5 things I wish every new knitter knew
The Outline Scarf / available in the pattern shop and ravelry
One of the questions I get asked most often is, "How do I start knitting?"
My quick simple answer: grab some yarn, a pair of needles, and learn the knit stitch. But after years of knitting, designing patterns, and teaching others, I've realized that the biggest challenges beginners face usually aren't technical.
They're mental.
Learning to knit isn't just about mastering stitches. It's about building confidence, developing patience, and giving yourself permission to be a beginner. If you're just getting started, or picking up your needles again after a long break, here are five things I wish someone had told me from the beginning.
1.Your first project doesn’t need to be impressive
It's easy to scroll through Instagram or Pinterest and assume your first project should be a perfect beautiful sweater, intricate lace shawl, or perfectly executed colorwork design. But your first project has a much simpler job: it should make you want to knit again tomorrow.
That's why I encourage new knitters to choose something they're genuinely excited about making. A scarf, hat, cowl, or simple garment can all be great first projects. The best beginner project isn't necessarily the easiest one. It's the one you'll actually finish and feel proud of.
If you enjoy the process, you'll be much more likely to pick up your needles again tomorrow. And in my experience, that's where the real learning happens.
2.Every knitter makes mistakes
I still make mistakes, and every designer I know does too. Dropped stitches, missed increases, and misread instructions are simply part of knitting.
One of the biggest shifts in my own knitting happened when I stopped treating mistakes as evidence that I wasn't good enough and started seeing them as part of the learning process. Every mistake teaches you something, whether it's how to fix a stitch, read your knitting more confidently, or simply move forward when things don't go perfectly.
The goal isn't to become a knitter who never makes mistakes. The goal is to become a knitter who doesn't let mistakes stop them from continuing.
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3.It’s okay to buy less yarn
This one would have saved me a lot of money.
When you're new to knitting, every skein feels full of possibility. You imagine all the sweaters you'll make, all the techniques you'll learn, and suddenly your yarn stash starts growing much faster than your finished projects.
Over the years, I've learned that it's okay to buy less yarn. In fact, I've found that I enjoy knitting more when I'm focused on the project in front of me rather than the dozen projects I might make someday.
Buy yarn for the project you're excited to cast on now. Your tastes will change, your skills will grow, and you'll develop a much better understanding of the fibers, colors, and projects you actually enjoy knitting.
This Cottino yarn is a beautiful beginner-friendly yarn that I’m loving right now.
If you’re into it, grab it. If not, that’s okay too. There will always be more beautiful yarn waiting for you.
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend materials I genuinely enjoy using in my own projects.
The Citylight Sweater / available in the pattern shop and ravelry
4.Finishing teaches more than perfection
One completed project will teach you more than five unfinished ones.
It's easy to get caught up in trying to make everything perfect. You restart. You rip back. You second-guess yourself. Before long, you're spending more time worrying about the project than actually knitting it.
Finished projects teach you about construction, fit, yarn choices, and your own preferences as a maker. Even if the result isn't perfect, you'll learn something valuable from seeing it through to the end.
Every finished project becomes the foundation for the next one.
5. The best thing you’ll gain isn’t a sweater
This might sound strange coming from a knitwear designer, but the best thing knitting has given me isn't a closet full of handmade garments.
It's the process.
Knitting has become a place to slow down, step away from screens, and focus on something tangible. It has taught me patience, given me a creative outlet, and reminded me that meaningful things are often built one small step at a time.
Of course I love the finished sweaters and scarves. But if you asked me why I've continued knitting for all these years, my answer wouldn't be the projects.
It's the feeling.
The quiet satisfaction of making something with your hands. The confidence that comes from learning a new skill. The simple joy of watching a ball of yarn become something useful and beautiful.
That's what keeps me coming back.
Ready to start knitting?
Explore my Northknits pattern collection for simple, thoughtful designs created to help you enjoy the process as much as the finished piece.
