How I did it: I took a four hour class (two evenings) at a local knitting shop. The class included four hours of instruction, a simple pattern, and all the wool and tools we needed to finish the project. The cost was $80 (Canadian).

The instructor showed us how to cast on 'in the round'. I learned a new cast on technique. I followed up by watching that same technique demonstrated on YouTube to make sure I was doing it correctly (in fact, I wasn't).

Most of the work on my hat was done at home. I made it through most of the decreases myself. At the last class, the instructor showed me how to transfer my work onto four double pointed needles so I could complete the hat.

Lessons & tips: Find an experienced knitter or a class to get started. Once you have the skills, knitting in the round is a no-brainer!

Be meticulous with your work in the beginning. Examine your stitches every few minutes to make sure you haven't dropped a stitch. If you're counting stitches before a decrease, double-check by counting backwards to the last decrease to make sure it's accurate.

Check, check and double-check! In the beginning, it's very easy to make a mistake.

Ask an experienced knitting to show you:
- how to pick up a dropped stitch
- how to rip out stitches and replace your work on the needle
- how to navigate your project and 'read' the stitches

Resources: YouTube is a wonderful resource to learn the basics if you're a visual learner.

Join Ravelry.com, the knitters online community. As you continue to knit, you can find help from others working on the same project.

Sep 26, 2009, 06:46AM PDT | 0 comments | 1 cheer