Knitting for Beginners
with Hannah Thiessen
Hannah Thiessen
Knitwear designer and author of 'Slow Knitting' — warm, mindful teaching style.
A slower, more meditative introduction to knitting. Ideal if you're picking up needles for the calm rather than the finished object.
Free trial · £11/mo
Watch the intro lesson free
At a glance
The basics
Best for
Beginners drawn to knitting as a mindful practice
You'll make
A garter-stitch cowl
Time commitment
About 3 hours plus project time
Starter cost
~£18
Platform
Skillshare (free trial available)
Pace
Deliberate — made for slow learning
Who this is for
The honest fit
Great if you…
- Come to knitting for the calm
- Have a Skillshare subscription already
- Want left-handed mirrored videos available
- Prefer a smaller, simpler first project
Maybe not if you…
- Want to end with multiple finished garments
- Prefer a one-off purchase to a subscription
- Are impatient beginners who want to move quickly
The curriculum
What the course covers
18 lessons, roughly 3h 20m total.
- 1–4
Intention and setup
Choosing yarn and needles, first cast-on
- 5–9
The knit stitch
Knit, count, tension, rhythm
- 10–13
The purl stitch
Adding purl and reading your fabric
- 14–16
The cowl
Knit in the round for your finished piece
- 17–18
Finishing and care
Bind off, weave in ends, wash and block
Our honest take
What we thought
What we liked
Hannah's pacing is beautifully slow — you don't feel rushed through anything. The mirror videos for left-handers are a lovely inclusive touch, and her voice is perfect evening-knitting company.
Where it could be better
Only one project at the end, and it's a cowl — not everyone will want one. Some might also find the tone a little meditative if they want to get stuck in.
Our scoring
4.5
Overall · out of 5
The verdict
“The course to take if you're picking up knitting to unwind. Not the quickest route to a finished scarf, but easily the most peaceful.”
Free trial · £11/mo
The kit
What you'll need to follow along
3 things. That's it.
Addi Turbo 6mm circular needles
Our pickHannah's preferred brand. Smooth join and a nickel-plated tip.
Drops Paris aran yarn × 2
2 ballsIdeal for the cowl in the final lessons.
Stitch markers + tapestry needle
Basic notions for finishing.
Total: ~£26Everything you need for the course.
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On a tight budget?
The budget kit
These will absolutely get you through the course. The top-pick kit is nicer; the budget kit works while you’re finding out if this craft is your thing.
Pony bamboo needles
instead of Addi Turbo
£3.50
King Cole Big Value aran
instead of Drops Paris
£2.20
Safety pins + darning needle
instead of full notions
£1
Not quite right?
Try one of these instead
Different courses suit different people. These are the two worth considering alongside.
Keep reading
More knitting guides
Is Knitting Hard to Learn?
A fair answer — what makes the first hour awkward, how long until it clicks, and the specific sticking points that trip up beginners.
Read
KnittingHow Long Does It Take to Learn Knitting?
A realistic timeline from your first cast-on to your first finished jumper — plus what affects how fast it sticks.
Read
KnittingBest Knitting Projects for Gifts
Six beginner-friendly knitted gift projects — each achievable in a weekend to a week, with specific pattern and yarn picks for each.
Read
Common questions about this course
- Can I take this course without a Skillshare subscription?
- Skillshare offers a free trial long enough to finish the course. After that it's around £11/month for unlimited access.
- Is there left-handed support?
- Yes — Hannah includes mirrored videos for each lesson. Rare on a Skillshare course.
- Is a cowl a good first project?
- It's a simple tube of knit stitches that doesn't require shaping. Good for practising rhythm, less flashy than a hat.
Ready when you are
Ready to start?
Grab the kit, start the course, and you'll have your first finished piece by the weekend.