Step-by-Step Beginner's Guide to Knitting

Learning how to knit is easy and fun.

Knitting is a relaxing, enjoyable hobby that can be done anywhere and at any time. It is also an inexpensive way to make beautiful items that would cost more money if you were to purchase them in a store. Learn how to knit in a few short steps.

Choosing yarn

Choose a yarn to work with that you feel comfortable with or that the pattern calls for. The yarn label provides details, including the amount that is on the skein, fiber content, color name and dye lot. For future reference, if you are working on a project that requires more than one skein of yarn, purchase enough yarn with matching dye lots to complete the project.

Knitting Needles

There are different types of knitting needles. Straight needles have a point at one end and a knob at the other so stitches will not slip off the needle. They come in a pair. Use these needles for smaller projects such as scarves or hats. Circular needles have points at both ends and are used for afghans or sweaters without seams. Double pointed needles come in sets of four and are used for socks and mittens. The size of the stitch coincides with the number on the needle. Smaller size needles create smaller stitches, which increase with the number of the needle.

Casting On

Start by casting on the required number of stitches. This creates the first row of loops on the needle. There are several different ways to cast on, but the knitting on method is the easiest to learn. Although you can practice with any size knitting needle, a size 8 straight knitting needle is a nice one to learn with. Tie a slip knot on your needle, leaving approximately three inches of yarn for the tail. This knot is your first stitch. Place the needle in your left hand (this is your left needle). * Knit the first stitch (refer to the next section regarding how to knit a stitch), and leave it on your right needle. Slip the stitch from the right needle to the left needle by inserting the left needle in the front of the stitch and transferring it to the left needle. Repeat the process, knitting one stitch at a time and transferring it to the left needle until you have the required number of stitches. (Ten stitches is a good number to begin with.)

Knit stitch

Place the needle with the stitches in your left hand (left needle). Insert the right needle up and into the stitch from front to back, until the right needle is behind the left needle. Wrap the yarn using your right hand counterclockwise around the right needle, creating a loop around the right needle. Pull the right needle through to the front of the left needle, making sure the yarn pulls through with the needle. A loop will be present on both the left and the right needle in the same stitch. Remove the loop from the left needle to the right needle by sliding the stitch off of the left needle. Repeat the process for each remaining stitch on the left needle.

Purl stitch

The purl stitch looks just like the reverse side of the knit stitch. Place the needle with the stitches in your left hand (left needle). Insert the right needle down and into the front of the stitch, leaving the right needle in front of the left needle. Wrap the yarn using your right hand counterclockwise around the right needle, creating a loop around the right needle. Pull the right needle through to the back of the left needle, making sure the yarn pulls through with the needle. A loop will be present on both the left and the right needle in the same stitch. Remove the stitch from the left needle to the right needle by sliding the stitch off of the left needle. Repeat the process for each remaining stitch on the left needle.

References

• Craft Yarn Council of America: Getting Started

Resources

• KnittingHelp: Casting On Stitches
• KnittingHelp: The Knit Stitch
• KnittingHelp: The Purl Stitch