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Learning to Knit – What was your first project?

By Tara, on October 26th, 2009

I’ve been working on the (soon to come!) Learn to Knit kit (get it 50% off by signing up here) and writing a pattern that will be good for beginners but not too boring. Scarves, in my opinion, take MUCH too long for a brand-new knitter! Thy need something quicker, to feel that sense of accomplishment.

And that got me wondering:
What was your first knitting project?

Leave your story in the comments.

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  • JeweledDragon

    My first really-and-truly completed knitting project (I'm not counting the knitting I did with squeaky acrylic as a kid, that never got cast off) was a scarf, but a short one — short enough to need pinning to stay on my neck. I still have it … dropped stitch hole and all. ;)

  • fairysari

    My first knitting project was a red acrylic toque for a little stuffed animal when I was 8 years old. My grandma cast on for me, and her friend ended up doing the decreases at the top for me.

  • http://www.knitsbyjess.etsy.com/ Jessica

    The first thing I can remember knitting was a little sweater made with white sparkly baby-weight yarn. I had planned to donate it to a charity group taking clothes for premature babies. I had no idea how to do the neck shaping so the fronts of the cardigan didn't match, and the sleeves ended up being different lengths. I also didn't understand picking up stiches for the button bands and didn't do enough stitches, so the whole thing scrunched up in the front! Needless to say, didn't end up donating that sweater after all!! Thankfully, I've learned a lot since then and my projects now turn out exactly as they should (well, for the most part anyhow!)

  • Richelle

    My brilliant friend started me with the Booga Bag by Black Sheep Bags. So smart of her! I would have died of boredom with a scarf and I learned lots of skills with the bag: garter stitch, picking up stitches, knitting in the rounds, and I-cord. And, best of all, no one could see where I flubbed it up thanks to the felting. It also made me brave enough to try almost anything. Nearly 4 years later, I'm totally addicted, still!

  • http://blondechicken.blogspot.com blondechicken

    That IS smart!
    Building skills AND confidence is so important for new knitters!

    Tara

    Blonde Chicken Boutique
    Local, Sustainable, Colorful Yarn

    ________________________________

  • http://www.peaceofmindorganizing.com/blog Janine Adams

    Mine was a garter-stitch flat, square bag from a Debbie Bliss book knit out of purple cotton, with a long handle. It didn't look half bad empty, but put something in it and it looked just awful. It was a decent learning experience, though.

  • http://www.string-revolution.com/ Lean Ni Chuilleanain

    Ooh, good question! I have a half-suppressed memory of a garter-stitch teddy-bear I knit in school when I was around six – it was made of pale brown acrylic, full of dropped stitches, and I *hated* it. I never finished it, so I refuse to count it as my first project!

    I made stuff for my Sindy doll, mostly, between then and my early teens – you can see an example in this post. The first actual grown-up Finished Object I can remember was a jumper (aka sweater), which I made when I was around 14. I knit strips of improvised fair-isle and cabling, then crocheted them together to make the front and back, added a pair of stripy batwing sleeves (look, it was the 80s, ok?), and crocheted a neck edging. My mother wore it after I got tired of it – she probably still has it somewhere.

  • Shelby

    My first completed project was the Big Bad Baby Blanket from Stitch n Bitch. It was great practice for knit and purl.

  • tattyfraney

    my first project was a scarf…. and it took me forever to finish! but i still wear it with pride, and because of the colour choice and pattern, no one can see where i messed up, which is a plus!

  • http://blondechicken.blogspot.com blondechicken

    That sweater sounds awesome! I just saw something similar while watching Buffy, Willow was wearing a sweater made up of knitted swatches, crocheted together, with crocheted sleeves. I'd love to make one like that.

    Tara

    Blonde Chicken Boutique
    Local, Sustainable, Colorful Yarn

    ________________________________

  • http://dangandblast.blogspot.com/ Marguerite

    Garter stitch headband in blue-and-white acrylic (hey, it was 1989!); we learned in an “activities” class (you could choose your activity, and I chose knitting) in 4th grade. Also started me off on a 2×2 ribbed scarf in the same yarn… I forgot how to knit for about 5 years following, picking it up again having to teach myself from the encyclopedia, and finished the scarf in 10th grade… still have it, too!

  • janalankford

    Wow! Didn't anyone start with Barbie doll clothes? Those sweaters take a LOT less time, and she really doesn't care if they're a little lop-sided. It just makes her that much more fashionable!

  • janalankford

    Wow! Didn't anyone start with Barbie doll clothes? Those sweaters take a LOT less time, and she really doesn't care if they're a little lop-sided. It just makes her that much more fashionable!

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