Knitting

Stitch Diva Studios has a series of knitting tutorials listed from easiest to most difficult. Step-by-step descriptions are accompanied by large photos.

KnittingHelp.com starts you off with a “Getting Started” section where you’ll find out how to cast on, knit and purl. Move on to the “Advanced Techniques” if you’re ready for more challenging stitches and patterns. Don’t miss the glossary of common knitting abbreviations for terms you might see when using patterns.

Let’s Knit2gether is a video podcast with better lighting, sound and overall production quality than you'll find with most online videos. Set up like a television program, this series of videos provides easy how-to instructions for projects (such as felting a knit bag), book reviews and field trips to knitting conventions and other places of interest to knitters.

Expert Village , a how-to video hub, has a "How to Knit for Beginners." that guides knitting newcomers through choosing the right type of needles, how to cast on, how to do basic knit and purl stitches, how to pick up a dropped stitch and how to cast off. Scroll down below each video to find transcripts of the audio.

Knitting Pattern Central has free online knitting patterns. The site design is nothing special but the directory has a surprisingly large number of links to free patterns around the Web.

DROPS Design has thousands of free designs for men’s, women’s and babies’ knit clothing, as well as stuffed animals and traditional Norwegian patterns.

Kimberly Chapman has a lot of fun patterns for some interesting (and innovative) toys and clothes. Most of the patterns and instructions are for baby items: find toys such as finger puppets, stuffed bears and even a knit DNA model! This is a great place to find inspiration for a new toy for baby.

CraftMemo is an online tool that helps you manage your craft projects and track your inventory of craft supplies. You don’t have to install any software to use this site, and you can transfer any existing spreadsheets or other organizational tools you might use to your account here.

Alpaca Direct , an alpaca ranch and online store, has a “Yarn Estimator” that helps you guess how much yarn you need for a project.

MicroRevolt has a web application called “knitPro” that converts your uploaded photo into a knitting, crochet, or needlepoint pattern.

Knit Simple magazine’s Web site lets you preview what is featured in its current issue (and see some photos from the mag). Look for free patterns from the last issue, along with basic instruction, tips on knitting gauge and a glossary of terms in the “Learn How” section. Explore two other knitting magazines by the same publisher. Knit.1 magazine  targets the cutting-edge knitting crowd. Preview the magazine content and photo spreads; the “Charts” section offers patterns for some of the featured knits. Vogue Knitting magazine focuses on more high-fashion designs; the site includes issue highlights and free patterns.

Interweave magazine has free patterns for knits on its site, as well as a calendar of knitting events and a newsletter. If you like the current blog of editor Eunny Jang, take a look at her prior, pre-Interweave blog where you’ll find beautiful pictures of her knits.

The Knitting Universe is an online knitting hub from XRX, which publishes Knitter’s magazine. Read sections of the magazine online and explore numerous other Web features, including the online newsletter and information about STITCHES knitting conferences.

Knitty is an online mag that has plenty of funky patterns and features for all types of knitters. Visit the Knitty Coffeeshop to chat with other knitters.

Stitch ’n Bitch , noted in the above insight as the umbrella organization for local clubs, also has a “Virtual Stitch ’n Bitch,” an online knitting forum where knitters can get news, share patterns, learn how to start a local chapter, or ask specific questions.

KnittingHelp.com has a forum that’s usually being viewed by a few hundred knitters at any given time. Find patterns, let others know what you’re knitting, find out who is knitting for charity and how you can get involved, buy or swap supplies with other knitters, find knitters near you and even start your own blog. The site also has a live chat feature, KnitChat.

The Church of Craft is the parent organization and philosophy for knitting clubs worldwide. If you can get past (or even enjoy) the pseudo-religious language and premise, you’ll find articles about knitting, group knitting events and information about joining your local “church.”

Mason-Dixon Knitting is written by two friends (one in Manhattan, one in Nashville) in the form of letters to one another. Find some fun commentary about knitting and life, as well as patterns (look on the right side of the page) and every once in a while, an entry or two about spinning, quilting or some other sort of craft. If you like their style, grab a copy of their book, Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitter’s Guide.

Lickety Knit is for those knitters who want a bit of sassy humor with their blog reading. Read about the author’s knitting projects, her cats and thoughts on life, and take a gander at her finished projects, photos from her travels and (of course) some pictures of her cats.

Knit and Tonic offers some great patterns for sale (check out pictures of the projects on the left of the page) as well as rants and raves about life and knitting at no extra charge. The speed at which she completes projects (and still has time to photograph and blog about them) will both amaze and amuse you.

Rose’s list of Knitting Blogs is a list of the many knitting blogs that blogger Knitting Rose has visited “at least once.” The blogs are alphabetized but not described; choose a name that strikes your fancy and investigate.

KnitMap can help you locate a yarn or knitting supply store in your area; it overlays store information on a GoogleMap.

Knit Picks offers a full range of quality knitting products at reasonable prices. Find all the basic products available on most sites, and a few unique items such as a full line of washable wool yarns and interchangeable knitting needle sets. 

YarnMarket has a very extensive list of yarn brands and types, needles, patterns and projects on its homepage, making it easy to find exactly what you want right away. Use the “yarn finder” on the left of the homepage to select the perfect yarn by brand, weight, fiber content, texture, color family or even exact color name, number, or yarn name.

Elann.com has discount yarns, needles, patterns and other knitting supplies. Stop by the “Bargains” section to see the most discounted yarns.

Widget Products Inc. makes a special line of light-up craft tools, including knitting needles, crochet hooks and scissors, that allow you to work in low-light conditions. (Now you have something to do while waiting for the movie to start.)