So, I'm learning how to knit...

[Mama Rophe]

What is a good first project? If you have links I would love them. I would eventually like to make a few wool soakers for ds and the baby.(who is yet to show his/her face) Is it smart to use this as a first project or should I start with something else? TIA!

[Moon]

I would do a washie or two or a scarf first just to get yourself comfortable with the knit and purl stitch. www.knittingknonsense.com has lots of free washie patterns, they have pictures put in them with reverse stitches. Super easy, all you have to do is cast on, knit, purl, and count. After that a soaker makes a pretty easy project! For a basic soaker all you need to know is knit, purl, and k2tog (a simple decrease, knitting two stitches together as one).

[ChristianMother27]

scarves are really easy. just get a row as wide as you want, then knit each stitch till it's as long as you want, then bind off

hats are almost as easy. they start off the same as scarves, just towards the end you start decreasing the stitches and bind off, then sew it up the side with yarn.

[cklewis]

:yes i like scarves too. so many pretty yarns too.

c

[Mama Rophe]

so what's a good easy to follow pattern for a soaker? I like to think ahead and slowly buy what I need.

http://tierra-verde.8m.com/soaker.html this one seems pretty straight forward. Is there an easier one or am I dreaming.

[Moon]

My personal faves for free patterns are Curly Purly (http://www.curlypurly.com/soaker.html) and Punk Knitters (http://www.livejournal.com/community/punk_knitters/110889.html).

[Mama Rophe]

I'm not quite up to speed on knitting jargon... :O

Could you tell me what size of needles I would need to do the punk knitters one?

[Moon]

That depends on what size your yarn is. :-) I would take a guess at a size US7 or 8 with a nice worsted weight yarn. She gives you a gauge of 5 stitches per inch, and expects you to mix n match yarn and needle sizes til you meet that. You can make a small swatch, about 20 stitches by 15 rows, with your needle and yarn combo, then measure how many stitches and rows per inch you're getting, those numbers will be your gauge. Does that help? Nearly every pattern will give their gauge, for the size to come out right you should match it as best you can. Once you're more familiar with how the project will turn out it's easier to be off a bit and compensate by adding or taking out stitches and/or rows with a different gauge. www.knittinghelp.com has videos you can watch, and explains some basics.