Progressive Knitting: Challenging Yourself to Be A Stronger Knitter

Every knitter has a few things that they really love to knit. For me, it's socks. I can't get enough socks --my default project will always be socks. Some knitters are prolific with sweaters, and some craft beautiful lace. Some knitters are happy just knitting the same garter stitch scarf over and over, but if you are not that knitter, let me give you some advice.

When you hear of a technique or you see a pattern that has a skill you haven't yet learned, don't run the other way. There are vast resources at your command that will help you broaden your knitting experience. There are countless books and video tutorials, but even if you're a knitter who needs to learn things hands on there are in-person resources for you too. By virtue of the fact that you are reading this, it means that you have this LYS to help you out. We have help sessions and classes and an expert staff that will be happy to help you solve your knitting problems. That's why we're here.

I've heard so many times "What a great sweater!... but I can't knit it because it starts with a provisional cast-on." I would imagine that these knitters have tried one version of a provisional cast on and had some problem that put them off. But wouldn't it be better and more liberating to try a different method until you find one that works for you, or to have brought in the troublesome cast-on and had an experienced someone help you figure out what went wrong?

The well of knitting experience is vast and deep. We have thousands of years experience distilled into our collective knitting knowledge. Why not tap into a small portion of that and learn some new things.

For your next project, I challenge you to find a technique you've never done (two-color knitting, a provisional cast-on, lace, or perhaps a certain kind of decrease that you want to get better at making) and pick a pattern that has this technique included. Pick a pattern that is otherwise filled with techniques you already know, so that the only challenging thing in the pattern is the technique you've picked to better. Then knit it, and be comforted knowing that the staff of Black Sheep Wool Co is there to help you if you need us. When you're done, pick another technique and pick another project to correspond. I promise this will make you a better and more confident knitter.

If you'd like a place to start with learning new techniques or you'd like to learn with swatching rather than with a whole project, be sure to check out our Knitting Skills Lab series in the Class Schedule. Each is a 1-hour focused class on a specific set of techniques (i.e. cast-ons, decreases, or short rows). It's a great way to broaden your repertoire.

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copyright Miriam L. Felton - 2011