There’s a saying by Albert Einstein, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” Keeping in mind the great words of the creative genius, let’s discuss the common knitting mistakes that beginners make. When you are new to knitting, you will be making errors and learning from them. The good news is, that mistakes in knitting are generally easy to fix. With a few tricks under your belt, you should be able to avoid some common knitting mistakes.
Let’s get right to it, shall we?
Mistake #1:Choosing the wrong yarn
So, when you are a beginner you love to get your hands on the knitting needles and yarn and begin, but that is a mistake. Every yarn has a unique stitch definition, drape and texture. Therefore, choose yarn according to the project, whether it's socks, a hat or a blanket. Your favourite yarn may not be the right fit for the gloves or the shawl you wanted to make. If you knit according to a design pattern, you have all the needed information, but if you experiment with yarn, understand the yarn weight and choose the same or similar fibre.
The trick to fixing the mistake of choosing the wrong yarn is to research the yarn weight and the needle sizes that go with it. Another trick is to knit a gauge swatch. It will give an idea of how your knitted project will look and how the yarn behaves. If you are unsure, take a look at our blog on why gauge swatch is so important.
Mistake #2: The wrong cast on
There are numerous ways to cast on your knitting project. Basically, every cast-on does the same thing. It forms loops on a needle that get worked off by pulling yarn through them with a second needle. But a common knitting mistake made by many beginners is using the same cast-on method on all projects and not following the pattern designer’s instructions. Each type of cast-on has a purpose to either create a stretchy edge like needed in socks and hats or a tight fit that lets the necks of sweaters lie flat.
If you have made the mistake of choosing the wrong cast-on, the trick is to unravel and begin again. The cast-on is the framework of your project, so you cannot go ahead with the wrong method. The result will not be what you wanted!
Mistake #3: Too tight stitches
When you’re first starting out as a knitter, you’re full of excitement as you should be. After all, knitting is fun and healing. But sometimes, you are so focused you start gripping your needles and pulling at your yarn. You’re scared your stitches will fall off and knit too tight stitches. But the problem is that you can barely get your needles into the stitches.
The trick to fix this is either you unravel and begin fresh by casting and knitting once again or continue with loose stitches so that your project adjusts. You can play around with yarn tensioning methods to find a fit. If you typically knit with a tighter tension, move your stitches to a larger needle size. Once again, a gauge swatch will help in fixing the problem. If you notice this mistake after binding off, then you can fix this with blocking. You can refer to our blog to learn about blocking your project.
Mistake #4: Not keep a count of rows
When you are a beginner, you are focused on the stitch formation that you make the mistake of not keeping a count of the rows. Losing the count of rows results in losing place in the pattern instructions.
If you have committed this mistake, the trick to fix this is using stitch markers at regular intervals or end of the row. A row counter will also be great. There are options of row counters that fit on your knitting needles, clicky, row counter rings and more. Many knitters love the row counter rings, as they make beautiful jewellery and show your status as a proud knitter.
To conclude, besides these four common ones, there are many mistakes that you as a beginner might make but don’t take them harshly. Each mistake is a lesson and with time, you will get better. The key to avoiding common knitting mistakes is, practice and practice. Knitting is fun and with the right tools and accessories from KnitPro, you’ll have a pleasurable time.
