How to Begin to Knit
Before you can begin knitting clothes and accessories, you need to master the basics. Learn how to cast on your yarn and complete a basic knitting stitch. Use a basic instructional book to learn more stitching techniques and patterns suited for beginner knitters, or ask a friend who knits to teach you. With a little patience and practice, you will be on your way to knitting your own creations.
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Instructions
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Preparing to Knit
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1
Choose your knitting project. Beginners should start with something simple and symmetrical like a scarf or laptop computer sleeve.
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2
Purchase a ball of smooth, basic yarn. Find yarn in the color that best suits your project.
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3
Check the label on the ball of yarn for a recommended needle size. Purchase two knitting needles in the recommended size or use standard U.S. size 10 1/2 needles, which work well with most kinds of yarn.
Casting On
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4
Make a slipknot by wrapping a piece of yarn clockwise around your index and middle fingers spread about 1 inch apart. Pick up the back loop and bring it through the main loop with your right hand.
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5
Pull the loop up with your right hand while pulling down on the left side to form a loop. Insert a knitting needle and tighten the loop.
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6
Hold the knitting needle in your right hand. Hold the yarn with the bottom three fingers of your left hand a few inches below your slipknot, using your thumb and index finger to spread the yard open.
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7
Pull your knitting needle down, and then use the needle to pick up the loop on your left thumb from the bottom. Pick up the loop on your left index finger in the same way, making sure the yarn wraps around the front of the needle counterclockwise.
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8
Pull the needle with the new loop back through the loop around your thumb. Slide your thumb out of the loop.
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Tighten the loop by pulling down on both ends of the yarn. Repeat the casting on process until you have cast on the number of stitches you need.
Stitching
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10
Hold the needle with the row of cast on stitches in your left hand. Hold the other needle in your right hand.
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11
Slide the needle in your right hand through the top stitch behind the left needle. Loop the needle around the working yarn from front to back.
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12
Bring the needle with the looped yarn back through the stitch the way you came, and slide the whole stitch off the left needle.
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Repeat with each cast on stitch until you have completed the entire row, or follow the guidelines provided by your pattern.
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Tips & Warnings
When you make your slipknot, leave a tail that is at least three times as wide as the item you want to knit.
Find a comfortable way to wrap the working yarn around your left hand as you knit. Some prefer to wrap it around their middle and ring fingers, while others use their thumb and little finger.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
