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Contemporary yarn crafts by Heidi Gustad. Knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame.

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Knewbies | Supply List & Basic Cast On

February 4, 2015 3 Comments

What do you buy when you're learning to knit from scratch? Check out this list of beginner supplies!

The first Knewbies post is finally here! For those of you have never visited the blog before, welcome! And for anyone who is brand new to knitting, I’m hoping you’re as excited to learn to knit as I am about writing these tutorials. :) I’ve taught friends to knit over a glass of wine, kids and teens to knit at the library, and more. While I can’t be there in person with some booze having tons of fun teaching you to knit, there’s nothing stopping you from enjoying your favorite beverage while you get on learning this new hobby.

What do you buy when you’re learning to knit from scratch?

When you’re brand new to knitting, all of the supplies can be overwhelming to choose among. And if you’re looking to learn this craft on a budget, you might be intimidated by how quickly things can add up. Here’s a run-down of what you really need on your first day of knitting!

The absolute necessities

To start, you need some yarn to practice with, a pair of needles and a cheapo pair of scissors. In the videos, I’ll be using the following:

  • Paton’s Classic Wool Bulky, which you can get at most big box craft stores.
  • Size 11 U.S. knitting needles (if you’re knitting along from another country 8mm is the equivalent size of a pair of U.S. 11 needles). For simplicity’s sake, I’d go with straight knitting needles, like the ones shown.
  • Literally any pair of scissors. I’ve been known to use nail clippers or a key in place of scissors if I get desperate while working on a knitting project.

What do you buy when you're learning to knit from scratch? Check out this list of beginner supplies!

I included the graphics to look for on the yarn label in case you want to use something other than the Paton’s yarn, but don’t be scared off! You can just look for a yarn with that “5 bulky” picture on it and you’ll be A-OK. :)

Optional, but useful, other supplies

  • A tapestry needle and/or crochet hook for weaving in ends. You need a needle with an eye big enough for yarn to go through.
  • Ruler or stitch gauge to measure your needle size and stitches per inch.

What do you buy when you're learning to knit from scratch? Check out this list of beginner supplies!

How to do a beginner knitting cast on

How to do a beginner knitting cast on at HandsOccupied.com

Once you’ve got at least some yarn and needles, you are probably going to want to do more than look at them right? Instead of stressing over what exactly all of the symbols and the word gauge might mean, just start watching this video and practicing your cast on. Next week I’ll go over how to start working knit stitches so you can get started on your first-ever project!

Filed Under: Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: basic cast on, beginner knitting, beginner knitting cast on, beginner knitting supplies, how to knit, knewbies, knit, knitting 101, knitting cast on, learn how to knit, supplies

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

Previous Post: « Knewbies | Learn to Knit from Scratch!
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Comments

  1. Havok

    February 4, 2015 at 12:58 pm

    I am going to have to make a trip to the craft store!! Brilliant to start with the bulkier yarn, too – not only does it work up faster, but it’s easier to see!! :D

    Reply
    • Heidi

      February 5, 2015 at 10:58 pm

      Yay! So excited to have you :D

      Reply
  2. Heather

    February 20, 2015 at 7:42 am

    This was so easy to follow. I can’t wait to learn more!

    Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi, an author, yarn craft designer and content creator specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. My work unapologetically features primary colors and vintage-meets-modern style. My first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is now available!

Professionally I’m most known for: advanced intarsia knitting design & modern latch hook design.

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Craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. / #latchhookbook out now!
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knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Happy Wrestlemania weekend, folks!!! 🎊 It’s c Happy Wrestlemania weekend, folks!!! 🎊 It’s coincidentally International Punch Needle Rug Hooking Day today, so I’d be remiss not to share a first look at this project finished JUST in time to wear while I watch some rasslin’ on a pirate ship in a football stadium in Tampa! 💪🏻 I’m excited to watch tonight’s women’s matches the most. Eee!
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Pictured: A blond woman in a denim dress and glasses wearing a giant belt made with punch needle. The belt is made with wool in primary colors and was inspired by the WWE Universal Championship title belt. 
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This is just a preview - after jab 2.0 tomorrow (feeling grateful 🙏🏼), I’ll be editing together a vlog about the design process for this wooly waist cover. Sometimes it’s hard to know how to make some of your wilder craft ideas come to life. Stuff you’ll never find a pattern for, you know? I’ll finish editing that ASAP, but I might take a few days to edit if I feel like trash from 💉 and only want to watch wrestling and wrestling YouTube for a day or two. 😂
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#ipnrhd #punchneedle #wwe #wrestling #championshipbelt #wool #yarn #handmade #universalchampionship #universalchampion #rugmaking #wrestlingfan #wrestlemania37 #wrestlemania
A look at the halo on the back of my wrestling-ins A look at the halo on the back of my wrestling-inspired punch needle project! It’s interesting to see how fuzzy the handspun beige yarn is compared with the primary color sections of @knit_picks Wool of the Andes Bulky. ❤️💛💙🤎 
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Pictured: The back of an in-progress punch needle project. A wooden punch needle tool sits on the work.
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#punchneedle #woolrug #rugmaking  #kpambassadorsapr21 #sponsored #griefproject #handsoccupied #wrestlingfan #universalchampion #yarn #yarncraft #wool #needlepunch
Happy Easter / One week til Wrestlemania! Finishin Happy Easter / One week til Wrestlemania! Finishing up the punch needling part of this crazy @wwe inspired project by tonight. 💪🏻🧶 Anybody else have crafty plans for this fine spring day? 
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Pictured: A blond woman sits, smiling and holding an in-progress punch needle project inspired by the Universal Championship belt. Houseplants are in the background and there’s lots of sun. 
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#punchneedle #griefproject #handsoccupied #heidigustad #wrestlingcrafts #wwe #universalchampion #universalchampionship #wool #wooloftheandes #primarycolors #oxfordpunchneedle
I'm finally starting to get some of my energy back I'm finally starting to get some of my energy back from the past few weeks, and as I dip my toe back into production mode, the long-promised seamed sweater knitting YouTube series is at the top of my list. I've got FOUR versions of a simple sweater I've been playing with since last JULY to feature as a free pattern for folks who want to knit along during the series. Pictured is the first prototype for the series, knit in 2 colors of @knit_picks Mighty Stitch yarn. I imagine this soon-to-be short sleeved number will come in handy as an emergency Waldo costume or Christmas sweater. 🌲 
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I've got my own list of topics I think folks would like to see in a series like this: things like tips for construction, working with vintage patterns, how to seam as invisibly as possible, and more, but as always, I'd love to hear from you: What scares you about knitting seamed sweaters? What would be helpful to cover, especially since we'll be doing more long form video content. I get so much positive feedback on my series of 20 minute+ intarsia tutorials, so I'm using those as a starting point as I produce this series. Seamed sweaters using vintage or self-improvised patterns are one of my favorite things on the planet, so I'm eager to share some seamed sweater skills with y'all super sweet folks. 😉 
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Pictured: A red and white striped, short sleeved sweater knit in pieces that have yet to be seamed. They are laid out on a yellow and orange colorblock background and one sleeve is yet to be bound off. 
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#handsoccupied #seamedsweater #kpambassadorsmar21 #sponsored #knitpicks #waldo #waldosweater #wip #yarncraft #yarn #knitting #knittersofinstagram #heidigustad #vintageknitting #sweaterknitting
Work continues this evening on my absurd punch nee Work continues this evening on my absurd punch needle pro wrestling inspired championship belt project. I’ve finished most of the front pretty quickly thanks to the @knit_picks Wool of the Andes Bulky yarn I’m using. For now, I’ve got a couple more weeks until Wrestlemania, & I’m on track to finish this in time! 
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The biggest question I have is what to do with the “plates” - the open circles in the picture. Should I try to closely replicate the Universal Championship belt or go rogue and make it wool themed? Please advise in the comments. ☺️🧶🙏🏻🐑 
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Pictured: The front of an in-progress punch needle project. A wooden punch needle tool with navy yarn running through it rests on top of the work. 
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#kpambassadorsmar21 #sponsored #knitpicks #punchneedle #rugmaking #primarycolors #punchneedlerughooking #punchneedlelove #wool #wip #yarncraft #yarn #yarnaddict
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