kaitlyn z.c.

In September 2022, I signed up for beginner's knitting classes at Unwind Yarn House, a local yarn shop in Newmarket that I highly recommend to my fellow crafters and artsy folk — after all, we might as well support a small business while spending obscene amounts of money on our crafts!

I adored my knitting classes. My knitting teacher, Cathy, was incredible — she was patient and thorough, she would take the time to sit with me and walk me through each step until I understood it completely. The minute I saw that first tiny scarf forming on my knitting needles, I was hooked. So hooked, in fact, that I immediately signed up for the follow-up knitting classes that Cathy was teaching called “My First Hat”.

To say the least, I was very ambitious. I was still a knitting novice. I just learned how to knit and purl, and I threw myself into a class that involved learning how to use circular needles, double-pointed needles, and do decreases. So before I go any further, I must emphasize: I would not have been able to make my first knit hat without Cathy and the Unwind team. Cathy's classes as well as the extra hours that she and the Unwind team let me sit in their store to ask questions and get hands-on help were completely invaluable, I cannot thank them enough. They truly turned me into a knitter!

In Cathy's “My First Hat” knitting classes, we used the “Keep Me Warm” knit hat pattern (it's free to download if you're interested!). I loved this pattern. Once I learned the knitting lingo and shorthand, the instructions were quite clear and concise. Though this pattern uses only knit and purl stitches, I struggle to call it beginner-friendly. It is written almost entirely in knitting shorthand, and the process gets complicated towards the end once you need to start using the double-pointed needles, when the hat ties off at its peak. Thankfully, I had Cathy basically holding my hand throughout that part of the process! I don't think I would have been able to complete this pattern without the in-person guidance.

I'm definitely going to use this pattern again to make myself a new winter hat (as my 1st knit hat ended up being my anniversary gift for Noah <3). While following this pattern, I discovered that I love using circular knitting needles, perhaps even moreso than straight knitting needles (is this a controversial take?!). Seeing the hat slowly come together was incredibly satisfying overall — seeing the final product take shape as you work is an aspect that I love in all crafts!

My progress after the first “My First Hat” knitting class

That night after the first class, I tried to continue following the pattern on my own — I was able to successfully add the red yarn; however, I did my stitches in the wrong order (purl-knit-purl instead of knit-purl-knit) and had to take them out/re-do them in the next class

My progress after the second “My First Hat” knitting class, with the sample hat to inspire us!

My progress a few days later! I got into the habit of listening to a podcast or watching my friends stream on discord while knitting — it became quite a relaxing bedtime routine

Watching Noah stream Wolfenstein on discord while secretly knitting my anniversary gift for him! Also, I successfully added the blue yarn! Now you can see my vision for the hat coming together — a navy blue knit hat, with a white rim and red stripe...

I was just admiring my even stitches here ngl

I finished the rim of the hat! Transitioning from the knit-purl-knit stitch rim to the purely knit stitch body of the hat was incredibly satisfying

I really got into the rhythm of knit stitching, my progress was speeding up!

The “My First Hat” classes were over so I took advantage of Unwind Yarn House's free drop-in “Stitch Clinics”. Their Stitch Clinics are basically mornings when Cathy is in store and ready to help anyone with any knitting project that they're having trouble with. Yeah, she's that crazy skilled. I went to 2 Stitch Clinics to get Cathy's help with finishing the hat. Pictured above is my progress during the second Stitch Clinic I went to — so close to being done!

Aaaand I did it! I made my first knit hat! Once again, could not have done it without Cathy and the Unwind team. Seriously, I used their in-store pom maker to make the pom that tied the whole hat together

Proudly modelling my creation before wrapping it for Noah <3

I could not be happier with how my learning experience with knitting has gone. Those beginner's knitting classes at Unwind and Cathy's incredible teaching were the best way I could have been introduced to this wonderful new craft in my life — I can't wait to see what I can make next! Perhaps another hat, maybe one for myself? Or a scarf? Or will I be ridiculously ambitious again and try to make something that I never thought I could? We'll just have to wait and see.

Thank you for reading my inaugural article for Kaitlyn's Craft Corner. If you cannot tell, crafts are a great passion of mine. I find the making process to be incredibly therapeutic. Nothing is more fulfilling than seeing the end product for the first time, and nothing is more heartwarming than being able to gift one of my crafts to someone. I eagerly look forward to learning new crafts as well as honing my skills in crafts I already know — and I can't wait to take you along for the journey.

This has been Kaitlyn’s Craft Corner, signing off!