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Part 1: Casting On
A beginner’s leap into knitting, one stitch at a time.
In my last blog, I shared that I was finally going to learn how to knit. Well… I’ve taken the plunge and started the project! After a lot of research on Instagram and YouTube, I came across a pattern called The Step-by-Step Sweater by Florence Miller.
What appealed to me straight away was how beginner-friendly it seemed. Florence has created an incredibly detailed YouTube tutorial where she talks you through every stage, slowly and clearly, so it feels manageable even if you’re completely new to knitting. On top of that, she generously provides the full written pattern for free. A couple of weeks ago, I sat down and watched the entire video from start to finish, just to see if I thought I could do it.
What Was Holding Me Back?
Before I cast on, there were a few things standing in my way:
- Too much of the wrong yarn. My stash was overflowing, but I knew most of it wasn’t yarn I’d want to knit with. So, during a week off, I sorted through the lot and donated a big bundle to my sister-in-law, who’s just learning to crochet. It felt great to de-stash and know it was going to good use—I even passed along hooks and other supplies I didn’t need.
- The “use up the stash first” mindset. I’d convinced myself I had to crochet through what I already owned before I could start knitting. I made a couple of shawls for the autumn/winter season, which was lovely, but the itch to knit didn’t go away.
- Not having the right tools. All I owned were the 4mm needles I’d bought in Helsinki, and I wasn’t sure what else I’d need. Eventually, I decided—why not knit and crochet from my stash at the same time? With my birthday at the end of August, I treated myself to a set of circular needles so I could finally get going.
Tools, Yarn, and Getting Started
After lots of research, I settled on the KnitPro Symfonie Deluxe set of interchangeable circular needles. I found them for a good deal on Amazon—perfect for a beginner like me who wasn’t ready to invest in the expensive brands just yet. The set has everything from 3.5mm to 8mm needles, with a range of cable lengths, so it felt like a good all-rounder to get me started.
For yarn, I decided to use up some of the Caron Cotton Angel Cakes I had left over from mystery bundles. I had five balls in grey, which seemed like a safe choice for a practice sweater.
Following Florence’s advice, I made a gauge swatch before casting on. I knitted it up, washed and blocked it, and to my surprise—I hit gauge with the Caron Cotton! That was such a confidence boost. Even better, I knew I’d have plenty of yarn for the sweater and could work out exactly how much more I’d need if I made another one in a different colour.
So—with the tools, yarn, and pattern ready—it was finally time to begin.
Casting On (and a Rocky Start)
I measured myself, as the pattern suggested, then cast on using the long-tail method Florence recommended. I was so excited to finally start! But straight away, I hit a stumbling block.
I had 72 stitches cast on and joined in the round with 4.5mm needles on a 40cm cable—but it was way too tight. I couldn’t knit or purl comfortably, and it just wasn’t working. Then I remembered Florence mentioning the magic loop method later in the video.
So, I gave it a try. At first, it felt fiddly and frustrating, even with the help of another YouTube tutorial. I struggled, doubted myself, and even asked ChatGPT for help (which told me to “trust the process” and gave me a step-by-step guide).
And what do you know—after a few rounds, it suddenly clicked. I was knitting using magic loop! By the time I stopped for bed, I had half the collar done. I couldn’t believe it.
Feeling Proud (and Excited for What’s Next)
Right now, I’m feeling pretty impressed with myself for overcoming those first obstacles. It’s such a great feeling to see the stitches grow into something real, and I can’t wait to finish work each day so I can jump straight back in. I love seeing the difference between knitted fabric and the crochet fabric I’m so used to, and the sense of achievement when you push through challenges and come out with a new skill is just the best. I honestly can’t wait to keep going and see this jumper take shape.
Real Time Knitting Update
So far, it’s taken me around 3 hours to get to the point where I’m halfway through the collar. That includes all the back-and-forth trying to get the hang of the magic loop method, as well as working through the ribbing (which is definitely slower). Once I move on to the main body, where it’s just knit stitches all the way, I think it will grow much quicker.
Next up, I’ll be learning two completely new-to-me techniques: German short rows and increasing stitches for the yoke. I’m excited (and a little nervous!) to see how I get on with these.
✨ To be continued… Next time I’ll share how I got on once the collar was finished and the body began to take shape.
💡 Looking for more inspiration?
Knitting magazines are a great way to discover new patterns, learn techniques, and stay motivated while you work on bigger projects. At Unique Magazines, we stock favourites like Laine, and many more – delivered straight to your door.
