How to Knit an Animal

Locate a knitting pattern for the specific animal that interests you. It can be difficult to create a knitted animal from scratch, unless you are an expert in the hobby. Using an appropriate knitting pattern can guide your work and help you create the exact animal you were hoping for. This can also narrow down the shape and form of the knit project. You could create animals in the form of a sock or oven mitt, for example. Knitting Pattern Central provides a comprehensive selection of animal knitting patterns to choose from, such as baby gators and ladybugs.

Get the proper equipment. Almost every knitting project will require tools. These include a variety of needles: cable, circular, tapestry, double-pointed, and flexible straight-types. You may need a crochet hook to recover a dropped stitch. Needle point protectors guard your fingers from injury. A spool knitter and needle can help you trim your work. Other essentials are stitch marker rings, split-ring markers, a thread-cutter pendant, a stitch holder, a row counter, a knitting gauge, and a tape measure. Don't forget to purchase yarn. Check your knitting pattern for the exact tools needed for your project.

Work on your knitting technique. The tools mentioned in this article are of no help, if you cannot effectively use them. You should know how to execute the garter stitch, the most basic pattern, which creates a flat and ridged fabric that is durable and maintains its shape. Other standard stitches are the stockinette, basic ribbing, and the seed stitch. The Craft Yarn Council, and websites like Knitting Help and Vogue Knitting, can equip you with skills to help you succeed in the craft.