Knitting DVDs for Beginning Knitters
Beginning Knitting From Basic Knit Techniques to Intermediate Skills
Aug 7, 2009
DVDs are a great tool for learning how to knit. They combine the convenience of a book with the accessibility of a live teacher. Leisure Arts has produced many quality DVDs that not only teach knitting but also have fascinating extras on yarn, fiber arts, and knitting lifestyles. Here is an overview of some knitting DVDs that have something for everyone, from beginners wanting to learn the basics to experts wanting to know a little bit more about the knitting craft.
DVDs for Beginning Knitters
These knitting DVDs have enough extras that they would be a welcome addition to any knitter’s library, but they are specifically geared toward those just starting to knit.
- The Art of Knitting: The instructor demonstrates the basics of knitting for those who have never picked up a needle. She teaches such basics as casting on, the knit stitch, the purl stitch, binding off, and how to fix common mistakes. Another section demonstrates such intermediate skills as measuring gauge, different types of increases and decreases, and how to knit stripes. There are also extras on shearing, spinning, and dyeing yarn; different types of yarn fiber; knitting tools; color theory; and knitting lifestyles.
- The Art of Knitting & Crochet 2: This second DVD in the series reviews knitting basics before teaching more advanced techniques such as cables, intarsia, fringing, shaping, and seams. There’s also a sock knit-along and a section teaching the basics of crochet. Extras include videos on felting, yarn fiber, the color wheel, fashion inspirations, and charity knitting.
- I Can’t Believe I’m Knitting in Motion: This is a basics DVD for the in Motion series. The in Motion DVDs show step-by-step how to knit a project, with the DVD automatically pausing between steps to give the knitter time to catch up. This DVD demonstrates such basics as casting on, the knit and purl stitches, binding off, increases and decreases, measuring gauge, and blocking. There are also several beginners’ projects with patterns and stich-alongs.
Stitch Pattern DVDs
These knitting DVDs teach a variety of stitch patterns and suggestions for how to use them in knitting projects. They use the in Motion teaching device of pausing after the demonstration of each step, with the pattern still on the screen to allow the knitter to catch up.
- Knit Stitches in Motion: This DVD teaches the berry stitch, moss stitch, moss stitch panes, 5-stitch cable with bobble, rib stitch, slip stitch boxes, cross stitch zigzag, trellis lace, small wheatear, crocus buds, snowflakes, and yarn over cable.
- I Can’t Believe I’m Knitting Cables, Bobbles, & Lace in Motion: This DVD teaches classic cables, 9-stitch braid, 6-stitch cable, woven lattice, mini bobble, berry rib, bobbles, bobbled cable, lacy lattice, lacy zigzag, eyelets, and waterfall.
DVDs for Child and Teen Knitters
- Art of Knitting 4 Kids: This fun DVD is specifically geared to teach children how to knit. In one section, the knitting instructor uses imaginative stories to help children learn and remember how to make a slip knot, cast on, knit, and bind off. Children will also learn how to make their own needles and how to knit a toy ball. Extras include a visit to an alpaca ranch to learn how fleece is sheared for making yarn.
- No-Rules Knitting at the Teen Knit Café: This DVD uses the in Motion teaching method to teach teens how to knit fun projects such as iPod covers, messenger bags, and bracelets. There are extras that show how to dye yarn with Kool-Aid and how to felt.
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