Easy Instructions on How to Knit With Knitting Needles

Starting with simple stitches can improve your accuracy in more difficult stitches.

According to the Alita Designs company, the oldest forms of knitting can be traced to 100 B.C. In the early history of knitting, intricate weaves of yarn and thread were needed to make clothing and other supplies for families throughout the world. Today, knitting is more commonly a hobby for those looking to pass the time or to create thoughtful, homemade gifts. Knitting can involve a number of complicated stitches, but the basic knitting stitch begins with a simple cast-on followed by the English knitting method.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• Knitting needles

Instructions

Cast-on

1. Measure at least 1 1/2 feet from the end of your yarn; if you want to do more than 20 or 30 stitches, measure even more. It is better to have a little excess yarn than to run out.

2. Drape the yarn across your left hand so that the tail end dangles from your thumb, and your working yarn (the rest of the yarn on your piece) dangles from your index finger. Grasp the two pieces with the rest of your fingers to secure them in place.

3. Pass one knitting needle under the string stretched between your thumb and index finger; place the needle as close to the center of this string as you can get. Hold the string against the needle with the index finger of your right hand. Pull the needle backwards slightly, and pass it under and through the loop on your thumb.

4. Pull the needle (and your left thumb with it) to move over and through the loop around your index finger. Keep the string attached to your fingers at all times.

5. Pass the needle back under the string on your left thumb, and then release with your thumb. Pull the yarn tightly to secure the knot against your knitting needle.

6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 again to secure the yarn to the needle; continue to repeat these knots five times. This will secure the yarn to your needle for knitting.

Basic Knit Stitch

1. Hold both knitting needles in your left hand. Grasp the remainder of the tail and the working end of the yarn in your right hand, with the yarn wrapped between your index and middle fingers. Hold the knitting needle that was cast-on in your left hand and the empty one in your right hand.

2. Push the cast-on string toward the end of your needle. Cross the empty needle under the first cast-on stitch so that at least an inch protrudes above the yarn. Wrap the yarn from your right hand over the empty needle. Pull the needle back through the hole; this will pull the new yarn through with it.

3. Push the right-hand needle through the hole you just created. Slide the cast-on stitch off of the end of the original needle; this will secure the new stitch to the other needle. Repeat Step 2, using the next cast-on knot you created.

4. Complete three knitting stitches and then drop the tail; you can cut this excess yarn off later. Continue to knit until you finish your row; your original cast-on needle will have no more yarn. Switch hands so that the needle with yarn is in your left hand and the empty needle is in your right. Begin stitching the second row.

5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each new row until you have completed your project.

Tips & Warnings

• These instructions are for right-handed knitters; lefties should reverse the instructions.

References

• Knitting Help: Knit Stitch Videos
• Alita Designs: Knitting History