6 Designers Dish on Learning to Knit and Crochet

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We talked to six knitting and crochet designers to learn more about their beginnings in their crafts, how they’re passing along their knowledge through teaching, and tips for those just starting out.

Ksenia Naidyon

How I learned: My mom taught me how to knit when I was five or six years old, and I learned how to crochet at elementary school. But my passion didn’t go much further than making some clothes for the dolls, and soon I completely forgot about these crafts. I rediscovered them in my early twenties, when I was looking for a new hobby, and have been with me since.

Teaching experience: The most challenging part of teaching for me is explaining the concept in simple words without going too deep, too fast. My golden rule is to go slowly and repeat the most basic steps over and over again.

Advice for beginners: Find a simple project, set a realistic deadline, pick a yarn that sparks joy, and spend at least fifteen minutes working on this every day. Once the first project is finished, pick a second project that introduces at least one new technique. This step-by-step process will help you build confidence and push your limits.

New from Ksenia: Gentle Rain Pullover from Interweave Knits Spring 2021

Moon Eldridge

How I learned: I learned knitting from my Mom. She is an experienced knitter and always creates her own patterns. I left home and went to a boarding school when I was eleven years old. Back then, our school would turn off electricity at 10:30 pm. I often knitted under the moonlight, sitting on the windowsill. I’m a self-taught crocheter; I learned how to crochet from the internet and books ten years ago.

Teaching experience: The most challenging part of teaching for me is the English language and finding the best way to describe a technique. But, when I include a demonstration, that usually clears things up. I am currently working with a Chinese knitting company called Knit Life to provide recorded knitting and crochet lessons monthly.

Advice for beginners: Learning to knit and crochet are just like most learning processes. When you can’t walk, don’t try to run.  My first piece of advice for beginners is to practice lots of simple projects with only basic stitches. All of the complicated patterns are formed by basic stitches. If you can do knits and purls evenly and nicely, you are no longer a beginner.

New from Moon: Solivagant Top from Interweave Knits Summer 2021

Rachel Brockman

How I learned: I learned to knit as a New Year’s Resolution in 2012. I would say that I’m self- taught, but that’s not really true—I turned to YouTube for almost everything. My dear friend, Tamara, also guided me a little along the way, explaining many of the things I didn’t quite grasp. Unlike many knitters I know, I don’t really have anyone in my family who knits or crochets.

Teaching experience: I’ve taught a couple of classes, and I found my predictions for what challenges people might encounter weren’t always very accurate. Sometimes the things we spent the most time on were things I expected to breeze through, and vice versa. In general, I’ve learned to go slow and be patient. That’s what knitting is all about, anyway.

Advice for beginners: Don’t fall into the trap of believing you aren’t advanced enough to try a particular technique. It can be easy to get hung up on labels like “advanced”, “intermediate”, or “difficult”, but chances are you’re underestimating your own abilities. Take your time, be gentle with yourself, and if you see something you love, don’t be afraid to try it.

New from Rachel: Alluvium Shawlette from knitscene Presents: The Summer Solstice Collection

Quayln Stark

How I learned: I learned to crochet in my Freshman year of high school. I’d just moved and needed a new hobby, so I bought a hook and some yarn and taught myself through books and videos. As for knitting, I had a crochet pattern that was so popular with my knitter audience I decided to convert the pattern. I taught myself to knit as I made the new pattern . . . with 7 skeins of fingering weight yarn!

Teaching experience: Besides writing patterns, I teach an array of fiber arts classes. Being on the younger side, I love showing up to teach older crafters as a twenty-something. I can always show them newer tricks and tips that they hadn’t thought of, and they have the best anecdotes!

Advice for beginners: If you can’t quite get the hang of one craft, try the other! I attempted knitting first but only understood it once I had learned to crochet.

New from Quayln: Andamento Throw from Interweave Crochet Spring 2021

Natasha Robarge

How I learned: My grandmother first thought me to crochet and knit when I was about seven years old. Interesting fact—my mother told me that I loved string and knots as a toddler, so she or my grandma would tie a bunch of knots with a cord, and I would undo them all then cry for more. Even now I rarely cut knots; I like to take the time to untie them.

Teaching experience: I have been teaching at a local craft store for almost ten years. I love the idea of passing on my skills and my love of crochet and knitting. The main challenge as a teacher is to identify the biggest challenge for each individual student and how to overcome it. My personal challenge was to learn to crochet and knit left handed so that I could help my left-handed students.

Advice for beginners: The main learning is in the making. You can’t be sure what stitch, what yarn, or what shapes you like until you actually try it all. Try to find your rhythm when learning basic stitches. Maybe count out loud or recite a rhyme—anything to make your hands move smoothly and rhythmically. Good stitch work is all about consistency.

As you work new stitch patterns, do a few repeats based on the text, but then rely on the visual cues in the fabric you are making. You are much less likely to make mistakes if you know what to expect to see and where stitches are supposed to be in relation to each other.

New from Natasha: Verdant Vista Top from Interweave Crochet Spring 2021

Natalie Thomas

How I learned: I first learned to crochet when I was five. I was visiting with a neighbor and we were a little too active for her grandmother. To calm us down she taught us how to chain and single crochet. I learned to knit a few years ago with the help of YouTube videos.

Teaching experience: I’ve been teaching Tunisian crochet virtually this past year. Teaching in person is harder only because most of the teaching is through verbal communication. Virtually, students are able to focus on my hands for demonstrations along with verbal instruction. 

Advice for beginners: Take your time and don’t expect to be good at it from the start. It takes lots of practice and mistakes to build a new skill. Don’t be afraid to frog your work. Frogging is learning. Lastly, don’t get stuck in the basics. Be adventurous and try new things.

New from Natalie: Floating on Waves Tank from Interweave Crochet Summer 2021!

We hope these tips from some of our current Interweave designers were inspiring, whether you’re just learning yourself or teaching a beginner.

Resources for Learning to Knit + Crochet

Remember, we were all beginners once; go easy on yourself and be patient. And give yourself some credit—learning something new as an adult is difficult! Here are some resources, from articles to workshops, to make things a little easier.

Tips + Techniques

Articles and Advice

Beginner Patterns

Beginner Online Workshops

Happy learning! We wish you years and years of blissful stitching.

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