What is Your Knitting Skill Level? Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced? 

I thought I was just an adventurous beginner. However, now I’m an adventurous intermediate knitter (is that was an option 😂)

I’ve only recently started knitting (couple of months) and at the beginning of the video, I’d have said I was beginner. Having watched it, I’m definitely in the easy category and just starting to dabble in intermediate... which I wasn’t expecting! Thanks for the heads up... and confidence boost! 🧶

Thank you for this! I’d have to say that I’m an experienced knitter, because I’ve done multiple very intricate beaded lace shawls, I just finished a shawl with Celtic-knot style closed cables, I’ve done plenty of short rows, and I’ve done several stranded knitting projects. However, I know that there is still SO much out there to learn, so much I haven’t done - I’ve never knit any brioche, never done any intarsia, never done any stranded knitting using more than two colors, and I’ve somehow messed up the stitch count on every pair of socks I’ve ever made, no matter how basic! Being an experienced knitter does not mean you’ve got nothing left to learn or improve upon. As an aside, I wonder if that’s why people don’t often rate the difficulty of patterns at a 10/10 - maybe they feel like it didn’t hit that imaginary ceiling of difficulty.

THought I was intermediate....but I'm and expert knitter. Yes I'm proud. Thanks for parting the curtains on this issue!!

Barbara, you are the embodiment of Encouragement! I hope this excellent video will let people see that those labels should not be roadblocks on their knitting journey. Remember when Bugs Bunny defied the law of gravity, because he'd never studied law? When I switched from crochet to knitting, I didn't (and still don't) follow patterns, but made things up on the fly. I tried whatever technique I was interested in, but in an improvisational way, sometimes with no finished object in mind. If anyone asked what I was knitting, I'd answer "Experience". Like Bugs Bunny, I often succeeded only because I didn't know I was supposed to fail; that lace, brioche, entrelac, colorwork, etc. were all supposed to be beyond my status as a "beginner". In some ways, I wish they'd let us look at patterns without a skill level indication. Intimidation is the enemy of an adventurous spirit and curiosity based learning. My first pair of (improvised, of course) fingerless mitts was early on in my journey. It was also the first time I used DPNS, and when I got to the thumb holes, I decided to learn the Knit Back Backwards technique. If I'd seen a pattern that was labeled "Advanced" because of these techniques, I'd probably have been intimidated and walked away, maybe forever as respects those skills. How would I rate myself now? Who cares? I'm just a knitter, and I'm so darn cute, I don't even need a rank.

I am Norwegian and started doing stranded colorwork(Fair Isle) when I was around 12 years old, but I did not try any lace or cables until I was 24. I always find it interesting that stranded colorwork is so intimidating to Americans as in Norway is it what you try as soon as you are ready to move on from basic knitting.

I thought I was intermediate but after watching I am experienced. Thank you

I’m the fearless knitter. I started last year with locals telling me “you can’t do that!” (Make socks as my first project - though a scarf or square would have had zero motivation for me!). RU-vid and a friend on messenger and I did. DPN’s, GSRheels, Kitchener, etc. I attended my first fiber festival and was too new for many classes offered. I took a “knitting fixes” class and was told I had to “learn to do it the right way” (English - I knit continental; didn’t know it had a name then) and that I shouldn’t have been allowed in the class. I went away knowing everything taught in the class and with no fear of fixing. This year, I was too advanced for any of the classes offered at the fiber festival. I went straight from in the round short rows to reverse thrumming, shaping, stranded colorwork, double knit colorwork, lace, mosaics, just finished my first cables (super easy and cute!) and am doing a raglan sweater with two-sided charted lace edges. There are/were gaps in my knowledge that I’m filling in over time, but I definitely fall under experienced it seems. But I started out trying intermediate-advanced. I think jumping right in and not being scared of it allows you to learn more, because you learn as much or more from mistakes, and if the FO is what motivates you, a boring FO won’t do the job.

You are the Bob Ross of knitting! Your videos are so reassuring and take away all my anxiety about knitting... Thank you ❤️

I thought I was a beginner knitter but I am more in the easy category and going into intermediate skill level. And have only been doing this about a month. I really enjoy knitting

Great video! I thought I was an advanced beginner. And then I looked down at the brioche sweater on my needles. I'm moving up to team "intermidate" 😊.

I am an advanced/Intermediate knitter. I have been knitting for 17 years and just started trying to tackle advanced complex patterns and stitches.

Here I am! Late to the party as always! According to what you've said, I'd be an experienced knitter, but I, honestly, never thought about it. If I saw a pattern I liked and ran up on something I didn't understand, I asked a knitter how to do it, or looked it up on youtube, then went ahead and knit it! The day my sister taught me to knit, she showed me a cast on, the knit stitch and the purl stitch. She left me with two colors of yarn and some needles and told me to practice. Said she'd give me a couple of days with it before checking on me. I don't know what she expected me to show her, but it must NOT have been the striped, ribbed scarf I came out of my room holding up for her! The shocked look on her face!!!😆She shuffled me into her car and to my very first yarn shop that day and showed the owner what I'd done. That's when I KNEW I'd found my happiness. They enjoyed just throwing patterns at me and going, "OOOO! Try this one!" and I enjoyed trying them! So, I agree with you. What's skill level if you're adventurous?

I just recently filled out a questionnaire where I chose "advanced beginner" but now I think I'm intermediate!!!❤ I've done lace, short rows, cables, and LOVE double knitting. I even re-write patterns if I want something different. But, I'm slow and have never knit a sweater so I kept my skill level low. Thanks for the confidence boost!!!!

Before I saw your video I would have said I was intermediate but I now happily realise that I’m actually experienced/ advanced. Wow!!

I'm definitely an adventurous knitter. If I see a pattern I really want to make, I will learn how to make it.

Your shawls & items just behind you in these videos are way beyond great. The colors & stitches take me to another place, another world. In fact they are so beautiful as to be distracting, but keep them coming!! Today the mustard brown & purple yarns chasing through the rows make me think of Morocco, or medieval Italy. They are superb!! They are, in every sense, art. Thanks for sharing, I’m inspired. ❤

lol i started at 4 yrs old with oma ( beloved grandma) and i have been knitting for 58yrs. i do fair island, cables, lace and sweater in 4xl for hubby and med. for me. tons of socks over the year.

I’m an advanced/intermediate!! I thought I might be a beginning int.!! The one advanced technique which I recently got into is stranded colorwork!! And I have two amazing designers whom I constantly look to for inspiration who are at least partially to blame for it!!

Well, I'm an intermediate knitter thinking I'm always a beginner...happy to have done this exercises

I’m straddling the line between easy and intermediate but rapidly progressing. I think the adventurous knitter label fits me to a tee.

I thought I was a beginner, but I have decades of Crocheting and watched my mom knit all the time. I've dabbled with knitting but always preferred crocheting. I picked up needles again yesterday. I fell back into continental right away and had to change my first hat pattern because I'm not a fan of just knit/pearl. The one I chose is intermediate and I'm LOVING it. Never thought I was a knitter... I guess I am!

I thought I was an adventurous beginner knitter but after watching this I know am a FEARLESS INTERMEDIATE 💪🏽🥳

You are right!! Thought I was an adventurous beginner but I would say now I am intermediate knitter.

You are a doll. I truly enjoyed your video and determined I'm an intermediate. Short rows, a mosaic with a chart, color changes, a lace-type, seaming pieces & easing collars/sleeves, shaping, top down/bottom up, DPN's …wow..I'm ready for cables, now! My challenge-instructions that aren't clear enough for my right sided brain. Thanks again! Patti

I began knitting five years ago to help my 3 daughters, who all had various degrees of interest in knitting at that time. I wanted to learn so I could help them if they got stuck. A friend gave me two lessons and the rest I learned through books, iPhone apps and RU-vid. The friend who taught me labeled me a “knitting prodigy.” I thought that she was way overrating my skills, as, in the beginning weeks, I really struggled learning knits and purls and consistent tension, etc. But, in a few weeks’ time I found that I took to knitting (and two years later to crochet) like a duck takes to water. I was definitely an adventurous beginner. I think I learned intarsia and Fair Aisle and cables and lace knitting all in that first year of knitting. So I guess I went from beginner to experienced rather quickly. It’s funny to me that a friend from church, who was knitting many years before me, will come to me for advice. She is one of those who has stayed at the beginner or easy level because she is very content to just knit garter stitch and simple knitting projects like dishcloths. We both share the love of knitting, it just manifests differently for each of us. So, following your encouragement, I proudly proclaim myself and experienced knitter.

One of the first things I tried after I started knitting 50+ years ago was a sweater-pieces and seaming. I love doing cables and that was probably the first “intermediate technique ” I tried. I could probably write a book and what not to do including what yarns not to use for wet projects. I would still probably consider myself advanced intermediate Mainly because there are some techniques that I’m not that interested including Argyle and fair isle. And mostly self taught in an era long before RU-vid but I did have a few accomplish friends point me in the right direction on things like not twisting my stitches unintentionally.

I started knitting in March, so I put myself firmly in the Beginner category before the video. Now I would say I’m an adventurous Intermediate! Give me a new pattern, some yarn, needles and RU-vid and we’ll figure it out! Thanks Barbara for all of your great videos.

So right. I have very little experience but listening to this I would say I'm borderline intermediate. I tried brioche and was successful, just really slow 😅 I think people judge on how easy they find something and how quickly they finish, rather than the success they have.

Dear Barbara, having had a short period of guidance in high school from a friend's mother, I have mostly learned knitting things from books. Now it's RU-vid videos. God bless all who put those up! I never thought of myself as more than an advanced beginner, maybe leaning towards a bit higher. After your request and due consideration, I have to say I am an experienced knitter. I can do cables and lace, fair isle and entre Mac. I am fairly confident using a scarf pattern to make a blanket. I can make substitutions of yarns and weights. I do a lot that I hadn't really thought about. I've made maybe 3 sweaters.... And one was in fashion and fit! Tons of fingerless mitts and hats. I have knit small critters and large softies. Even knit a mama kangaroo and her joey. Yes there was pouch for the joey. I think the reason I rated myself lower because,I've only had feedback from non knitters. As well as being self taught, on most techniques. But I knit by the maxim; if it has been done, it can be done. Kat

Thank you for this, because I tend to call myself a beginner knitter, but I've done cables, brioche....I love brioche knitting! Thank you for helping me appreciate my knitting skills!

I couldn’t agree more! I know so many sock knitters that don’t think they can knit a simple sweater?!?! It’s so fun to show them that they can!!!

Wow, thank you Barbara. I believed I was an advanced beginner...now, after watching this video I am actually an beginning intermediate! Thank you for this video! I am actually, also, becoming an adventurous! You are absolutely correct! it is just yarn and needles!!!

I taught myself to knit and crochet, my grandmother showed me a single crochet and that's all I learned growing up 🫣😂 So after having my 5 kids and wanting a hobby to destress I started dabbling in knitting and crocheting 2 years ago at 31. Best decision was to grab a needle and hook, I remember when I learned how to make stockinette after garter (with your video to assist) and I felt like a pro 😂😂 I make my daughter a blanket for her doll and she was very pleased with the outcome. I did learn about the rolling on that one though and why the garter boarder is a good idea to pair with. ☺️

By these categories, I am an expert as I have done all of the types of knitting involved. I just picked a pattern I wanted to try and knit it - like intarsia, a more experienced knitting once told me, "if I can knit and purl I could do intarsia"; so I knit a child's sweater and hat, not even thinking of what level of knitting I was at. The knitting came out very nice.

I called myself a beginner knit. But I think I am an Easy adventurous knitter. Where I use circulars, DPNS; some lace and short rows. I'm working on my skills to move to the intermediate category. I enjoy challenging myself.

I think part of what determines your skill level is also what you’re capable of “figuring out.” Like I don’t *think* I’ve ever seen short rows in a pattern before, but after knitting for nearly 20 years and doing a breadth of different techniques, I could probably figure out how to do it. The first time I did a pattern using Japanese stitches and charts I about ripped my hair out (it was a sampler piece and I swear used just about everything out of the Stitch Bible), but with some effort I was able to figure it out on my own without help. I think this is also why people vastly underestimate their own abilities-with experience comes being able to interpret patterns, adjust patterns that don’t suit your preferences, avoid and fix mistakes, etc. People don’t really realize how much they’re able to do!

I just found this video and really enjoyed it. I was right where I thought I was in the intermediate category. I have to say I don’t pay a lot of attention to categories. I look at the pattern and see how much I don’t know. If it is one or two techniques I’ll probably give it a shot. There are some techniques I haven’t tried yet but that just means I haven’t fallen in love with a pattern that utilized that technique (mosaic, enterlac). But then I tend to leave lace out when discussing my skill set, since I have done so little. I haven’t done much lace knitting because I don’t enjoy it. But if I fall in love with a pattern I’ll muddle through it.

As always, I feel you're talking directly to me!!! I'm the first to yell that I'm a beginner! I just taught myself to knit in April. But... I've done cables, I've done ribbing, I've done DPN's, I've done color work, tons of short rows, and I'm working on a massively complicated lace in a silk lace yarn. So, well... not really a beginner! I would say I'm an intermediate who's not afraid of a challenge, and taking any pattern one stitch at a time!

I wasn't expecting this video to make me cry. I just wanted something to listen to while cleaning.

I do like to stay humble when asked what kind of knitter I am because there is always something to learn. Now having made socks I am not a beginner BUT I have not done color work and have not read through a grid pattern or cables. So a bit of this and a bit of that and am looking forward to being more knowledgeable and sharing with others in group project knit a longs!!! Thanks, Barbara

Love your video. I've only been knitting for four months and have done cable and fisherman's rib (with much unraveling and reknitting and learning) but I have learned more by tackling these projects than doing just more of the same.

At the beginning I thought I was intermediate knitter. Now I will say I’m advanced. Thank you for this video. So very helpful. I am a fearless knitter and I jump in. It’s yarn….. it can be ripped out and start over. The beauty of knitting. You get to start over if you make a mistake. I have frogged many projects because of errors and because I did not like how they were turning out. But I always find a better project for the yarn 🧶. I’m a lazy knitter. I don’t know how to “fix” errors in my knitting. I just frog back and try again. My goal is to learn to “read my knitting and to fix errors”. But that is not as much fun as knitting and knitting ( frigging when needed). Lol. You are great. So glad I found you!

Yes you are right, I put myself as a beginner. However when I thought back on all my project's, I realized I've done many different patterns and color block, lace patterns too. So ha ha 😂 thank you. Big New Zealand 🇳🇿 fan

Thanks for this confidence boost! I’ve learned I’m a fearless beginner who has jumped into the deep end by working an intermediate pattern right out of the gate. I’ve only been knitting a couple of months and have never done a project, I’ve only practiced on swatches. But I found a shawl pattern I liked and the designer assured me it was “beginner friendly”. She didn’t read the yarn council guidelines because it has multiple kinds of lace! But I’m glad I didn’t know better because I’m learning so much and it’s motivating to see this beautiful thing come to be. So at the end of this first project I’ll be comfortable saying I’m an inexperienced intermediate knitter!

I definitely thought I was a beginner but it turns out I’m an intermediate knitter I’m really glad I saw this video totally gave me a confidence boost today

At the beginning I thought it was a beginner/easy but now I am an intermediate heading to experienced!!

One year late, but I am an experienced knitter. Taught myself to knit using aluminum needles, acrylic yarn, and a Learn to Knit Sunset booklet 40 years ago and never stopped.

I thought I was a rusty advanced beginner, but I can say I am an adventurous intermediate! I love socks and dpns, and I have done some cable work on gloves and a sweater. I learned very early as a child, then knitted on and off into my 30s and 40s. In the back of my mind I always thought I’d be an experienced knitter by the time I retired, but then said, “what’re you thinking! there’s no better time than the present to learn intarsia and fair isle!” So learning those new skills are on my to-do list this year. Great video!

Wow... what a confidence booster....I don’t enjoy shaping or sewing up so always considered myself a beginner... but having just learned basic lace and really enjoy complex cables... I now stay with blankets and throws so I actually get to complete projects. Loved this and thank you

You are so right in how we knitters self-assess. Based on what you and the Craft Council are saying, I am an Advanced knitter, as I have done everything on the advanced list many, many times over. Plus I test patterns all of the time. Before this video, I would have thought I was an Intermediate knitter. This was really clarifying and also, a great confidence booster too 🤗

I am an experience crocheter so I decided to teach myself to knit at the beginning of quarantine. I love a challenge, so even though I have been knitting less than a year, I have make lace, complete cables, mosaic, short rows, and all kinds of other patterns that involve lots of techniques. Before your video I would have said I’m intermediate due to the time I’ve been knitting, but I now consider my selves closer to the advanced category.

Hi Barbara, Once again you have challenged me as to how I view myself as a knitter. I fall in the intermediate skill level knitter, since I've knitted lace, cables, simple fair isle, short rows and more in hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, cowls, shawls, socks and baby/child sweaters. I haven't knitted an adult sweater but that's next on my list. I do get intimidated when I see a pattern that says "Experienced" because I don't feel I've reached that level of knitting yet. But I do believe that as I improve on the skills I have and are open to learning new skills I will reach that level. In the meantime I'm just going to enjoy whatever is on my needles. Thanks for this wonderful topic/podcast!

I am an adventurous intermediate knitter in that I tackle patterns I am drawn to without regard to skill level. I love the challenge of new stitches and drawn strongly to pieces with interesting textural patterns. I have never knit Fair Isle ( not a fan of busy colour patterns) but love cable work. I jump between knit and crochet with ease, depending on the whims of my current state of mind. For me patterns must always contain an element, which in a useful piece, will create something unique and original.

Your video was very informative. I thought I was a beginner, which made me think twice about pattern choices. But I'm also adventurous. So now I would say I'm an intermediate. Thank you for boosting my knitting convidence.

as someone who just finally got knitting to "click" for me a week & a half ago...starting with experimenting with stitch combinations in wash cloths/dish cloths, then starting a 10-Stitch blanket, i just started your 2 row lace crescent shawl...i would probably consider myself somewhere between Adventurous Beginner & Low Intermediate, but steadily moving toward full-on Intermediate as my confidence grows with each new "Ah-Ha!" moment!

Good talk Barbara! I usually say adventurous beginner but I guess I'm an intermediate. I need to turn on the fearless genes and get going. Thank you for the encouragement!

I thought I was a beginner but I'm actually in the intermediate category because I have kmit cables a few times and I'm currently knitting my first shawl. It's very refreshing and I got a confidence boost in myself watching this video. So thank you for posting this. Have a great day 😄

I would have said “easy” at the beginning. Based on the lists you showed I’m firmly in the intermediate level. Here’s my struggle with skill levels, I might be a beginner in color work but I rock the heck out of cables, where does that leave me. Also, I think knitters see something like socks and they really want to try them but “socks are hard” or Entralac but Entralac is “hard”. I have not successfully knit socks, but my 3rd project was an Entralac hat,no one told me its supposed to be “hard”. I hope that makes sense. Thank you for your videos, they always brighten my day.

My first ever project was a scarf with trinity stich and 3 cables in the center. This video put a lot of things in perspective!

Eye opening. I thought I was easy but now I am thinking I am intermediate. I'm holding my head a little higher! Thank you!!

After many years crocheting, I started knitting at the beginning of the pandemic. Before watching this video, I considered my self an "advanced" beginner, now I think I'm on the cusp of being a solid intermediate. I taught myself the continental style of knitting and the Norwegian purl and just finished a scarf with cables. I've completed swatches of single color brioche and a lacy pattern of hearts. In fairness, I just can't replicate the skills I've tried without a refresher but once I get the rhythm down, it's off to the races! I would describe myself as a process knitter. I want to start doing stranded color work in my next project; and then a simple sweater. I attribute my success to teachers like you!

Very interesting topic. I guess I would be considered an experienced knitter. I have knit a few of your mosaic shawls, done brioche, double knitting, lace shawls, cables galore, some stranded knitting, socks (plain, colorwork, mosaic, made up my own design), sweaters, Xandy Peters's Fox Paws. I have taken a class from Patty Lyons in one of the Vogue Knitting Live retreats and she said that knitting is not hard or scary if you just knit one stitch at a time. Same year I took a class on double knitting with Lucy Neatby and left with a kit to make a double knit shawl in fingering weight yarn with a design of a monarch butterfly. One stitch at a time was the trick and I got a beautiful double knit shawl. I used to be scarred of making a mistake but with time I am making mistakes in complex cable design and rather then ripping back 16 rows (over 200 stitches per row), I fix 16 rows of just the cable that got of course. It's exhilarating. One stitch at a time. By the way, your shawl shapes knitting videos are awesome and your laugh is the best.

This is so comforting. I sell myself short a lot. ❤

I know this video is a couple of years old, but I just found you this evening, so I beg forgiveness for my tardiness in replying. First, I would have initially deemed myself a beginner or advanced beginner, having only been knitting for a few months. After watching this, however, I would formally put myself into the intermediate category. Partially because I’ve now knit several hats in the round, an asymmetrical shawl with lace components, several scarves with fairly intricate cable patterns and such. I knew coming in that I had three goals, I wanted to knit socks (still working on this), I wanted to knit sweaters (one on the needles now) and I wanted to knit big, beautiful, lacy shawls ( which I’ve accomplished once and have another in the needles). I’m one who thrives on learning and growing in all that I do (I’ve taught myself how to spin yarn, weave and knit over the course of the past 9 months) and even though I’m retired, my motto has always been that the day you stop learning is the day you die, and I’m nowhere ready to die lol. Will be tracking you down on Ravelry and FB. Thank you!

WOW, what a surprise! I've always thought I was not so advanced... I just discovered I am an intermediate knitter! I rarely look at the level when I pick a pattern... only the final result made me choose this one pattern. I might be a little bit crazy, but I like challenging myself and with the time, I just learned more and more this way... even if sometimes, it kind of brought me some frustrations. But each difficulty pushed me to think again and try again until reaching my goal. Another point to take into consideration, I am a sewer too... so knitting flat seems obvious to me, as there are the same steps than sewing. Thank you very much Barbara!

I'm an intermediate knitter, which is where I thought I was. Thank you so, so, SOOO much for the bit about adventurous knitters, because I'm very adventurous. Give me an experienced pattern any day, I will go online and learn how to do it. In fact, I like to say that I'm actually an experienced knitter, I just don't have enough exposure yet (to experienced techniques). But, every pattern gets me closer to that level!

I thought that I was in the Adventurous Beginner category but that just went out the window. I’m definitely in the Adventurous Intermediate category, I’ve done Lace, Short rows, special stitches, I’ve made your Sparrow hat and I’m getting ready to tackle a project with Cables. I practice stitches and patterns by making Dishcloths. Thanks for the encouragement 🧶

I am still an easy knitter, but starting to feel good enough about my knitting to try some of the things in intermediate. Definitely feeling exited about that 😊!

I too, thought myself Easy. After seeing that I accomplished everything on the lists for both Beginner & Easy, then checking the Intermediate skills, it appears I’ve accomplished some of the Intermediate ones. I would say I’m a budding Intermediate. Frankly, I’m really surprised…and happy! Thanks Barbara.

I taught myself to knit with a scarf kit and plastic needles from Target, way back in grad. school. Even after all those years, I would have placed myself as maybe Intermediate (easily an "advanced Easy") without having previously known the differences for skill level (yes, I thought of it more towards experience in how much I have knit and for how long). Now, looking at the skills attributed to each I am definitely and Experienced knitter! Thanks for the clarification! I do somewhat look at difficulty level for patterns first, but by now I have learned that I like to see what skills are needed and whether or not I'm up for doing them even if a pattern is labeled "easy" or "experienced". I'm the adventurous type!

I am probably Intermediate and have knit years of beginning stitches and made up my own patterns. Now I am going to try more advanced techniques. Part of my motivation is to try and use up my huge stash of yarn!

Thought I was beginner. But I am intermediate. Just need to be an adventurer. Be brave. I truly want to make a pullover jumper/sweater. Just moved into hats. Making striped elf hats for my family of 64. On hat 23. Wow has casting on and rib stitching started to make sense and " look" like knitting. Wahoo!!

I just started knitting a few days ago, so I knew I was obviously a beginner, *but* this video was definitely helpful in introducing me to skills I might want to learn in the future!

what I love the most about knitting is picking a pattern that's just slightly too difficult and struggling for a good while until that moment where everything clicks and you wonder why you even found it hard in the first place. I'm now knitting a hot water bottle cover and I had to learn judy's magic cast on, increasing, calculating my own pattern based on my swatch and use circular needles while never even having knit in the round before! It was a grind, I redid it 4 times but what takes you an hour the first time only takes you half an hour the second. Trying to get past those increases truly was the bane of my existence. But now... I might even venture into sock territory after this. . .

I don't do other people's patterns. I watch other people do stuff that I think I might like and just knit things. I can do complex fair isle and intarsia - slowly and if I want to - but I like to keep things simple where possible - for example I have never yet done cables (because I haven't seen the need). I am actually not that experienced - but my mother was - and I watched her loads - that mainly is where my confidence comes from.

I've been considering myself an intermediate knitter for a while. And that is spot on! Based on these suggestions, I'm a solid intermediate, edging into an adventurous intermediate. =)

I really needed this boost in my knitting confidence so badly right now…. Thank you 🙏 😊

I love this video! I now realize I’m solidly an advanced knitter, I thought I was a high easy/low intermediate, lol! I feel like you need a checklist form to hand to people who ask you for beginner patterns, with these skills to ask what they have done/like lol!

I started knitting in January when I don’t have a project going I’m always trying to learn new stitch patterns. I’m not afraid to try new techniques. Although right now toe up baby socks in magic loop has been making me a little loopy for the last two days but I can’t give up!! I’ve learned cable and Celtic cables. I did a scarf in brioche stitch without changing colors. I love knitting I love the process I love learning!!!

I was an adventurous beginner 3 years ago when I restarted knitting after 15 years break. (My mother taught me crocheting and cast on, knit, purl, cast off and I did some cables but I didn’t understand the knitted fabric so any time I made a mistake I asked for her help or started over the whole project so I never finished one). So as an adult I started with two colour brioch and after that scarf I did Gail triangle lace shawl. After that I made a sock and it turned out for me after some research that my purls are made in Russian style. I was ok with translating the English knitters tutorial to my hands after that. I did 2 raglan top down pullover, a summer tank top (with some I cord edge finish at underarm) some socks with German short row heels and one with heel flap and gusset. I made colour changing at the beginning of rows (garter zig-zag scarves). And did some slip stitch patterns (linen and half-linen flat and also in rows). My first hat I did was Woolly Wormhead’s Toph pattern (it has strange construction with short rows). I didn’t had the proper yarn but I fell in love wit another type of yarn so I made all the calculations and it turned out to be a fabulous hat. I had to graft it with Kitchener. I did very simple intarsia and I also made a hat with cables and i combined the columns with intarsia. Ones I also tried to do it in the round but it was more neat to knit it flat and sew it at the end. Did some pairs of glows, fingerless mittens. One with twisted stitches. Actually I haven’t follow a pattern without modification and mostly I made my own calculations for my own measurements after I had some inspirational pattern(s). I have just finished a top down circular yoke summer top (cotton threads on 2mm needles with some lace touch). I swatched some Fair Isle... I am wondering about a cardigan as my next long term project. And i wouldn’t say I am expert. I did a little bit of a few things and I missed some stuff (knit a sweater in peace’s and sewing it together) And also (maybe because of many beginner’s tutorials) I recheck if my gauge is the same in the round and flat... or knit and purl are even enough? I did some blocking but haven’t try many finishing techniques. I feel that I am at the beginning of a long journey and I am eager to try out new things. So I would say before this video: beginner of everything. After this video: adventurous intermediate. Thank you. It was a helpful video to think this over. (P.s. I am not a native English “speaker”)

I would have said a low intermediate knitter but according to this I'm an experienced knitter. Thats eye opening, and nice.

I'm happy to say I'm an experienced knitter. :) And one thing I realised over time is that people often minimize their skill because of badly written patterns. I've seen patterns so hard to understand I had to ignore parts of them and figure out a way to end up with the same result. And error is human - sometimes there are mistakes. I've seen people get discouraged because of that, thinking they chose a pattern too complicated for their skill, and it's a shame. I do think, however, that *understanding* what you're doing - not just reading and doing - and being able to un-knit intricate stitches to fix a mistake on your part or being able to spot mistakes in a pattern and correct them, comes with a certain level of skill and experience.

I thought I was an advanced beginner, but you're right, I think many of us underestimate our skills... based on your explanations I'm a strong intermediate knitter!

You are absolutely right. I always referred to myself as as adventurous beginner because of modesty sake; I've only been knitting for about 2 years so it felt boastful to claim more than that. But according to what you've reviewed here I'm darn near an experienced knitter. I was finding errors in the 3rd pattern that I ever knit up, and by my 5th project I was writing out my own pattern for a top-down raglan sweater with staghorn cables-- did I bite off more than I could chew with that? Yes, but it was a perfect example as to how I really dove in to knitting head first. After just over a year of knitting I started test knitting for a couple of pretty big knitwear designers and I absolutely *love* tech editing patterns!! I *adore* brioche, and that ladies at my knitting group who have been knitting for 20-30 years have been just staggered by my ability to pick things up without worrying about it... I guess I *am* a fearless knitter! Thanks Barbara for helping me recognize this ❤️

Now I’m definitely not a beginner.. I done 2 MKALs shawls which had lace work! Working on the Massallo shawl by Brooklyn Boy Knits which uses slip stitches and has color changes , and have memorized a lot of the knit lingo, have done increases , decreases , some short rows which I probably have to refresh my memory did the knit collage spring knit along all have video tutorials so that has made it somewhat easy for me to follow and complete the project .. so I think this makes me an adventurous intermediate knitter 🤔

I taught myself to knit from books. My first project was a baby romper/onesie with long sleeves and legs. My second (I think) project was a colorwork Christmas stocking. I guess I jumped ahead a bit. :D 30 years later I would say I am an experienced knitter. I think that crocheting for about 18 years before seeing the romper pattern and saying "I want to make that" probably helped with the quick knitting advancement.

I just realized after almost 4 years of knitting that I am actually not a beginner anymore...I'm an intermediate knitter now. I always went for beginner/easy patterns, but it's time to branch out, and so far the harder patterns I have taken on are really not that scary. Good topic for a video. Thank you..

I started knitting at the beginning of March, and at the beginning of this video definitely classified myself as a beginner. And here I am, knitting lacework pretty dang well for a sweater I'm just about to complete. My first project that I did was a seed stitch twin blanket that took roughly 200 hours for me to finish! I do make mistakes all the time (I learned how to tink pretty early on), however.

At the start of this video, I would have said I was solidly intermediate. Reviewing my knitting, which includes lace, cables, intarsia, brioche, shaping, modifying patterns, designing patterns, circular needles, double pointed needles, figuring out a language to talk about stitches (front leg vs. back leg, leading leg vs. trailing leg), multiple ways to increase or decrease, multiple ways to cast on and bind off...I am taking a deep breath and claiming my status as an experienced knitter! So more data to support your hypothesis-& thank you for helping me to a more realistic assessment. I really think you've touched on a problem with the distinction between how long you've been knitting (have you recently started, or have you been at it a while) versus what sets of knitting skills have you acquired (basic to more complex). Even the language switches between these 2 different concepts: beginner versus easy. It would be nice to have language more like novice, apprentice, journeyman, master (as in guilds). In my other life as a psychologist, I also know that social norms (in America, at least) are such that women tend to take responsibility for mistakes and to NOT take credit for success, while men do the opposite. I wonder if there would be a sex difference in knitters in the same direction, in terms of overestimating one's skill versus underestimating? Do you have enough men & women to see if there is a difference there?

Wow... you make such good points. I think of myself as an intermediate but after watching this video I now believe I am advanced. There are still techniques out there I have not done so have no experience in those, but I have done lots of things like beaded lace shawls, Nordic style stranded cardigans, brioche, double knitting, cabled gloves, and even reworking some patterns. And I know how to fix mistakes in many situations. Thank you for the confidence eye-opener!

You're right, the levels refer to skills, not to time, how long you have been knitting. When I was a teen I was knitting sweaters and steaking them, I just didn't know what it was called, or that it was supposed to be dificult. There will always be a limit to putting things 'in boxes' when it comes to people. We're all different 😘

I thought of myself as an advanced beginner but now, I think I am more of an intermediate leaning towards the lowest scale of experienced knitter. I just love challenging patterns because the learning process is amazing. What you said about some of us knitters depreciating ourselves is so true. Thank you very much for this video, Barbara - it is very encouraging and very positive! Will kiss myself as a result. Lol. Okay, just patting myself on the back - I still have to learn much more before becoming a skilled knitter!! Radha x

Barbara, I watched this video and smiled. I agree with you 100 percent. some of my friends decided to start up a knitting group I was invited to join. /they picked a pattern they all thought they could do, Well turns out I am an advanced knitter to their easy/adventurous knitter level. I Have become their guru. looking for excuses to not join.

Late to the party on this one, but I am an intermediate - experienced knitter who would probably have said she was easy - intermediate before the video. You were right. Fun to know

I’m a little late to this video but I can’t stress enough how much I needed this video at this point in my knitting. I thought I was a beginner but now I think I might be an adventurous intermediate knitter. Thank you so much for the boost in confidence

I have done cables, short rows, and have done double pointed needles, but a long time ago. I consider myself experienced. I’m willing to try new techniques too. I usually stick to fairly easy depending on why I’m making something and for who.

Good pep talk video on acknowledging skill level. I thought that I was an intermediate... but, perhaps I have crossed (or am about to cross over) into the advanced category. I've made socks, hats, mittens, have worked plenty of cables and have done fair isle (stranded) knitting working with a needle in both hands to tack down the floats. I still make mistakes left and right and always kick myself for not using a safety line in my work.

I have only recently learnt to knit, I am trying to add a new skill with each pattern so I can learn and improve. I did a scarf (learnt cast on/off, knit/purl) Then I did a basic hat (learnt additional skills of working in the round, magic loop and decreases) then socks (heel and gusset) I am currently doing a basic jumper and I have another patterned jumper planned, that builds on what I am learning from the basic jumper. It is a way of learning that seems to be working for me.

Very informative podcast. I have got back into knitting within the last 2 yrs so now I’d say that I’m at the intermediate/advance skill level. I’m not intimidated by knitting anymore I’ve done brioche, cables etc. Never done intarsia but my favorite things is your patterns because they are incredible mosaic lace patterns. I love lace because I tend to work the projects faster. Those tutorials for the basics of knitting those beautiful mini shawl for capt Riecher are amazing and have been an invaluable source for me to knit. Your encouragement is something that really keeps me going. Thank You Barbara ❤️❣️