Whether it's a pair of slinky socks that are just thick enough to make you feel like you're walking on cushions or a sweater that you sink into with a smile every time, there are knitted fashions all around us that provide comfort and style. Many of today's knitted fashions are completely indistinguishable from a manufactured piece because they're that stylish and well made, and they will fit right into your wardrobe.

It's the professional look of knit pieces that draws so many people to the craft. In fact, more and more people are beginning to learn how to knit than crochet, which has long stood as the more popular of the two fiber arts. Sure, you have to learn how to use two needles when you knit, whereas you need only one hook for crochet, but knitting for beginners is simple, and knitters will usually defend their work as the more polished-looking of the two. By learning just a few basics, you can knit pieces that your family and friends will swear had to have been bought at the store.

Knitting Tools of the Trade
As you start out knitting your first few stitches, you won't need much in the way of equipment. Knitting can be taken anywhere because all the tools will fit in a small bag.

To start out, purchase the following tools:

A Ball of Medium-Weight Yarn. Also called worsted weight, this type of yarn is inexpensive and generally 100 percent acrylic. Don't worry about getting the expensive stuff yet. You can buy a ball for a few bucks, and the yarn won't do funky things that make you wonder if you've gotten the knack of knitting after all.

A Pair of Size 7 Knitting Needles. Make sure that you actually feel the knitting needles available. Many knitters prefer aluminum needles, which are widely available, but some will swear that a bamboo, rosewood or plastic needle feels much better. Aim for a length of about 12 inches because these will be much easier to start out with. As for the size, technically, you could choose any size that looks interesting. Size seven is a pretty common one for most beginners' patterns, though, and this size produces a set of stitches that aren't too small to work with but aren't so large that they look awkward.