminum and bamboo needles.

Regarding plastic needles, they are recommended for beginners because they are very light and easy to handle. They also allow you to knit models with thick wool. Be careful though, they may become stained and/or twisted over time. At La Lainière de Wazemmes, all our classic straight needles from size no. 8 to size no. 25 are made of plastic.

Then, bamboo needles have the great advantage of being very light, more so than metal needles. They are also quite slippery. They don’t stain but may warp a little over time if you knit heavy projects with them. They are also more expensive than plastic or aluminum needles because bamboo is a natural material and its production is different. At La Lainière de Wazemmes, we offer 40 cm straight bamboo needles in sizes 3 to 12.

There are also wooden needles which have the same advantages as bamboo needles. In fact, they are ideal for knitting enthusiasts with fragile wrists because they are lighter than metal needles. Beech wood, for example, is dense and light and has the advantage of not producing splinters. Additionally, unlike metal needles, wooden ones do not bend. They do not slide as much as metal or plastic needles but are perfect for working with certain threads such as silk which tend to slip a lot. However, wooden needles, especially small ones, tend to break.

Finally, metal needles are heavier and colder than plastic ones but much more slippery and durable. Indeed, the smoother surface of metal needles allows for faster knitting because the stitches can slide without friction, which makes them the preferred choice of the most experienced knitters. Metal needles are suitable for all types of yarn, but work best with wool (including wool blends) and acrylic. These are the metal needles that have the sharpest points, making them particularly suitable for lace knitting. They are often made of aluminum, stainless steel, brass or nickel.

To conclude, it is not that difficult to start with aluminum needles because the yarn will easily slide over the needles to cast on your stitches and knit your rows. Unlike plastic, aluminum needles are solid and quite durable over time. With us, all of our classic straight needles from size 2 to 7 are made of metal.

At La Lainière de Wazemmes, we have a wide choice of straight or circular needles, single or double pointed, in metal or plastic, in 30 or 40 cm, from size 2 to size 12. You will inevitably find them knitting needles you need! Now that you know all the information about knitting needles and you have all the cards in hand to create the most beautiful work! 3, 2, 1… On your needles!

Want to start your own project? Find all our haberdashery accessories ! 

AN ADVICE, A MORE PRECISE QUESTION TO ASK US ?

You can contact us in private message via our social networks Facebook and Instagram Facebook et Instagram, or through the chat bubble at the bottom right of your screen right now. You can also reach us by email lainieredewazemmes@gmail.com or by phone at 03.20.57.09.46.

See you soon, for new knitting tips, with La Lainière de Wazemmes !

Buying the first accessories to start knitting can be quite a tedious step because you must not make a mistake… And when you don’t know much about it, it’s quite tricky ! That’s why today, in this article, we are going to try to guide you by elaborating a list of your first useful and effective purchases to begin well in knitting.

The needles

Needles are, without a doubt, the first accessory you need to start knitting. As mentioned in our article on the different types of knitting needles, there are many different types of needles. Although there are many choices, we strongly recommend that you choose straight, single-point stainless steel needles.

Why is that? Because stainless steel needles are, admittedly, less light than bamboo needles, but your wool thread will slide perfectly on them, which will facilitate the grip.

As for the size of needles to choose when starting out, we advise you to knit at MINIMUM in size 5. Knowing that the needle size 8 is the most suitable for learning to knit.

Also, single point needles are highly recommended for beginners as it prevents your stitches from slipping off the other side of your needle and, therefore, losing all of your work.

The balls

Then, as indicated in our article “Yarns and wools to start knitting”, it is advisable to avoid all types of noble wools, fancy yarns or too fine yarns like layette wools for example. You will need to choose synthetic balls, such as acrylic in size 8 for example, to learn how to make your first stitches. For your first projects, we recommend the CANADA or the ALPINA 6.

The kits

Finally, at Lainière de Wazemmes, we offer several knitting kits accessible to beginners in terms of level. We advise you to start with kits because they are composed of a technical sheet with all the useful explanations to accompany you but also of all the materials necessary to realize a beautiful work. 

Do you want to start knitting ? Discover all our knitting and crochet kits ! 

AN ADVICE, A MORE PRECISE QUESTION TO ASK US ?

You can contact us in private message via our social networks Facebook and Instagram Facebook et Instagram, or through the chat bubble at the bottom right of your screen right now. You can also reach us by email lainieredewazemmes@gmail.com or by phone at 03.20.57.09.46.

As you probably know, a knit stitch is made up of alternating knit stitches and purl stitches, depending on the different rows and stitches of a project. So once you have mastered the knit and purl stitches, you can consider that you are ready to perform all the types of stitches that exist! Through this article, we will take a brief overview of the different knitting stitches that can be made with wool yarn, from the most common to the most original.

The most common points : 

There are 3 types of knitting stitches that are very well known and are among the most used by people who knit wool yarn.

The garter stitch

First of all, the garter stitch which is composed exclusively of knitted stitches and which is the stitch designated as the simplest in knitting. Moreover, it is one of the first points to learn when you start knitting because the technique is relatively simple to master. It is therefore ideal and preferred for beginners. A beginner can, for example, easily practice and practice garter stitch for their first creation. The final work will not be the most visually original but it will be carried out correctly and without too many technical difficulties. If you are new to knitting, we also recommend that you read our article on yarns and wools to start knitting.

The stockinette stitch

 Then there is the stockinette stitch, also a great classic and basic in knitting. It consists on knitting a row of stitches in the right direction then a row of stitches in the reverse direction. This point is usually used to give you indications of the quantity of balls you will need for an upcoming job or project. Like the garter stitch, the technique is relatively simple to assimilate. In this way, we can also advise beginners to use stockinette stitch in their first creations such as scarves, blankets or even a sweater, why not, for the most confident!

The seed stitch

Finally, among the most common stitches that can be found in knitting, comes the seed stitch. The latter consists of casting on the stitches then alternating over the entire row, one stitch in the right side then one stitch in the reverse,…and repeating like this until the end of the work. Thanks to the magic of the internet and the will of thousands of dedicated creators, you will find plenty of explanatory videos to teach you, step by step, how to perform the seed stitch technique (and all the others too!).

Other types of points : 

Although the three points mentioned above are the most common, there are others that are a little less known but not necessarily more complicated to master.

The wheat stitch 

First of all, there is the wheat stitch. It involves knitting the stitches as they appear, so right side or wrong side, then changing them from time to time. For example, 1 row out of 3, if your stitch is right side up, you knit it reversely and vice versa.

The godron stitch

Then there is also the godron stitch. This one consists of knitting the first, third, fourth and sixth rows right side up and knitting the second and fifth rows wrong side up. This process always repeats these six rows until the end of your project. Note that this stitch gives a very elastic look to your projects!

Openwork points

Openwork stitches are also frequently used and are increasingly trendy. Indeed, we often find this openwork effect on loose sweaters and tops but also on decorative accessories such as curtains or table runners. This will give your works a slightly bohemian look and a lighter texture.

Which stitches for the ribs ?

Ribs are what you find most of the time on the ends of your sweaters. There are several types of ribbing, but the most popular are 1/1 and 2/2 ribbing. 

1/1 ribbing

To knit 1/1 ribbing, simply knit your first row one stitch right side up, one stitch wrong side up until the end of the row, then for all other rows, knit the stitches as they occur.

2/2 ribbing 

For the 2/2 ribbing, the principle does not change! Only for the first row where, instead of making one stitch right side up and one stitch wrong side up, you will have to make two stitches right side up and two stitches wrong side up. Then, for all the other rows, you will just have to knit the stitches as they appear.

For the more experiences among you

Beyond the basic stitches and ribbing that can be made with wool yarn, there are more technical stitches, such as jacquard stitch or cables, for knitters who have a more advanced level of knitting.

The jacquard stitch

The jacquard stitch consists on knitting in stockinette stitch, changing color so as to form the design represented on a grid which acts as a guide to make your creation. You can also choose from models offered on the internet or in catalogs, or even draw your own pattern and let your imagination speak for itself. Each square of the grid represents a stitch and a row. The grid is accompanied by a legend which indicates the correspondence of the colors. You must read the chart starting from the bottom, from right to left for each row on the right side of the work, from left to right for each row on the reverse side. Be careful however, the knitting techniques used for the jacquard stitch vary depending on the importance of the design that you wish to represent on your work.

Cables

Cables are obtained by knitting crossed stitches. The small cables of 2 stitches are very easy to knit and do not require a cable needle.
– 2 stitches crossed on the right: Knit the 2nd stitch on the left needle in the front, then knit the first stitch normally. Drop the 2 stitches together.
– 2 stitches crossed on the left: Knit the 2nd stitch on the left needle from behind, then knit the first stitch normally. Drop the 2 stitches together.

A cable of 3 or more stitches requires twisted needles.

If you decide to challenge yourself with these last examples, we strongly advise you to watch an explanatory video to learn and help you perform the technique. It is also necessary to arm yourself with patience and determination because all learning takes time when knitting.

There are still many different stitches that we have not described in this article such as sand stitch, tweed stitch, Eglantine stitch and many others… Knitting with different techniques has several advantages, In particular, it allows you to vary the renderings but also to give each of your works a different texture and relief.

Want to try new knitting stitches? 

AN ADVICE, A MORE PRECISE QUESTION TO ASK US ?

You can contact us in private message via our social networks Facebook and Instagram Facebook et Instagram, or through the chat bubble at the bottom right of your screen right now. You can also reach us by email lainieredewazemmes@gmail.com or by phone at 03.20.57.09.46.