DIY fashion: a guide to knitting

A person knitting © Fotolia VI - Fotolia.com

Take fashion into your own hands and get knitting. Marissa-Catherine Carrarini patches together some answers to common questions

  • Q:

    I want to learn to knit - is it best to go to a class or can I just join a knitting group?

  • A:

    It depends how confident you are - a knitting class is more focused on the learning process and may be best if you are feeling a bit wobbly. However, a knitting group can be more fun, cheaper (free, in fact), potentially more creative and there will always be someone to help you.

  • Q:

    I have signed up for a knitting class - is there anything I need to bring along?

  • A:

    It is always useful to bring your own needles and yarn, but it's not normally necessary - classes should supply basic equipment.

  • Q:

    I am a 24 year old man and would like to join a knitting circle, but don’t want to be surrounded only by women - what do you recommend?

  • A:

    Some knitting groups can get pretty girly, but many groups, such as I Knit London, are much more mixed. Started by Craig Carruthers and Gerard Allt, I Knit is more pints of beer than pots of tea.

    There are also knitting circles aimed specifically at gay men. Queer Stitch n’ Bitch, for example, regularly meet in London’s Soho.

  • Q:

    I am left-handed - can I still learn to knit?

  • A:

    “It doesn't matter whether you are left- or right-handed because knitting is a two-handed craft," says knitting teacher Aneeta Patel. "However, crochet can be tricky as it's 'hand specific', so it's hard for a right-handed person to teach a lefty.”

  • Q:

    I have tried knitting before and couldn’t get my head around it - is there anything else I can try?

  • A:

    If knitting really isn’t your cup of tea, Rachael Matthews of knitting circle Cast Off recommends crochet. “Some people adapt to knitting very easily, but other people’s minds work differently. If you have a circular ways of thinking, you may find crochet easier and more fun.”

  • Q:

    I can knit but I can’t read patterns - are they easy to learn?

  • A:

    “Most patterns are written by very accomplished knitters who often assume the knitter knows things they might not. This can make patterns confusing and off-putting,” says Patel.

    But this isn’t the end of the crafty road - a good teacher should be able to teach you to read patterns. Alternatively, Rachael Matthews’ book Knitorama: 25 Great and Glam Things to Knit can help ease the stress and confusion of following a knitting pattern.

  • Q:

    Where can I find patterns for cool, designer stuff?

  • A:

    Eco knitting shop Loop sells some wonderfully unusual and fashionable patterns, or you could experiment with some older patterns. “Things are much more experimental now," says Linda Brown from the Stitch n’ Bitch knitting group in Brighton. "People are actively encouraged to break away from traditional methods of knitting and stitching and attack these crafts from a new angle. Discard traditional knitting patterns and make it up as you go along!”

    Knitting can also be a way of having your designer cake and eating it. “People come in to the knitting classes and say things like they have seen this beautiful Comme des Garçons jumper and they want to make it. I love helping people make what they fantasise about,” says Mathews.

  • Q:

    Can knitting really save me money?

  • A:

    Unless you buy very expensive yarn, doing it yourself is definitely cheaper, especially for things like babies booties, soft toys, cushion covers and decorations. And reproducing top end designer knits amounts to a saving many times over.

    Knitting also gives you the skill to mend, accessorise or enhance clothes instead of just throwing them away. Not only does this save you cash, but it is one of the most eco-minded things you can do with your wardrobe.

  • Q:

    How can I knit on a budget?

  • A:

    You can easily save money by buying bargain basement yarn and needles at street markets or charity shops. Or unravel an old jumper and start again with a different pattern. The Knitting and Crochet Guild also have a section on their website where you can swap yarn and equipment for free.

    It is also worth remembering that handmade knitted items often last longer than high street alternatives. So while a hand knitted jumper may cost about the same as a cheap high street equivalent, you’ll get more use out if it. “Personally I cherish my hand knits and keep them a lot longer than shop bought items, which seem to end up in the bin rather quickly,” says Davis.

  • Q:

    Where can I buy eco-knitting products?

  • A:

    There are plenty of options for greener knitters.

    • Purlescence is a great stop for luxurious eco materials.
    • Prick Your Finger sell local, organically dyed, organically farmed wool, as well as yarns made out of recycled waste and old saris.
    • Eco Annie sells many different yarns made from organic hemp, bamboo and waste materials.