Getting started with knitting & crochet

Crochet is usually faster to pick up because only one stitch is live at a time, so dropping stitches is less scary. Knitting produces a stretchier, drapier fabric that many people prefer for garments. Both use the same yarn, so pick whichever feels more appealing — you can switch later and your SkeinSmart projects support both crafts.

A single ball of worsted-weight (weight 4) smooth, light-colored wool or wool blend; a pair of US size 8 / 5 mm needles (for knitting) or a 5 mm / H-8 hook (for crochet); scissors; and a darning needle for weaving in ends. That's it. Avoid black, fuzzy, or variegated yarn for your first project — you want to see your stitches.

Patterns are instructions per row (knit) or round (crochet). A line like "Row 3: K2, *yo, k2tog; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2. (30 sts)" tells you: knit 2 stitches, then repeat "yarn over, knit 2 together" until 2 stitches remain, then knit the last 2. The (30 sts) at the end tells you how many stitches should be on the needle after the row. SkeinSmart highlights the current row and shows that stitch count as a chip so you can verify your count.

The Craft Yarn Council publishes the standard list — k = knit, p = purl, yo = yarn over, k2tog = knit 2 together, ssk = slip slip knit, sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet, and so on. In SkeinSmart, abbreviations in your current row are underlined with a dotted line; hover or tap to see the plain-English meaning.

Patterns specify a yarn weight from 0 (lace) to 7 (jumbo). Worsted (4) and DK (3) are the most common for beginners because they're easy to see and work up at a satisfying pace. Always match the weight the pattern calls for unless you want to adjust gauge intentionally.

Gauge is how many stitches and rows you get per 4 inches / 10 cm with a given yarn and needle/hook size. For scarves and dishcloths it rarely matters. For garments that need to fit, it matters a lot — a gauge that's off by even half a stitch per inch can change a sweater size by several inches. SkeinSmart's project details panel lets you record your gauge measurement per project.

No. A dropped stitch runs down like a ladder in a stocking, but you can pick it back up with a crochet hook one row at a time. Pause, take a photo of what's happening, and search for "pick up dropped knit stitch" on YouTube — it's a five-minute fix that every knitter learns.

Blocking is wetting your finished piece, pinning it to shape, and letting it dry. It evens out stitches and is essential for lace (it's how the pattern actually appears) and recommended for most garments. For a plain dishcloth or a scrappy scarf, you can skip it.

Paste any pattern (text, PDF, or URL) and SkeinSmart extracts the rows, tracks which one you're on, and syncs that position across every device you own. Abbreviations get tooltips, repeat directives expand automatically, and Knitting Mode gives you a giant full-screen view with voice advance for when your hands are full. Your project history logs every row advance so you can pick up exactly where you left off.