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There are many free websites that allow a beginning knitter to learn the basics. YouTube offers videos on nearly every type of stitch, for both beginners and intermediate knitters. The multitude of videos available on YouTube means that there are videos available for both right- and left-handed crafters.
Knitting Help has a large library of videos available for beginners. This website narrates each step as it is done and has visuals available for both of the major knitting styles: English and Continental. Knitting Help also describes each stitch or technique under the video link, and it has a forum available for live discussions.
Knitting Pattern Central offers a tutorial directory with links to tutorials on basic stitches and techniques. These links are to both video and text tutorials, so a beginning knitter can read what to do and see someone else doing it. -
Websites with free patterns are also in abundance. Many free pattern websites offer patterns for different skill levels, so they are a valuable resource for any knitter. These websites are usually updated often, so there are frequently new patterns to choose from.
Knitting Pattern Central offers a free pattern directory as well as a free tutorial directory. The website only links to patterns with pictures, so a knitter will be able to see examples of what the object will look like when finished, making pattern decisions easier.
Ravelry also offers a large library of free patterns, though registration to the website is required. You can browse the pattern library by type of project and type of yarn used, which allows you to pinpoint the exact type of project you would like to knit. Each pattern also has a link to other users' finished projects in that pattern, allowing you to see multiple examples of the same pattern in different yarns. Ravelry also has a large forum community where users can post questions and concerns about specific patterns and receive feedback from other users who have knit from the same pattern.
