Learn to Knit
with Tin Can Knits
Tin Can Knits
Husband-and-wife designer duo behind the beloved Learn to Knit Love series.
The warmest, clearest beginner knitting course we've tested. Ends with a finished scarf and a simple hat — two projects you'll actually reach for.
£22 (one-off)
Watch the intro lesson free
At a glance
The basics
Best for
Complete beginners who want a gentle path
You'll make
A garter-stitch scarf and a chunky hat
Time commitment
About 4 hours plus project time
Starter cost
~£18 for needles, yarn and notions
Platform
Tin Can Knits website
Pace
Gentle and genuinely kind to beginners
Who this is for
The honest fit
Great if you…
- Have never knitted before
- Want a warm, friendly teaching voice
- Like ending with finished, wearable projects
- Prefer a one-off purchase to a subscription
Maybe not if you…
- Already know the basic stitches and want to go faster
- Want a big catalogue to browse alongside your main course
- Prefer self-paced YouTube over a paid course
The curriculum
What the course covers
15 lessons, roughly 4h 10m total.
- 1–3
Foundations
Long-tail cast on, needle handling, first stitches
- 4–6
Garter stitch scarf
Your first project, row by row
- 7–9
Purl and stockinette
Adding the second basic stitch and reading your knitting
- 10–12
Knit in the round
Circular needle basics and starting the hat
- 13–15
Finishing
Bind off, weaving in ends, blocking
Our honest take
What we thought
What we liked
Alexa and Emily are the kind of teachers who make you feel capable. The camera work is exquisite — every stitch is visible. Ending with a finished hat is a proper reward rather than a contrived 'project'.
Where it could be better
The website player isn't as slick as Skillshare or Domestika, and there's no mobile app. Download the PDFs for off-line use. Also worth noting: the course is right-handed; left-handed knitters may prefer the Skillshare alternative.
Our scoring
4.7
Overall · out of 5
The verdict
“If you've never picked up needles and you want a course that ends with two things you'll wear, this is the one. Worth the £22 just for the hat pattern.”
£22 (one-off)
The kit
What you'll need to follow along
3 things. That's it.
Knit Pro Symfonie 6mm circular needles
Our pickThe course uses circulars for both projects — they're worth the small premium.
Drops Paris aran yarn × 2 balls
2 ballsSoft cotton with clean stitch definition. Forgiving of uneven tension.
Notions kit (markers + tapestry needle)
For counting and finishing. Useful on every project after this.
Total: ~£21Everything you need for the course.
See all on AmazonSome links on this page are affiliate links — we earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we’d use ourselves.
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 Symfonie
£3.50
King Cole Big Value aran
instead of Drops Paris
£2.20
Darning needle + safety pins
instead of full notions kit
£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
- Does this work on mobile?
- You can watch on mobile via the web player, but there's no dedicated app. The PDFs open happily on a phone.
- I'm left-handed — will this work for me?
- The course is taught right-handed. Most left-handers either use a mirror or pick an alternative course (see our Skillshare alternative).
- Do I need to buy the yarn they use?
- No. Any aran/worsted weight yarn will work. We recommend Drops Paris for its stitch definition, but don't feel locked in.
Ready when you are
Ready to start?
Grab the kit, start the course, and you'll have your first finished piece by the weekend.