What you should buy when you start knitting

When starting out with knitting, it's important to have a few basic supplies to get you started. Here are some essential items you should consider purchasing:

Knitting Needles:

Invest in a pair of knitting needles suitable for beginners. The most commonly recommended size for beginners is US size 8 (5mm) straight or circular needles. You can choose between wood, bamboo, metal, or plastic needles based on your preference.

Photo Courtesy of Knit Picks. Knit Picks Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set

We recommend a set of interchangeable knitting needles for beginners so that you can make an array of projects without having to buy new needles for every project. Read our blog post on interchangeable knitting needles if you aren’t sure that you want to make the investment.

Yarn:

Obviously, you will need yarn when you start knitting, but we recommend making your first projects with yarn more suitable for beginners. Generally, medium-weight (worsted) yarn is easiest to work with. Look for yarns made of smooth and light-colored fibers, as they make it easier to see your stitches. Avoid textured or novelty yarns as they can be more challenging for beginners. Additionally, we recommend using more affordable yarn at first and progress to expensive yarn as you progress. Red Heart is a great yarn that checks all of these boxes. It isn’t super soft but it is great for practicing.

Notions Kit:

A cheap notions kit from Amazon will proivde you with many of the tools you need when you begin knitting: scissors, tape measure, stitch markers, progress keepers, cable needles, tapestry needles, and more.

Row Counter:

A row counter helps you keep track of your rows, especially in more intricate patterns. You can find physical row counters or use smartphone apps designed for this purpose. For pretty row counters for your Instagram-worthy progress pictures, check out our most popular row counters here.

Stitch markers:

Stitch markers are used to mark specific stitches or sections in your knitting. They come in various forms, such as plastic rings or locking markers. They can be particularly helpful for complex patterns or when working in the round. Our shop offers many cute and useful stitch markers to make Instagram worthy progress pictures! Find them here.

Knitting Gauge Tool:

A knitting gauge tool, also known as a swatch ruler, helps you measure your gauge accurately. It ensures that your stitches match the required size indicated in patterns. Our ruler also allows you to measure the size of your needles.

Beginner-Friendly Patterns or Books:

Look for knitting patterns or books specifically designed for beginners. They often include step-by-step instructions and simple projects to practice various techniques. Our favorite books are ones that teach you different types of stitches and allow you customize your own pattern for whatever project you have in mind: Vogue Knitting and 750 Knitting Stitches.

Courtney’s Cozy Knits also sells knitting patterns and you can find them here. Our pattern best suitable for beginners is the Basic Double Brim Beanie.

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.