Different people like different kinds of needles for different reasons. Many beginning knitters prefer wooden or bamboo knitting needles for their warmth and flexibility. It's also important to make sure you're using the right sized needle for your project. Maecenas quis justo vel est molestie congue. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos hymenaeos. Nulla facilisi. Etiam arcu est, vulputate non, malesuada nonummy, porttitor vel, velit. Aenean iaculis ante ac nulla. Aliquam erat volutpat.

Tension is the measurement of the number of stitches in an area of knitting, normally a 10cm square.

This is a measurement of tightness/or looseness of your knitting and is measured by the number of stitches and rows in a given area, usually a 10cm x 10cm (4") square.   This normally assumes stocking stitch, unless otherwise stated. Eg. A pattern may say 22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm/4" square over stocking stitch using 4mm needles - the means the designer created the pattern assuming this tension and use of 4mm needles. This information is also given on a ball band and will show the recommended needle size for the specific yarn.

Most patterns suggest you knit a tension square before starting, to make sure you knit to the same tension as that of the pattern. To knit a tension square knit an area slightly larger than 10cm x 10cm. Then count the number of stitches and rows in a 10cm area. If this is very different from the tension stated in the pattern you may need to adjust your needle size accordingly. (Too many stitches move to a larger needle, too few move to a smaller needle).

It is possible to use an alternate yarn to that stated in the pattern if you follow a few basic rules (assuming you do not want to start altering the pattern!).  Choose a yarn that is the same weight as that used in the pattern eg. DK, Aran, 4 ply etc.. These will generally use a similar needle size.  Choose a yarn with a similar mix. If you use a cotton where originally wool has been used, the weight may be the same but the `look` will be different.  Look at the tension square. The pattern will give the tension, normally over stocking stitch as will the ball band of any yarn.  If the yarn you wish to substitute  does not differ by more than one stitch from that in the pattern you should be ok and be able to acheive a similar tension.

Even if a substitute yarn may seem identical in terms of weight and tension there may be a different metreage on the ball. To calculate how much to buy firstly work out how much of the yarn used in the pattern you would need. eg, If you would need 10 balls and each ball has 115 metres you need a total of 10 x 115 = 1150 metres.  Divide this number by the metreage of one ball of the yarn you want to use, if this were 85m then you would need 1150/85 =  13.5 so you would need 14 balls.

Once you have finished your garment blocking is the process of pinning out and pressing the pieces. This enables you check that the shape is ok and also makes sewing-up easier.

There are lots of alternatives to wool, the most common being :- cotton, alpacas, silk and man-made fibres.

    UK                                             US

Double crochet, dc    =        Single crochet, sc
Treble crochet, tr     =        Double crochet, dc
Double Treble, dtr    =        Treble Crochet, tr
Triple Treble, trtr    =        Double Treble, dtr

Conversion Table

Metric             US             Old UK
mm

1.50                000            -
1.75                00               -
2.00                0                 14
2.25                1                 13
2.75                2                 12
3.00                2/3             11
3.25                3                 10
3.50                4                  -
3.75                5                 9
4.00                6                 8
4.50                7                 7
5.00                8                 6
5.50                9                 5
6.00               10                4
6.50               10 1/2        3
7.00               10 1/2        2
7.50               11                1
8.00               11                0
9.00               13               00
10.00             15               000
15.00             19               -
19.00             35               -
25.00             50              -

Below is a rough guide showing different weights, needle size and tension, US terms in brackets.
  
Names                                                     Recommended needle size                        tension (stocking stitch over 10cm/4")

4 ply, lace, (fingering)                       1.50mm - 2.25mm  (000 - 1)               33 - 40 sts             

4 ply, sock, baby, (fingering)           2.25mm - 3.25mm  (1 - 3)                    27 - 32 sts

light weight DK, (sport)                      3.25mm - 3.75mm  (3 -5)                    23 - 26 sts

DK, (light weight worsted)                3.75mm - 4.50mm  (5-7)                      21 - 24 sts

Aran, (worsted, afghan)                    4.50mm - 5.50mm  (7-9)                      16 - 20 sts

Chunky, (craft, rug)                           5.50mm - 8.00mm  (9-11)                    12 - 15 sts

Super-chunky, (bulky, roving)       8.00mm -         (11 +)                                6 - 11 sts

Moss Stitch looks complicated, but is very straightforward and can bring real interest to a garment or scarf.   To create it, you simply alternate Knit and Purl stitches (so K1, P1).  On the next row you alternate this pattern, so if you have an even number of stitches you P1, K1 all the way along.  If you start with an odd number of stitches, you just need to K1, P1 on every row and this will give you the lovely bumpy texture.

Two things for a beginner to watch with Moss stitch:

1. Make sure you bring the yarn between your needles to bring it back and forth for the knits and purls.

2. Keep looking at your work to make sure that you arent' knitting on top of knit stitches and purling on top of purls... this will produce a ribbed piece of work.

Garter stitch is knitting at its simplest.  You use the knit stitch for every row, meaning that you get bumps on both sides of your fabric.

The lovely texture this produces works especially well with superchunky yarns like Rowan Big Wool, Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky and Spud & Chloe Outer.  Why not try a garter stitch scarf with one of these yarns?  A couple of balls of Big Wool or three or four hanks of Bulky or Outer will make a nice length scarf 15-20 stitches wide.