Learn to knit: it's easier than you think

Start knitting
4.9 out of 5 · 87 reviews

Everything you need to start knitting

Yarn chosen for first projects, needles that match it, patterns written for beginners and lessons to watch along. Here is what we have.

The easiest yarn for beginner knitters

Two yarns made for first projects. Both are 100% fine highland wool from Peru: soft in the hands and warm to wear.

Ovillos FACES de lana peruana súper gruesa, color Mineral Blue

FACES

Super chunky · our first choice for beginners

  • Big stitchesEach stitch is the size of a fingertip: easy to see, count and keep on the needle.
  • Easy to unravelMade a mistake? Pull it back neatly and knit again. FACES keeps its shape for 2–3 re-knits.
  • One skein, one pieceOne skein is enough for a whole snood or hat.

12 colours

  • Silver Gray
  • Deep Cosmos
  • Venge
  • Marsala
  • Autumn Ginger
  • Curry
  • Ivory
  • Orchid Tint
  • Sky Blue
  • Blush
  • Nordic Blue
  • Buttercup

BeMe

Chunky · a finer alternative, still easy to knit

  • Clear, even stitchesThinner than FACES, but the stitches are still big enough to see and count.
  • One skein, a hatOne skein can be enough for a hat or a small snood.
  • Lighter fabricA thinner yarn gives a softer, lighter piece that drapes well around the neck.

16 colours

  • Mineral Blue
  • Orchid Tint
  • Cardinal Red
  • Venge
  • Curry
  • Sky Blue
  • Taupe
  • Stone
  • Satin
  • Olive
  • Marsala
  • Indigo
  • Dusty Rose
  • Bordolino
  • Black
  • Green Velvet
Ovillos BeMe de lana peruana gruesa, color Orchid Tint
Knit your first snood

Knitting needles for beginners: why thick is easier

Thick needles and thick yarn go together. Your work grows fast, and you see every stitch you make.

  • Natural beech woodWarm and light in the hand, never cold or slippery like metal.
  • Just the right glideStitches slide easily but do not fall off by themselves.
  • One pair, many projectsCircular needles knit in the round and back and forth, so they work for a snood and a scarf.
  • Fast progressFewer, bigger stitches: a snood takes one evening, not one month.
Choose your first project
Agujas circulares de madera de haya de 10 mm para principiantes

Which size for which yarn

FACES · super chunky10–15 mm
BeMe · chunky6–8 mm

The bars show the real difference in needle thickness. Each pattern names the exact size you need.

Simple patterns, step by step, with a video for each technique

Our patterns are written for people who have never read one. Short steps, plain words, and a video wherever a technique appears.

  • One action per stepCast on, join, knit: each step says exactly what to do and how many stitches you should have.
  • A video next to every techniqueNot sure how? Press play right here and knit along.
  • Tick steps as you goYour progress is saved on your device, so you can put the knitting down and pick it up tomorrow.
  • In four languagesEnglish, Spanish, German and French, on the site and as a PDF.
See the pattern step by step
Manos tejiendo con agujas de punto gruesas

Beginner knitting projects: snood, scarf or hat

Choose what feels closest to you.

Not sure which one?

Answer three questions and we will pick your first project.

Have you ever held knitting needles?

Patrón de tejido. Pebble Hug Cowl - The Woolcatcher

Snood · Pebble Hug Cowl

An oversized snood with a pebbly texture, knitted in the round from one skein of FACES. The texture hides uneven stitches, which helps a lot the first time.

FACES colour: Sky Blue

Your kit

FACES Sky Blue × 1$26.99
Circular needles 12 mm / 80 cm$13.90
Pattern + video lessonsFree

The pattern, one step at a time

· 3–4 h the first time

Download the PDF

Cast on

  1. Cast on 43 stitches (odd number).
  2. Join in the round and work 1 knit, 1 purl.

Twisted texture

  1. Round 1: work all stitches through the front loop.
  2. From round 2: above each knit stitch, purl through the front loop; above each purl stitch, knit through the back loop.
  3. Continue until almost all the yarn is used.

Finishing

  1. Bind off all stitches knitwise.
  2. Sew the beginning and end of the round together with a tapestry needle and weave in the ends.

Video lessons for this project

Videos play right here, on this page.

Snood

Something went wrong?

It happens to every knitter. On chunky wool a mistake is easy to see and easy to fix.

▶ Video · about 1 min

A stitch slipped off

Catch the loop with the needle tip before it runs down. On chunky wool you see it right away and can pull it back up.

▶ Video · about 1 min

I have extra stitches

The yarn probably went over the needle. Count each round, go back to the extra loop and drop it.

▶ Video · about 1 min

The circle twisted

Undo the join before the first round. Lay the cast-on flat, bumps facing inward, and join again.

▶ Video · about 1 min

How to unravel neatly

Pull the yarn slowly and wind it into a ball as it comes free. FACES keeps its shape for 2–3 re-knits.

A whole library to keep you learning

Your first project is only the start. In The Catcher's Journal we keep a growing collection of video lessons and knitting guides, free for everyone.

Technique lessons Short videos on single techniques, from the first loop to seams and finishing.
Full project tutorials Knit a whole piece along with us, from cast on to the last end.
60-Second Knit One-minute videos for a quick reminder while the needles are in your hands.
Knitting guides Your level, sizes, yarn weights and needle sizes explained in plain words.
Crochet lessons Ready to try a hook? Crochet tutorials for beginners too.
Free patterns A new free pattern every two weeks, each with its own video lessons.

What knitters say

4.9 out of 5 · 87 reviews on Judge.me

“Love them. Made 5 hats so far.”
Helen Fontaine · FACES Orchid Tint · verified buyer
“Great yarn, easy to work with. The needles are lovely.”
Constance Williams · FACES Stone
“Beautiful colors. Soft and squishy. Great customer service.”
L.D. · FACES Olive
Choose your project

THE WOOLCATCHER · FACES

Knit yourself 10% off

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Film your first piece. We will show it here.

Finished your snood, scarf or hat? Make a short Reel or TikTok and tag us. Every week we pick our favourite first projects and put them on this page.

  1. Film 15 seconds of your piece, or of you wearing it
  2. Tag @thewoolcatcher and add #thewoolcatcher
  3. Get featured on this page and in our stories
Oversized sweater Oversized sweater
I knitted a scarf I knitted a scarf
Red is my favourite colour. Red is my favourite colour.
A sweater for my beloved husband A sweater for my beloved husband
I knitted it for autumn I knitted it for autumn
Knitting a hat. Knitting a hat.
My favourite sweater My favourite sweater
A sweater in progress. A sweater in progress.
Summer shopping bag Summer shopping bag

Learn to knit: questions and answers

How long does the first snood take?

About 3–4 hours the first time; with practice, about two. The Persona scarf takes 4–6 hours.

How long does it take to learn to knit?

One evening for the basics. All three of our projects use only the knit and purl stitches, and each video lesson takes a few minutes.

Is it hard to learn to knit?

No. With chunky yarn, mistakes show up straight away and are easy to fix. If you get stuck, write to us at hello@thewoolcatcher.com and we'll help.

Why start with chunky yarn?

On thick needles the work grows fast, every stitch is easy to see, and mistakes are easy to spot and fix.

What size knitting needles are best for beginners?

Thick ones: 10–12 mm with a super chunky yarn like FACES. Big stitches are easy to see and count, and the work grows fast. Circular needles knit both in the round and back and forth.

What is the best yarn for beginner knitters?

A thick, smooth wool that doesn't split. FACES is 100% fine highland wool from Peru, super chunky, and holds up to 2–3 re-knits.

I am left-handed. Can I learn?

Yes. Knitting uses both hands, and most left-handed knitters learn the same way as everyone else.

Does the wool itch?

FACES is 100% fine highland wool from Peru, and our customers say it is soft.

Why circular needles, even for a scarf?

They knit in the round and back and forth. The weight rests on the cable, not on your wrists.

Start knitting