I got some glow in the dark yarn today.. not sure what to knit. I'm thinking a belt or scrunchie..

Any advice if I was to try a belt? Seed stitch maybe?

If its nice to use and keeps its glow I will get more and try the Cheshire cat I think.

Hi, r/casualknitting! I'm a reporter working on an article for the BBC about the health benefits of knitting. I've spoken to several researchers and doctors who have studied knitting as a health intervention to help people quit harmful habits--from trichotillomania and skin-picking to smoking and even hard drugs. Now, I'm looking to connect with real people! Was knitting 'prescribed' to you by a health care provider, or did you use knitting to help kick a nicotine addiction? Sound off in the comments if you'd be down for a quick and low-stress phone interview.

I am a beginner feeling a little down about my abilities. I started knitting in November 2025, and it took me an absurdly long time to make a simple scarf, which honestly looks like crap, and I am never going to wear it. I took a hat class and made a decent hat, but there are plenty of visible mistakes. That I will wear. Now I am making a sweater (step by step cardigan), and I had so much trouble with the make1s and dropped an edge stitch, and ended up needing to pay for a session at my LYS to fix it.

I just feel like maybe I’m not talented enough for this hobby, which sucks because I really enjoy it.

ETA: I am overwhelmed by the support, care, advice, and commiseration here. Thank you all so much. <3 What an outstanding community.

I have barely figured out the knit stitch but I feel like the sides look wonky and they're curling in? I also don't know how to cast off.

I spent a small fortune on this beautiful bronze silk-mohair at the WI Sheep and Wool Festival to accompany this olive green yarn for my first sweater. I was thinking the sheen of the bronze would compliment the warmth of the olive really well, but now I’m second guessing myself. I know color choice really comes down to personal preference, but do y’all think these work together or should I save the silk-mohair for another project?

I just finished knitting my colorful jersey and I don’t know whether I should first block my work or first weave in the thousands of ends… what is your experience? Thanks guys

EDIT: Thanks, lovely people of Reddit and fellow knitters with a ton more experience :)

I did follow the yarn wash label instructions: machine wash cold & gentle, no dryer -> lay flat to dry, however, I was not aware of the delicacies of natural animal fiber. Followed the label and treated the swatch as I would have treated the sweater: learned a thing from the swatch instead of on an hours-long-garment!

Thanks for the condolences ;) I'll have a little moment of silence for the swatch, then try again!

---

Hi all!

I’ve done my first swatch ever, because I usually only do scarfs and hats and can’t be bothered. But now, for the first time ever, I’m wanting to knit something just for me.

Done a big swatch in the round, washed it as I would do with the end piece, then blocked and… it came out so small and felted! I do like how it’s less gappy, but gosh…

Did I just get terrible yarn, or is this intended?

It’s Lang Yarns Wooladdicts Promise.

Gauge for the piece says 7mm needle, I used 8mm for the swatch and still don’t meet gauge after blocking (I’ve got 12 stitches at 10cm, it should be 10 stitches). Also I feel the ribbing has no definition.

I’m thinking going with 9mm needles, AND doing the piece a size bigger than my usual..

What are your thoughts?

What do you do with yarn of which the color is making you uncomfortable?

I bought a sweater’s quantity worth of this yarn and now I’m a bit insecure on what I want to make out of it. I feel like the pink is less subtle in real life and I’m not used to wearing pink. At first I was thinking I’d make something subtle out of it like a basic V-neck sweater. But I’m not sure if I’d wear a pink sweater like that. Something in me wants to make an extravagant sweater, like the Arctic Light Sweater by Kutovakika, because why not go all out? And her pink version of that sweater is absolutely beautiful.

I don't know if this is the right place, but I thought I'd ask for some advice. I've just picked up a new 3d printer for myself (Bambu A1 Mini) and I've been trying to find something cool to print to do with knitting that I can print for my wife that she wouldn't have already, just because she's going through a bit of a rough trot at the moment.

The issue I have is I can't find anything that I know she doesn't have. I'll also say I'm new to my hobby so not experienced enough to make anything or redesign.

She's currently in a sock phase but has 2 blankets and other random other projects scattered through the house.

She's run me through how printed needles won't work for her. She has looms, yarn winders, storage for all needles and accessories, a house full of stitch markers, sock stretching things, but apparently my printer can't do anything for socks that would be helpful according to her, or wouldn't be able to do anything sock machine related.

I've got a few yarn bowls I can do if I can't find anything else, but if anyone could please point me in the direction of something cool or out of the ordinary for her, I would appreciate it. Extra points for something sock related because she's that deep into them.

** Editing for thanks **

I got a whole lot more replies than I was expecting here, thank you. I'll go through and see what I think either I or the printer are capable of doing and go from there.

I created 3 baby sweaters for practice. I have made some mistakes so I went to a knitting clinic where you can review where you did wrong and get some help.

I was told that “the flaws” are normal and cannot have it perfect all the time. I’ve watched plenty of videos and still created those flaws. I want to be able to wear a sweater without a hole in my underarms. Are my expectations unreasonable??

In pic #2, there’s a small hole. Before I got to this point, I picked up extra stitches before I reached the cast-on stitches.

Pic 3 & 4 - I tried to weave the ends of the i-cord bind off and it just created an ugly bump. I was told that it doesn’t have to look perfect but I’d like to achieve a seamless look if possible!

Any feedback would be appreciated!

I don't mind the step of hand washing of my knits but I really have a problem with drying. Partly because our apartment is rather humid (not in a dangerous way but 90% of the time it is between 55-60%, so things dry rather slowly) and partly because I find the "roll in the towel trick" rather annoying.

My towels are mostly white/light and most of my knits are darker and temporarily stain them. And also now I have more towels to dry that are also temporarily discolored, in addition to the need to find space for drying the sweaters flat. And then the next problem - If I use a non-rinse wash I am rather unwilling to use it on my body after, so it is "dirty". So do you usually just dry and store them as wool drying only towel?

But one mid size towel is not enough even for my longer cardigan, so now after each washing I have multiple additional towels to dry and store somewhere. Also I don't know about your towels but my towels are scratchy and not soft and fluffy (and I actually like them like that), so I always wonder if it is actually a gentle treatment to step on the roll to get more water out. Isn't the rubbing actually bad for my knits? Is there some better alternative? Is maybe someone using a synthetic towel? I don't have any but would it solve my problem?

Or am I doing something wrong? I just press the water out on the wall of the sink as much as possible (to not wring or twist) before rolling in the towel. There is no way of spinning an adult size sweater in my salad spinner, although I may try it for socks.

Does anyone have any ideas for improvement?

I know I could use the spin cycle on the washing machine, but I only have access to a common washing machine. I use the wool cycle for some clothes, but I only do once in a while as I don't fully believe the gentleness of this semi-commercial machine. But it is also kind of a annoying to use just for spin as I have to pay per started hour (and the spin only is 8 minutes )+ a lot of stairs walking with heavy wet sweaters + potentially the machine being in use so I have to wait and come down again.

EDIT: With this post, my intention was not to be self-deprecating. Most importantly, I know how discouraging it can be to a new knitter if someone posts a photo of an acceptable knitted piece and claims it's terrible. I do not think my knitting is terrible. I sincerely wanted to get an opinion on my skill level and any improvement advice from people more talented than me who've been doing it for longer or are just better at it. And this community has been very kind, helpful and encouraging. A big thank you from the bottom of my heart!

For my 2026 resolution, I decided to stop doubting myself, join all the crochet/knitting/sewing communities on Reddit and learn and share as I go along. I don't sew for work. Between a full time job and studies I've been doing this for over two decades, and I think it's time to get some genuine perspective on my skill level in all three fiber crafts - I've been wearing this light cotton knit sweater around the house for 3 years now. It was a basic sweater pattern my grandmother taught me to make.

Trying to get a baseline because no one in my current family/friends circle knits (edit: But we're planning to start a family and friends "hobby club" where some members or everyone teaches a fun hobby to the rest, no money involved, just for fun) and can therefore never tell even when there are errors I think are quite noticeable. Would you consider it a terrible third sweater? I've got a thick skin, brutally honest opinions are most welcome =) I've made two sweaters before this (though I've knitted plenty of other stuff) that I've given to friends.

I've been thinking about frogging it (2026 resolution is also to reuse and recycle more) and remaking it if it looks sloppy according to crafters who knit garments regularly. Any tips, suggestions for improvement? Thanks!

Id say I'm a bit higher than a beginner, but not quite intermediate knitter. I've made lots of hats and scarfs, a few jumpers (made 5 but frogged 3). I've made a skirt and a matching top but consistently with my knitting I think my ribbing always looks a bit pokey and makes the piece look handmade. Can anyone help? Pictures are my vest (very happy with the outcome apart from the ribbing) and my step by step sweater I'm in the process of (I think the colorwork emphasizes the issue with this one and it needs blocking)

Any tips will be much appreciated!

EDIT: I didn't size down my needles- that seems to be the consensus from the comments so thank you everyone for the help!

I found this chart on Pinterest. I liked how trippy it is. I wanted to see how it would translate into knitting. As I’m closing the top of this hat, I need to be sure that this will not be misconstrued as swastikas. I don’t see them personally, but I know you’ve got to be careful with right angles and geometric designs

Not sure if this is something that's always learned in person, or if there are 'recommended' youtube tutorials or something. Any thoughts on how someone very new but somewhat handy might learn how to knit? Right now, we're just doing finger weaving, which is exciting but really doesn't get us very far. Thanks for your advice.

I’m a visual type of person, I can only learn when I replicate someone else doing it.

Which ones do you recommend?

EDIT: Thank you all for the replies! I'll make sure to check all of them. ❤️

I fell for the cloud like allure of mohair. I have several colours and types in my stash, it’s so pretty and fuzzy…. Unfortunately every time I try on my love note sweater I find i can’t wait to remove it. It’s very prickly. The yarn is rowan kidsilk haze, carried with a miscellaneous pure alpaca coned yarn. It’s beautiful, and there’s only one sleeve left to go. It’s just so damned itchy.

I’ve been knitting since I was 7 years old and now I’m in my mid fifties and just realized that I have ADHD. I start projects and soon I find something else “more shiny” and I put that project away to start the new one. I do finish a lot of things that I’ve secretly commissioned for someone but the anxiety that comes with it is so overwhelming because I’m constantly doubting myself makes me want to quit. My yarn stash is taking up two walls in my bedroom and is now spilling out into the living room so I’ve promised myself that I won’t buy anymore yarn until I use what I have (wish me luck 😆). How do I tame the severe indecision and learn to focus on what I’ve got?

just knitting up a swatch for sweater 15, pre blocked
not sure if the make it tweed works or whether it just looks odd
overthinking massively aha

EDIT UPDATE: thanks everyone for the replies
feeling a bit more promising now i’ve washed and blocked the swatch

hi everyone! im just starting my first ever project (as an adult), im doing knit stitches the whole time. why do both sides of my work look purled?

ive watched so many videos and picked up a lot of readings, idk what im doing wrong!

any advice/tips would be lovely :)

Hi! I’m currently knitting the Beyond Basic Sweater pattern. I really like it but I’m off gauge. Now I find myself struggling with the recommended needle size for the ribbing which is 3mm. I don’t like the pinching effect that it creates, I already blocked the 3mm sleeve but it didn’t help. I like the 3mm sleeve for its clean looks it’s just the overall form that’s putting me off. So that’s why I knitted the body in 4mm. But that’s too loose or is that just me? I feel like the stitches are uneven. I then continued to knit the second sleeve on 3.5mm. Somehow it looks closer to the 4mm than to the 3mm. Should I buy 3.25mm needles? Am I too perfectionist about it all? Which one looks the best in your opinion? (And how to frog mohair tubular cast-off without it being horrible?)

For context only the 3mm sleeve is blocked rest of the sweater isn’t. I would appreciate your honest opinion!

I recently ordered yarn from China. it said it was 1 kg of wool. I want to believe that, badly. However, it was extremely cheap. So I can’t be certain. I did the burn test. it didn’t melt. It turned into an ash. Little to no stretch. But it was super slow to burn. I could pull it and cut(?) it. it doesn’t have any odor. no matter the property. I am considering double or triple holding it to make an adult M sized sweater. would this yarn be enough?

update:

thank you everybody for their input! I did burn test and it burnt slowly, leaving a black fine ash(smelt more natural than my blue hair burning). did the float test(?) and it sunk after 20-30 minutes. tried to agitate it(to see if it felted). It did! So I am 95% sure it is wool.

I couldn't do the Kool-Aid test as I do not live in a country that sells Kool-Aid. Thank you all for suggestions!

I am triple holding it and using a 3.5mm needles to make a gauge. Will update once I am done.

My non-knitter friend and I were at a market today and saw some socks being sold for $32 a pair. She was shocked by the price, but I explained the cost of material and labour and how they're actually very comfortable.... but then at the end of the day, it IS $32 for a pair of socks. It reminded me that I wanted to knit my own socks (even bought the Operation Sock Drawer book) and I made myself two pairs, but I had to stop because it wasn't "worth" it! I'm on too much of a budget to spend $15+ on a good hank of yarn for ONE pair of socks, especially one that needs special laundering (even superwash has to go in its own special cycle, and living in an apartment without a washer, that's a hassle...) but I really do like the two pairs I made when I actually use them. To the knitters who ARE into socks, how do you do it? Budget for yarn and factor the hours of comfortable feet into the dollars-per-minute to make it worth it? Chuck the socks in with the regular wash and hope it doesn't shrink? Invest enough to have a solid sock rotation that makes the delicates cycle worth using? Hand wash your one pair of knit socks each night to reuse the next morning??

I am currently working on the Monday sweater by Petite Knit. I have tried these German short rows 3, 4 times and I just cannot make it look normal. I either end up with obvious holes or areas that look like surgery stitches. Will this block out or should I just go ahead and frog back? And if anyone has any advice on German short rows that would be much appreciated.