Wednesday 9 March 2016


Do you remember learning to knit or crochet?  Do you remember who taught you?  Whether it was a family member or at a yarn shop we are sure you well remember the thrill of learning something new and the excitement about all the things you would be able to make.

At KnitPro we know how important it is that the skills of knitting and crochet are kept alive and we are always keen to support the wonderful teachers out there. So we thought we would highlight some of the fantastic resources available on line to help you pass on your skills to others.

YouTube

The number of tutorials on YouTube can be a little overwhelming but there are some excellent tutorials that you can access very easily.

 One of the great ambassadors involved in the knitting revival is Debbie Stoller from Stitch ‘N Bitch fame.  Her video provides a great introduction to get you started. 



If you are looking for crochet hints and tips you might like to check out vlogger Bella Coco who has lots of tutorials from basic techniques to hints and tips

Magazines
Simply Crochet is one of our favourite magazines and they have a great archive of tutorials to guide you through a wide range of techniques.  Here's the link.
Let’s Knit is a very popular magazine in the UK and they also have an extensive archive of step-by-step tutorials you can access here

Websites

If you want to see KnitPros in action check out the AllKraftz website for both knitting and crochet help. 


Knittinghelp.com has lots of videos alongside free patterns to help you practise your newly acquired skills.  If you are looking for more advanced techniques we recommend Techknitting.com 

Crochetabout.com has great tutorials and free patterns which even help you with yarn recommendations and of course no post about crochet tutorials would be complete with out Attic24 where Lucy guides you through the techniques she uses in her free designs. 


If you are a yarn shop that teaches knitting and crocheting for beginners please do contact us to find out how we can help you knitproeu@gmail.com

39 comments:

  1. love the tutorials on you tube by bella coco so informative

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    1. I made my first granny square using the Bella Coco tutorial on YouTube

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  2. I taught myself to crochet when I was 11 (don't remember much any more, which was a slight issue when I had to make 3 squares for a group baby blanket. Thank goodness for friends and the internet!). My maternal grandmother taught me to knit when I was 12.

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  3. My mother started to teach me how to crochet when I was 5, and then promptly forgot until I asked her again in my 20s. She grudgingly got me back on that path... which I later abandoned nearly completely when I finally managed to crack casting on in knitting after nine years (being left-handed is hard!). I had a beginner knitting book, and once I managed that casting on, I worked it through until I had done just about all the patterns.

    Now, if I'm stuck, I try to check out Bill Souza's stuff (http://www.yarncraftsforlefties.com/), as his videos and site are orientated towards the lefty knitter... but I figured out enough right-handed knitting that I can usually translate things on my own now.

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  4. I have been crocheting for just over 3 years now and learnt watching a few YouTube videos. I had tried and failed about 10years prior to that to learn both knitting and crochet but never really got past the beginning chains. For some reason it just didn't sink into my younger brain. Second time around though learning crochet proved a breeze and I found I really loved Amigurumi. I'm not the world's most patient person so tended to side step blankets in favour of smaller, quicker projects. Last year however I gave the Stylecraft Lilypond Cal a try and since then have made all sorts of blankets, in fact it's become somewhat of an addiction. It's taken me until this year to learn to knit though. I made it my 2016 New Years Resolution. I still don't feel as comfy with two needles as I do with my trusty hook but I use Knit Pro for both and wouldn't be without them.

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  5. My mum taught me to knit left handed but failed to teach me how to crochet left handed. However I remember sitting on the arm of her chair watching her crochet. When she went to make a cuppa I picked her crocheting up and carried on with her crocheting. I think I was about 10 years old when I finally got the hang of it. I knit left .handed and I crochet right handed.

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  6. I learnt to knit when I was little, but didn't knit for years, then retaught myself :) I find online tutorials and videos very useful for the more complicated stitches that I'm unsure about.

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  7. I remember my mum teaching me to knit, when I was around 7 years old. I made my first jumper at the age of 12, just a simple crew neck in stocking stitch with a burgandy colour double knit yarn, but I can't remember the make of it.

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  9. As a leftie, my mother was unable to teach me her way, but I picked it up when I was expecting my first baby - that was the impetus I needed. What a joy crochet and knitting have been to me over the years. Now I am a full-time housewife and my favourite time is after lunch when I have a quiet rest and knit

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  10. I can remember my mother knitting and certainly remember the poncho she made me! I am sure we did some basic knitting in the brownies too. I didn't really take it up until I was taken ill a few years ago, when I was recuperating after surgery, I got a ball of wool, needles and a paper pattern from a local shop and started a scarf, I must have pulled some knowledge from years ago with my mum and the brownies! Unfortunately I ended up back in hospital for 3 weeks and just focused on my scarf to get me through each day! When I got home I tried to learn more with the help of you tube. More recently my step daughter has taught me to crochet and again with the help of YouTube I have progressed with that and now we have a new baby on the way I have never been busier!

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  11. I learned to crochet a little over a year ago by watching videos on youtube and reading crochet sites. Bought yarn and a KnitPro Waves crochet hook and crochet a Granny Square Blanket. I will crochet for the rest of my life, there's isn't a better hobby.

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    1. My name didn't know. It's Birgitta. :)

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  12. I can remember my mother teaching me to knit and crochet when I was around 7 for which I am grateful...it is a hobby that brings me so much satisfaction and I am constantly learning new tricks and appreciating the refinements made to the tools over the years.

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  13. I can remember my mother teaching me to knit and crochet when I was around 7 for which I am grateful...it is a hobby that brings me so much satisfaction and I am constantly learning new tricks and appreciating the refinements made to the tools over the years.

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  14. I can remember my mother teaching me to knit and crochet when I was around 7 for which I am grateful...it is a hobby that brings me so much satisfaction and I am constantly learning new tricks and appreciating the refinements made to the tools over the years.

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  15. My mother taught me when I was very young, I also had a Ladybird book "Learn to knit". When I was older an old lady showed me how to knit in multiple yarns, and another showed my friend and me how to crochet. Since then it's been books and another friends who knitting and crochet I love. I'll never be as good as her but I can try!

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  16. My mum taught me to knit, but was never a good tutor! I taught myself to crochet about 8 years ago and last year started reteaching myself how to knit. Finding it much easier to do with interchangables than straights! Would love to win the draw. -Elle

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  17. INTERNET! There was none around me who does knit or crochet, so I dig all the movies and blogs (and books too) to teach myself.
    After a year of struggling, I finally got it! It's been two years and I still have the passion for knitting and crocheting.

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  18. My grandmother taught me to knit a million years ago. Sadly, it didn't stick (or so I thought). About 12 years ago, I decided I wanted to knit and as she was sadly gone, I took to the Internet for help. A few videos later and muscle memory kicked in. The rest is history :)

    I never learned to crochet, though I tried to pick it up a few times. I think if I took an actual class I might do better (she says, optimistically!)

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  19. My mum taught me to knit at about 8 years old ( my first jumper , it took 12 months) I am now closer to 60 than 50 and am teaching my grand children .... a wonderful skill for life ... many lessons can be learned from knitting or crocheting ...patience, creativity and a passion for yarn and good tools(LOL)also for giving as even one humble square becomes a blanket when joins with friend !!!!

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  20. My mother taught me to knit as a young teengaer, I stopped knitting in my mid twenties and stated again five years ago. My friend taught me to crochet. We help each other out with any craft problems.

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  21. My mother taught me to knit as a young teengaer, I stopped knitting in my mid twenties and stated again five years ago. My friend taught me to crochet. We help each other out with any craft problems.

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  22. I taught my self from books and you tube ...you tube is such a fantastic resource. I have since joined a knit n crochet group and learned all sorts of tips from fantastic people. X

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  23. My mother taught me when I was 10 but I didn't start knitting until 40 years later. I took a beginner's class on knitting a felted bag at one of our local recreation center for a refresher course. I was surprised how much came back to me. I been knitting every day since.

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  24. My maternal gran taught me to crochet when I was six and a good few years later I learned more about it from a couple of books. So I've been crocheting for about 45 years but I've only been a serious knitter for 5 years. My Mum taught me to knit when I was 7 but I didn't like it as much as crochet so for about 40 years I only took up the pins occasionally - when we had to learn at school for instance. Fast forward to five years ago and I challenged myself to knit socks for my Mum - she had started them but had only done one cuff before they got relegated to the bottom of the pile (Mum didn't even notice the yarn & pins had vanished) her face was a picture when I gave her them! With all the rattling down and re-knitting I had knitted the equivalent of 3.5 pair's to get that one pair but it was worth it because that was me well and truely hooked and my knitting had gone from strength to strength since. My KnitPro Symphonies were certainly well worth buying, they are very well used and well loved!

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    1. Hi Lesley, You have won the needles. Please send me your postal address to knitproeu@gmail.com and I will get them sent on to you.

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  25. Love the Granny Square tutorial. I don't crochet much, but it's a good skill to have!

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  26. I have been knitting for 40 years and crocheting for about 6 years. I teach both my lys in Australia, where I also work. Video tutorials are a great guide for helping us learn and refine techniques and stretch our abilities . I have sets of Knit Pro interchangeable Symfonies and Karbonz and wouldn't use anything else. Cheers, Karen.

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  27. I also learned to knit as a child. Later in college I started to crochet. Later still I took up knitting and now teach at my local knit shop. I love interchangeable needles.

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  28. I love knit pro circular interchangeable needles! Laura

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  29. I learnt to knit a child - actually can't remember not being able to knit! Then learnt to crotchet when expecting my first child. Started using KnitPro wooden interchangeables a few years ago and love them - no aching hands and I really enjoy my crafts again :)

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  30. I learned to knit as a child to make outfits for my Barbie doll in the 60's. Imagine an 8 year old with very small needles and fingering yarn. Took me some time to return, but now knit all the time!

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  31. My grandmother was my knitting muse. She was really a designer and knew everything about knitting. I usually look for tutorials online for best results in my projects.
    asteride on Ravelry

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  33. I love these tutorials. I learned to knit and crochet when I was a child. My daughter wants to learn now (at 30!), but I have my own (considered wrong) style. I will use these tutorials to help her.

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  34. My mum taught me to knit when I was five, but I've always wanted to crochet as well so i am now taking lessons!

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  35. I taught myself crochet from books that had grainy B&W pictures where you couldn't make out where the yarn started or finished - it wasn't easy! The pictures & diagrams in books have improved vastly since then, but video tutorials on the internet make it so much easier - not only for beginners, but for when I want to learn a more advanced technique.

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