If you want to learn how to knit, you might think that you need to buy a lot of knitting supplies for beginners in order to get started. You can buy a knitting starter kit, but there really aren’t very many knitting essentials for beginners that you absolutely HAVE to have. This article will go over the basic knitting tools for beginners that you need to have, and the ones that you can put off buying until later.
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What’s the “right” way to do things?
If you’re new to knitting or thinking about getting back into it after a break, it can feel like there are endless rules and strong opinions about the “right” way to do things. I’ve been knitting my whole life, although I did take a break when my hands weren’t cooperating for a while. I recently started knitting again, and I can knit just about anything you hand me, but I don’t always follow the textbook methods, and that’s absolutely okay. There are many ways to knit, cast on, hold your yarn, and work your stitches. If the technique you’re using works for you, that’s what matters.
A lot of knitters have very strong opinions and aren’t shy about telling you what you should or shouldn’t do. The internet is apparently full of forums where people will be really nasty if you dare to disagree with them about knitting…it’s ridiculous. But the simple truth is that there are a lot of variations on even the most basic steps, and you shouldn’t feel bad if you do something differently from someone else.
Even things that are as basic as casting on (when you start out by looping the yarn onto the needles) have multiple ways of doing it, and all of them get the job done. Knitting is meant to be enjoyable, so don’t let anyone make you feel intimidated. Try things out, experiment, and find what feels comfortable for you.
What you really need to get started.
In the beginning, all you truly need is a pair of needles (one straight and one circular if you want to experiment), a pair of scissors, and a tapestry needle or crochet hook. Everything else can come later as you find patterns that call for specific tools. Many knitters around the world create beautiful, intricate projects with a single pair of needles and no other fancy equipment.
You don’t need a huge investment or a big fancy set of supplies to enjoy knitting, so don’t think that you have to spend a lot of money to get started, it’s just not true.
These are the two beginner kits that I bought from Amazon, and each of them has pros and cons, but both would be fine for beginners.
This knitting kit for beginners is fine other than one weird thing I ran across… Get it here on Amazon: https://geni.us/P1LMqBi 
(affiliate link, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
This Lewhoo Knitting Kit for Beginners has one thing in it that makes it better than other kits I’ve looked at! Get it on Amazon here: https://geni.us/1EKvE7q (affiliate link, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
Knitting needles.
One of the first questions new knitters face is what kind of needles to buy. After testing a couple of beginner kits from Amazon, I found that they all come with basic bamboo straight needles. These are fine for getting started, but the quality isn’t always great. Bamboo can be slightly rough or flexible, which sometimes catches the yarn and slows you down.
For beginners, I suggest using smooth metal needles, which can make the process easier, until you’re confident in your stitches.
You’ll also want to try both straight and circular needles. Straight needles are familiar and simple, while circular needles are great for hats and anything worked in the round. Some people strongly prefer one over the other, and neither is “right.” I personally prefer circular needles, but my daughter prefers straight ones. The only way to know what works for you is to try both.
The extras that come in the beginner kits.
Beginner kits usually include a bunch of extras, and it can be hard to know what you actually need. Scissors are essential, of course, so definitely find a pair to use.
Other tools like double‑pointed needles, stitch markers, or row counters probably aren’t necessary when you’re just starting out. Stitch markers can be helpful for counting sections in patterns, but you don’t need to buy fancy ones. I’ve always just tied a piece of contrasting yarn on the needle and slid it along as needed. It works perfectly well and keeps the needles from feeling cluttered with plastic pieces.
The same goes for row counters. They can be helpful in more complex patterns, but a pen and paper work just as well if you’re only tracking a small section of the pattern.
A measuring tape.
You’ll definitely need a measuring tape or a ruler. When you’re knitting and following a pattern, you have to make sure that the size of your stitches is what the pattern is calling for. A ruler or measuring tape is a critical piece of equipment to make sure you’ll end up with the right size!
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The extras that are genuinely useful.
Some tools are genuinely useful, even for beginners. Plastic tapestry needles are helpful for sewing pieces together or weaving in yarn ends. A small crochet hook also comes in handy for weaving in ends or rescuing a dropped stitch. These are worth having, but you don’t need anything complicated or expensive.
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Yarn winders.
Many new knitters think they need a yarn winder, but in most cases, you don’t. Most yarn sold in balls or skeins is already wound in a way that works perfectly for knitting. You can usually find the end on the outside or tucked inside the center. Pulling from the center keeps the yarn from rolling around, which makes your knitting smoother and keeps the ball from rolling around as you pull the yarn off of it.
Winding yarn yourself can feel fun and “official,” but it can also stretch the yarn if it sits too long. Unless you’re buying yarn sold in hanks that must be wound before you use it, you can skip the winder.
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What kind of yarn to use.
Yarn fiber is another area where beginners can get overwhelmed really easily. It’s easy to assume you need expensive wool or luxury fibers when you’re first starting out, but that’s not necessary at all.
Today’s acrylic yarns are much softer and higher quality than they used to be. Some blends include nylon or other fibers that give them a nice texture and drape. They’re affordable, accessible, and perfect for learning. Once you’re ready to invest in a special project, you can explore higher‑end fibers, but there’s no need to start there.
How to knit, style-wise.
Finally, there’s the question of knitting styles. Continental and English are the two most common. English style involves “throwing” the yarn with your right hand and can make it easier to see what’s happening with the stitch as you learn. Continental style involves “picking” the yarn, and keeps it in your left hand. That style tends to be faster once you get the hang of it.
I knit continental and often have people tell me they can’t see what I’m doing because my hands move so quickly. Even so, I think it’s helpful to learn a few stitches in English style just so you understand the mechanics. Once you know how a stitch is formed, it becomes much easier to fix problems like dropped stitches.
Knitting is a wonderfully flexible, satisfying craft. You can make scarves for friends, sweaters for yourself, or experiment with your own patterns once you feel confident. Don’t worry about doing everything perfectly or collecting every tool. What matters is understanding the process, finding what feels good in your hands, and enjoying the creativity of it. If you have questions, feel free to ask, and follow my YouTube channel for more knitting videos and explanations.
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