Search - The Complete Beginner's Guide to Knitting on DVD

Want to knit? Buy this DVD!

Annon | 12/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I LOVE this DVD! I've looked at books, online instruction, and even had a family member try to teach me. None of those methods worked for me. The way Nici goes about teaching is like having a friend come over to give instructions. She is very clear and goes slowly. The DVD pauses in places so you can go ahead and then press play when you are ready. She teaches two methods, English and Continental. We chose Continental. I found out why my family member could not teach me.......she does English, and I'm all thumbs that way. So having both shown gives you the ability to select which works best for you. The only thing for a beginner that I found difficult was casting on. The DVD shows 3 ways of slip knotting to start, but does not show where the tail should go....front or back? My mom came over to show us - after casting on the tail goes in the front. This is where you will be using the yarn from the cast on your first 10 loops.....when you turn the needle around as you switch hands, your tail will be in the back where it needs to be. I know that sounds simple, but for a beginner it was a conundrum!! If the tail is in the front, you run out of yarn! Other than that tiny detail....every detail for knitting and purling is covered well!! There are close up angles and it is show "over the shoulder" so you are not watching her knit and then try to reverse it. If you want to learn to knit......buy this DVD...within a short while you'll be knitting away!

Nici covers the following:

Casting on - how to get started

the knit stitch - continental or english

The purl stitch - continental or english

add yarn - if you run out or want to add a color etc..

binding off - how to end

ribbing - how to knit and purl on the same row

increasing - adding stitches

decreasing - taking away stitches

gauge - how many stitches per inch to get the right size

finishing - sewing pieces together

first aid kit - HELP for mistakes

tips and advice - tips and advice :)

She also has a website, [....]. And there are other DVDs only I've not found them on Amazon??

"

Initial technical difficulties, but AWESOME INSTRUCTION!

Jamie J. Bourgeois | Boston, MA United States | 08/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first purchased this DVD in December 2005 and learned to knit immediately. I was able to knit 3 scarves for Christmas gifts just within a week after learning through this DVD. However, the first copy I received did not play properly. I contacted Nici and immediately got a response and a new DVD. That one worked just fine until my husband scratched it (he claims he didn't, and liked to point out the first one was faulty) and the player was unable to read it. And BTW, my husband has commented on Nici's style, saying, "How'd she get so good at teaching when she looks so young?" but he refuses to knit. oh well. So I am on my third copy, and I would continue to replace it if needed because the instruction is so clear, Nici is so personable that you'd think she was right there knitting with you, and the Chapter set up is great. The DVD automatically pauses after showing you a new technique, and then when you are ready you press play. So you never fall behind like in a class! There's a first aid kit chapter to help you figure out your mistakes and how to fix them. My third copy had an updated version of the booklet, with more detailed instruction patterns. I found the first edition of the booklet a bit vague for a beginner, but the new version is just right. I look forward to the sequel in the fall!"

Great Help

C. Breedlove | Deep South | 05/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been knitting for a little over six months and I know the basics (knit, purl, casting on, etc) but this DVD has still been an immense help to me. I now know how to apply emergency first aid to a swatch, how to block, increasing and other little things that you need on your journey to becoming a knitter. Also as a bonus, some of the knitting terms, SSK and K2tog are explained.



You can't go wrong with this DVD. She shows you English and Continental styles and the best part--she encourages you and tells you it's okay to hold your needle a certain way or knit loosely.



Oh, yes, I have never worked for Nici McNally and have no ties to any knitting company so I am completely unbiased"

Better than in-person instruction

J. Brown | San Diego, CA USA | 01/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the dvd you have been looking for if you have been frustrated in trying to learn to knit. I've sat beside two different people who have patiently tried to instruct me, and I've also taken a class, and I have a good book, but nothing compares with having a close up view of a knitter's hands right in front of you, in the same position as your hands, guiding you through the steps. This is just excellent and the instructor is very pleasant. The stop-and-start-whenever-you-want feature is also perfect for the beginning knitter, who needs to finish a row, or practice for several rows before moving on. It's also very easy to play a section again as often as you like through a menu that comes up on the screen after each new lesson. I originally bought it because I wanted to compare continental and english knitting, which is another real plus of this dvd and the way it is structured. I'm glad I read the other reviews on this site and bought this dvd - it's a must-have and the only one you'll need to get started, whichever style of knitting you feel comfortable with."