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Knitting requires practice, but it's a craft anyone can do. Read on to learn how to knit.
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Introduction
- Knitting is a relaxing and enjoyable pastime that comes with an added benefit—you get something fun to wear or use at the end of your labors. This page contains detailed instructions on basic knitting techniques, as well as further tips and links to more advanced methods.
What You'll Need
- For a beginning knitter, there are a few basics you'll need to have:
- Yarn
- The pattern you follow will suggest a type and weight of yarn to use.
- If you're just practicing, select a worsted weight yarn. Worsted weight is the most common type of yarn; as a thicker yarn it's also the easiest for new knitters to use.
- Check this section for more information on selecting yarn.
- Knitting needles: The size of the needle determines the size of the loops when knitting.
- The most common type of needle is straight, single-point.
- Check the label of the yarn you're using for a recommended needle size as well; remember this is a recommendation, though, not a requirement!
- Check this section for more information on choosing needles.
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle: a needle large enough to thread your yarn through.
- You'll use this needle to hide your last piece yarn when you finish a project.
Before You Begin
- For most knitting projects, you'll choose a pattern to follow. Any pattern you choose will follow three basic steps:
- These steps are explained in the following sections. If you're a novice knitter, About.com suggests making a knitted square for your first project. This way you'll develop a feel for knitting, without having to worry about any mistakes along the way.
- If you'd prefer to begin your knitting experience by following a pattern, feel free to check our section on pattern resources.
Step 1: Cast On
- In order to start knitting, the yarn needs to get on the needle—this is called casting on. There are many ways to cast on, but the one preferred for beginners is a long tail cast on.
- Wrap the yarn around your thumb and pointer finger with the tail in the front and the working yarn (ball end) around the back.
- Grasp both ends of yarn in the remaining three fingers.
- Place the needle in the triangle of yarn that is formed.
- Scoop the yarn from the top edge of the triangle and bring the tip of the needle in front of the yarn that is in front of your thumb. This will form a loop around the thumb.
- Insert the needle into the loop from below.
- Wrap the back yarn (the one coming from the left side of your pointer finger) around the needle counterclockwise.
- Draw the back yarn you just wrapped around the needle back down though the front loop. (Photos 5 and 6 in the slide show below.)
- Snug up the loops around the needle by pulling the needle up and the yarn ends down equally.
- Repeat until you have the desired number of stitches on your needle for your project.
- Cast on 30 stitches to make a beginner's knitted square.
Step 2: Knit a Row of Stitches
- The knit stitch is the basis of all knitting. It consists of simply making a new loop linked into a loop from the row below. Knitting means you keep making rows of these loops back and forth using two needles.
VideoJug: How To Knit The Knit Stitch - Insert your right needle into the first loop on the left needle. Do so from the left side of the front of the loop to the right side of the back of the loop. (Photos 1 and 2 in the slide show below.)
- Wrap the yarn counterclockwise around the right needle.
- Holding the wrapped yarn snug around the right needle, bring the right needle from behind the left needle to the front, by going under the left needle. (Photos 4 and 5 in the slide show below.)
- It helps to keep the tip of the right needle always touching the left needle so the new loop stays on.
- You now have a new loop on your right needle and can slide the old loop off the left needle.
- Repeat for each loop on the left needle.
- Knit all the stitches from the left needle to the right needle.
- Switch the needle from your right hand (the one with all the knitting) back to your left hand and repeat!
Step 3: Bind Off Stitches
- When you have knit as much as your project calls for it is time remove the knitting from the needles and secure the last row of "live" stitches (loops on the needle). This is called binding off (or casting off) the stitches.
- Knit two stitches as you normally would.
- Insert the left needle into the first loop you knit (farthest right)
- Stretch the loop a bit if needed.
- Pass the right loop over the left loop and slide it off the left needle.
- One loop will remain on the right needle. Continue knitting one stitch and repeat passing the right loop over the left stitch on the right needle.
- Continue until there is one loop remaining.
- Stretch the loop just a bit.
- Cut the working yarn with a few inches remaining.
- Thread the tail back through the loop.
- Pull the loop snuggly closed.
- Thread the tail through a needle and sew in the end to hide and secure the yarn.
- Repeat for the tail.
Step 4: Pick a Project
- Now that you've successfully cast on, knit a row of stitches, and bound off your stitches, you're ready to pick a pattern. Knitting patterns can range from super simple to advanced. For your first outing, you might want to pick something simple, like a scarf. Patterns are available online from:
- KnittingHelp.com: Scarf Patterns
- Better Homes and Gardens: Easy Scarves You Can Knit
- Howstuffworks: Knitting Patterns Library
- Quamut: Knitting projects
- Better Homes and Gardens: Easy Sweaters You Can Knit
- Knitty: Pattern search
- Knitting On The Net: New patterns
- As you advance you will be able to make your knitting more interesting and use more advanced patterns. Then, if you are really adventurous, you can make up your own designs!
Knitting Glossary
- Knitting has its own vocabulary. Most patterns will explain the terms used in the pattern, but if you need further enlightenment, use a knitting glossary, such as the ones from:
Step 5: Choose Yarn
- Choosing yarn means choosing between many sizes, shapes and textures. It can range from super fine (sock yarn) to super bulky, and can be cotton, wool, or acrylic.
- Check Love to Know's yarn-buying guide for an overview of your choices.
- The pattern you choose may recommend a certain yarn type.
- In general, smoother yarns are easier to knit with, but more likely to show imperfections. Textured yarns are a bit more difficult to knit with but more likely to hide imperfections.
- For an overview of novelty yarns, check DIY Network's yarn tips.
- Pick what you love and feels nice. You will be spending a lot of time looking at this yarn and touching it.
- For example of yarn widths, visit Lion Brand's guide here.
- Check here for advice on how to read yarn labels.
Step 6: Choose Needles
- Needles can be made from plastic, wood or metal. The size of your needles will affect the "gauge" (the number of stitches per inch).
- Smaller needles will result in a tighter gauge while big needles will have a looser gauge.
- The pattern you use will often suggest a needle size.
- The yarn you use may also recommend a needle size.
Equipment: Beyond the Basics
- As you get more experienced, and work on more complex projects, there may be other tools you find useful.
- The DIY Network has suggestions that include:
- Tape measure
- Stitch holders
- Point protectors
- Better Homes and Gardens also suggests:
- Crochet hooks
- Row counters
For Advanced Knitters
- Knitting, like most crafts, has many levels of complexity. This page has shown you the basics, but there are many more techniques out there. To learn more about them, visit some or all of the resources below.
