Learn How to Knit for Free!

Heads up! This post contains affiliate links which means I get may get a commission if you purchase something based on my recommendations here.

I field a lot of questions from people who want to learn how to knit.  And, although I’d be happy to sit down and teach someone how to knit, it seems that most people just want me to recommend books or videos so they can learn at their own pace.  And, to be truthful, that’s fine with me…  I’m a skilled knitter to be sure, but I’m not so skilled in the art of teaching knitting.  That’s another beast entirely.

Why You Shouldn’t Try Learning To Knit on YouTube…

First, when you are trying to learn how to knit, having a professional instructor totally changes the game.  That’s why I often caution against just hopping onto YouTube and trying to learn from whoever comes up first in your search results.  If you end up watching videos produced by someone who rocks at knitting but sucks at teaching (like me), chances are you’re going to get frustrated and give up.

Second, it’s really helpful to have some structure around your learning, which is difficult to get from randomly hopping between YouTube videos.  There is a reason why professors often spend the whole first class of the semester reviewing the syllabus with you: roadmaps keep you from getting lost in your learning.

What To Do Instead

I’ll often send people to Craftsy to learn how to knit because they have great instructors and structured classes, but it can be expensive.  So, lately I’ve been sending folks over to the Knit Picks Learning Center which is an amazing collection of high quality guides with written and video instructions on tons of knitting techniques.  What I love about this is that you get all the benefits of learning from a professional instructor, but you aren’t paying for it because Knit Picks is footing the bill.  Pretty cool, huh?

BTW, this may be a good time to mention that I am a Knit Picks affiliate.  I don’t get any compensation if you use their learning center, but if you buy their yarn or tools, I may get a commission.

If you are brand new to knitting, check out their Basics Center and the Learn to Knit Page.  If you have the basics down, check out their collection of Knitting Guides to learn things like Brioche, Fair Isle, and Advanced Finishing Techniques.