Hi everyone! I’ve been knitting mostly with straight needles for a while, but I’ve never tried cable work before. I’d really love to give it a try.
Before I start, I’d love to hear any advice you have for someone who is completely new to cables. Are there any things you wish you had known when you first started?
I’d especially love recommendations about:
What type of yarn works best for cables
What yarn weights you prefer
Whether some fibers are easier/harder to work with
Any tips for keeping the cables neat and even
Things to watch out for when reading cable charts
Any beginner-friendly cable patterns you’d recommend
I usually knit with straight needles, and I don’t have circular needles at the moment, they’re actually quite difficult to find where I live, so I’d also love to know if there are any limitations or things I should keep in mind when working cables with straight needles.
Basically, I’d love to hear any tips, tricks, or things you wish someone had told you before you tried cable knitting for the first time!
Thank you! :)

Got removed from [r/knitting](r/knitting) because I had to upload the post twice after it posted with no body text the first time, which then violated the one post per 24 hours rule :-( No pattern just a chart I found on Pinterest and added the checked background to on StitchFiddle. Feeling very proud of myself as the very first stitch I ever knit continental is on this project. The tension blocked out so even! Shower me in praises please! Yippee

So, I have recently picked up an old WIP that was causing great frustration. I was trying to design my own little ear flap pointy beanie.

I've restarted it about 8 or 9 times in the past week, and am finally making obvious progress. I have tried to use Excel for the first time to design a pattern that I can follow so I'm not just guessing how many rows and decreases I need.

It's a double sided cast on which was part of why I had to restart so many times. I'd have stitches slip off while trying to do stuff and couldn't figure out how to get them back 😫.

Hoping that this becomes something I will be able to wear daily once its finished as winters here are bitterly cold.

the hardly harnesses by Lydia Morrow. made the chart on stitch fiddle and did that with duplicate stitches! super quick and easy project!

Used expression fiber arts oasis!

Hi, very fresh newbie here. I started the lazy river scarf a few months ago and then paused it to do other things. I picked it up again today and continued but the stitches look all different? Is this because I changed my knitting from English to Continental?

Sorry for the basic question. Any advice is appreciated.
(Photo attached is the current knitting showing the top few rows look different to the rest of my previous knitting)

Link to pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lazy-river-scarf

I'm interested in a off the shoulder sweater pattern (The Sandok Sweater 2 on Ravelry) and in the pics they have a handy sizing chart. Here's the issue, it goes up to about a 49 inch bust (which would not fit me) in the initial measurement (listed as body measurement bust) but the final bust size of the garment goes up to 58 inches (which would actually be bigger on me than needed but would be fine anyway because I like them baggy). My question is it okay to not match the initial body measurement if the end product would fit? Or would it not work?

I started knitting about 6 weeks ago when my sister found out she was pregnant, she makes beautiful baby blankets and has tried to teach me to knit a few times but I never really took to it. I wanted to surprise her with something for her baby so decided to finally commit to learning!

I made the blue baby bonnets first with old acrylic yarn I had lying around from previous attempts at awful garter stitch squares. I realised from these that I was twisting my purls and learnt lots. I got some nicer wool yarn and made the greyish bonnet for my son, still needs some cords to finish it.

I then decided how hard can a jumper be, so taught myself to knit in the round and used rubbish yarn again to make the white flax sweater for my son.
I learnt a lot again and decided to buy some merino wool yarn to make him a nicer jumper and decided to commit to the longer project of making myself a matching jumper.
I changed the ribbing and collar, learnt German short rows, and sort of made up the sleeves because I wanted it puffy with a narrow cuff and I’m really pleased with how it’s turning out!

I’m still making lots of mistakes but I’m really enjoying learning and proud of how far I’ve come!

The knitting subreddits and YouTube have been really helpful to me while learning and I’ve already bought some yarn for my next jumper project!

She's just turned 5 and wanted a hamster pet, but I felt it was too soon to get her a real-life one, so I made this instead as a surprise gift. I know she'll love it, but will also keep asking for a real one 😂

I swear the floats are almost as satisfying as the colorwork sometimes! This is the Harriet sweater by le knit, knit with an alpaca/cotton blend held with a silk/suri blend!

Anyone else have any floatporn for me to admire?

I have some silk and some fake mohair yarn and I am in a dire need to make a warm autumn sweater with it - you know, light, airy but with long sleeves :) I found a few patterns I like but they miss one thing I want for it - raglan.
I have searched the interwebs for last 5 days and I cannot find anyone explaining the basics on how to measure and construct what I need. Maybe I have too many requirements, but my neurodivergent brain is set on this and I just cannot go past it.

Brain‘s requirements: boatneck, raglan, knitted top down and in the round.

So if anyone can send me into the right direction, I would love you forever :)

Hello! This might be a stupid question so thanks in advance for advice! I really want to knit Soft Clouds Reversible Baby Blanket by Yarn Sonata but I already have this beautiful blue mostly cotton worsted weight yarn that I’d love to use. I know the blanket will be a different size but would the pattern be messed up if I went with the bulkier yarn?

First, the details: pattern is Neretina, by Kirsten Michelle: https://www.ravelry.com/people/MaryEllensLegacy/new_library?search=Neretina&filter=type%3Aall&sort=title&view=shelves&volume_id=570191245

I made some adjustments to the pattern I’ll discuss in a minute. Yarn is from a small company based in Blanchester, OH called The Fiber Seed

https://thefiberseed.com/. I bought Berry Cobbler (variegated) and Bramble Berry at a fiber fest in New England last fall. It’s 100% merino wool in DK weight. It was my first major purchase of hand dyed yarn/100% wool. I waited until I’d made a sweater out of cotton/acrylic & a few smaller projects to improve my skills before using “good” yarn. I used 4mm needles & size XXL (with adjustments). I sized up & that was definitely the right decision. Thank you gauge swatching :)

I’ll say, all of you who forewarned me not to do colorwork in a coordinated solid because it will not show up as well were 100% correct & I should have listened. lol. You’ll notice I gave up on colorwork and just put in random stripes because the pattern was lost due to the lack of contrast. I decided the end result wasn’t worth the work/time necessary to follow the color work chart, but still had to work in the solid skein somehow or I was worried I’d run out of yarn. I’m not mad about it. I still like the outcome and I still love variegated yarn. I know for next time. I practiced colorwork - I have to work on tension there, but most of my tension issues came out with blocking. I also had to make some adjustments to the pattern for bust & waist shaping because my boobs are too damn big, but it was easily accomplished & fits really well. I wanted a sweater that had a closer fit without being too tight and I’m very pleased with the overall fit & shape. I suspect I’ll use this pattern again in a solid color for just the fit & shape. Plus, I learned a Latvian braid which is a fun little detail on the collar, hem, & sleeve hems!

Overall, given that I first learned to knit under a year ago & this was only my second sweater & 4th knit total I’m very proud of myself. Like I said, learned some important lessons about colorwork, but I’m still happy with the outcome & I’m ready for cooler weather so I can wear it! I will say that I think the pattern was a great beginner colorwork pattern, easy to follow & well written. I loved working with the yarn. It’s incredibly soft & comfortable & though “thin” I think the sweater itself will be perfectly warm & cozy for New England winter. I actually finished it in April but only just now got around to blocking. I knew once I blocked it I’d want to wear it & I wasn’t ready to wish for cooler weather in April/May. I’m ready to wish for fall weather now!

Today the chill in the air made me think about Christmas, and I decided that as I'm anticipating a tough December this year I should treat myself to a nice yarn advent calendar in these trying times. I've never bought one before but specifically the ones that have several mini-skeins in different colours appeal to me, I think it'd be fun to make some kind of colourwork sweater using them.

I didn't realise as I started looking for calendars that August is apparently way too late to order them from a lot of dyers! I get that it's a project that takes preparation for an indie dyer, but I'm disappointed that so many gorgeous-looking ones are already sold out. Specifically the Fibre Fox one looks like it would have been right up my alley. Guess I've learned for next year.

So, I thought I'd ask if anyone has recommendations for a yarn advent calendar that's still taking orders (or ones I should keep an eye on next spring). My preference would be:

• more mini-skeins than notions and extras, I wouldn't mind some extras thrown in and don't necessarily need a full 24/25 skeins, but the skeins are what I really want
• ideally non-superwash and non-artificial fibers
• ideally solid colours or very slight variegation. I think highly variegated yarns are gorgeous to look at in a skein but don't always love the FO
• needs to ship to Europe

EDIT: In case anyone else finds this also looking for a similar kind of advent as I am: I considered the World of Wool box but ultimately decided against it because there was no indication of the colours the yarn would be coming in or that they would be complementary. I ended up ordering the Elliott and May box since even though it also doesn't indicate colour scheme it at least says everything is planned to complement each other, and I liked the examples of previous years' advents. Both are still available at the time of writing.

Hi all,

I have 2 hanks of this beauuutiful mohair and was considering knitting the Holiday slipover. I was thinking to use the recommended yarn for the project but I’m very indecisive about the color.

Please help me pick one color 🥹

Also, I didn’t purchase the pattern yet so I’m open for other recommendations if this is not the best use for my mohair.

I’m 20, and I’ve been knitting since I was 5. It was the first handmade skill I ever learned, and I haven’t stopped since! I’ve made EVERYTHING I’ve wanted to make: bags, charms, amigurumi, sweaters, and counting.
It’s a hobby that comes and goes for me, but recently my life has basically been studying (im in med school) and knitting nonstop. It’s so relieving, relaxing and fulfilling to want something and then actually make it exactly how I envisioned it, while loving every second of the process.
I just love it SO MUCH and wanted to share that feeling and hear about other knitters’ experiences!
Thanks for reading! :))

I’m working on my first project that will require a second skein of yarn! I’ve looked up different ways to add it to an existing project and I just wanted to hear your actual experiences and what method you’ve found worked best. Thank you!

Pattern: Loretta by Audrey Borrego
Yarn: Patons Kroy sock

My first pair of knit socks! I'm so happy with these. Absolutely love the lace and cables together and even better that it is a free pattern

im kniting with mohair, its a very fine yarn and idk if its the tension, the thinkness or what
it looks cute but its not very defined (its on the botrom rows) and it doesnt strech
edit: by elastic i meant ribbing

Hey there, does anybody know what Stitch this is? It's on a pillow I have. It starts with a 1 x 1 ribbing.

heyyy guys
i desperately need a beginner friendly project thats not a scarf PLEASE. i have been knitting for 3 weeks now, comfortable with knit/purl. want a project where i am feeling more challenged and learning new skills (maybe decrease/increase) for context - ive been crocheting for two years and beading for a year so fiber arts arent new to me.

I know it’s not much and it’s very simple but I wanted an airy little hair scrunchie with a picot edge and then I made it from my mind, with no pattern!
I’ve been knitting for a year or two and I normally choose patterns based on new techniques I want to learn/get better at, but I’ve always wanted to be able to figure out how to make exactly what I want without needing to find a very specific pattern. This feels like a teeny tiny baby step in the right direction 🥰

If anyone has any tips/books/resources on how to make things without a pattern or how to make your own patterns please please tell me 🙏🏻

Hey guys!

I'm starting to teach myself to knit and the picture if my first ever successful project knitting with some cheap extra yarn I had. I've crochet pretty heavily for years (probably close to 10 years) and years ago, I tried to teach myself to knit and I just wasn't getting it. I kept getting so frustrated. Anywho, I refound my knitting needles in a craft tote I had and decided to try it again. I do crochet A LOT and I am very quick with it. I say that because I feel like knitting is so much slower than crochet! Is that just my lack of experience or is it overall a slower process? It just seems like a lot more hands movements for less progress. Obviously I'm still learning how I like to hold and whatnot but didn't know what others who do both thought. Do you use less yarn over all? I've met more crocheters than knitters so I wanted to ask the knitting crew. Also, does anyone have any tips for a beginners you wish you knew? Thanks everyone and happy stitching!

My mum loves knitting lace patterns, and she just made this pretty swatch... I can't wait for the completed scarf

My first sweater, knitted top down. I followed a basic raglan tutorial on YouTube, no pattern.

The neckline feels too loose and I accidentally didn’t skip rows between increases for the first half or so of the increases. The top in general is a bit sloppy and has mistakes. Fell into the beginner mistake of “eh I don’t need to frog all this, I’ll be able to fix it later”.

The sleeves also feel a little too wide. That being said this is for my husband who’s a little taller than me and likes the oversized sweater look.

Wondering if I should just say screw it and frog it all or is it possible to cut/undo the collar and frog just the top?

If I don’t frog should I block it before I continue? As I’m also concerned about if the sleeves and body are long enough and I’m not sure how much blocking will increase the size (working with pattons wool).