The knitting world is full of all kinds of tutorials – blogs, websites, books, videos are some ways which people use to learn knitting. There are pros and cons in each and a lot of noise in all. Here is a list –
In person
Pros – in person tutorials have been the oldest form of teaching knitting. There is nothing like someone holding your hand and telling you precisely how to maneuver the needles. Mistakes are easy to resolve and the instructor can also validate if you are on the right track.
Cons – Unlike about a decade ago, when people knitted in groups and learnt from family, friends, and neighbors, today we have little time to teach or learn a new skill in person. Meetings are hard to schedule and very difficult to maintain on a regular basis.
Where – Local libraries, churches, and community centers hold occasional knitting classes.
Video conferencing
Pros – this is the next best arrangement after in person learning. Meetings can be arranged without the hassle of travel and the instructor and student need not be at the same location.
Cons – the non standard video quality and other technical issues make video conferencing a less than ideal option to learn a skill requiring minute movements. This also cannot be done on demand and needs some amount of scheduling.
Where – apps such as Facetime, Hangouts, and Whatsapp are good ways to connect with a teacher on video conference
Blogs and websites
Pros – if you do well with slow and static content, use a knitting blog or website. Most come with images and written instructions that you can go back and refer at any time. You can use these when you don’t have headphones handy or with a slow internet connection.
Cons – the content is less visual than a video. Knitting can involve some minute details and two dimensional images may not be able to capture the steps clearly. Sine blogs use gifs instead of images but I personally find them distracting and hard to follow.
Where – Craft Yarn Council has some informative tutorials on knitting
Books
Pros– books have been a long time teacher of crafts including knitting. You can carry them with you and don’t need a device or internet connection to access the instructions.
Cons – like blogs and websites, the images in books may not be clear enough to show all the intricacies of knitting. Also, when you work offline, you are limited to information you have at hand and cannot google search or more or click on related links.
Where – look for beginner books such as Vogue Knitting and The Knitter’s Book of Knowledge are good pics with visual supplements.
Videos
Pros – learning knitting through videos is the most popular way to learn these days. You get a three dimensional view of the project and it can be done on demand. There is lots of free content available online, and you will be spoilt for choices on who to learn from.
Cons – the last advantage also becomes the biggest disadvantage. There is too much noise on youtube and other avenues. Trying to pick who to learn from, what to learn, and which project to do first can be time consuming and frustrating. Streaming videos also needs enough data, a fast internet connection, and a space conducive to learning. One sided instructions do not leave enough room for feedback, correction, and validation.
Where – Youtube is the hub of all the DIY stuff on earth! You can pick any video that works for you such as this one.
So what is the best way to learn knitting? There is no correct answer. Every medium has its pros and cons and it is up to you to pick what works in your situation. That said, learning from videos is still a good start. While you are in front of your device, you can always search for websites for extra help and then pick a book from the library if you are going to a place with limited internet access.
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