Baby Knitting Patterns.

By Alexis Kenne

Knitting is a centuries old way to make cloth that has made quite a comeback in recent years. It's no longer considered a pastime for grandmothers alone. More and more people of all ages have been learning to knit, and this simple needlework craft lets people express their creativity by making items that are both functional and beautiful. Whether you prefer low maintenance, machine wash items or luxurious and posh, there's always something new to knit.

Most people associate knitting with bulky sweaters or pastel baby blankets. Knitting can make much more than that, however. Some people like to try their hand at many different projects. They may make a scarf one week, and a delicate sweater set the next. Others specialize in a certain type of item, like socks. Hand knitted socks certainly can be a luxury.

Many knitters combine knitting and other kinds of crafts. Wool felting is commonly used in knitting, for example. Knitters may use wool yarns to create larger versions of patterns for any number of items, including handbags, mittens, and slippers, which can then be wash and dried to shrink and felt the pieces. These items are weatherproof and durable, and will last for many years.

The most amazing works of knitted art must be the incredible spiderweb lace shawls, however. They are so delicate it is almost like they are made of gossamer themselves. These shawls are usually made of luxury fibers like cashmere, mohair and the softest of wools.

Most kinds of knitted articles can be crafted using either fine wool yarns or acrylic yarns. Fine wool is bit pricier and requires extra care, whereas acrylic is inexpensive, and durable to last through many rounds of re-stitching. This makes acrylic the ideal yarn for beginners. Once you've become more proficient with your knitting, you may want to try a luxurious yarn like fluffy, soft merino wool. Superwash merino doesn't shrink, so it's a great choice for knitted socks.

Wool blends with mohair, angora, or cashmere are great for knitting items to keep warm in the winter, like sweaters, hats, and scarves. Wool yarns, like their acrylic counterparts, are available in an endless variety of colors and weights. The only limits are your creativity and your budget.

If you are new to knitting, you may want to obtain a helpful beginner's guide and kit that will take you through some basic stitches and teach you how to read knitting patterns. Just about any craft shop sells kits for scarves and hats. Once you've mastered the basic knit and purl stitches, you can move on to a more involved project. Most of the intricate designs that you see in knitting are created from these two basic stitches, or simple variations of them. As you become more confident, you can try an even bigger or more detailed project. Don't overlook the finishing touches. This can make the difference between creating a lovely and eye catching piece, or ending up with something that looks sloppy and unfinished. Small finishing tasks like blocking the final piece in the proper shape and weaving in the tail ends of the yarn are important.

You'll feel a sense of pride and accomplishment once you finish your projects and begin to wear them. Before long, you'll be adept at knitting handmade gifts for friends and family that will be cherished through the years.

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