Knitting Basics: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 10 July 2023 7 min read

Starting your journey into the world of knitting can be both exciting and a tad overwhelming. With this step-by-step guide to knitting 101, you will be well on your way to mastering the basics and starting your first project in no time. We'll go over everything from choosing the right supplies, learning the lingo, practicing your stitches, following patterns, to troubleshooting common mistakes. So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and let's dive into the wonderful world of knitting.

1. Get Knitting Supplies

Before you begin your knitting 101 journey, you'll need to gather some basic supplies. This includes selecting the perfect yarn, choosing the right needles, and collecting other essential tools. Here's what you need to start:

Choose the Right Yarn

Selecting the right yarn is the first step in your knitting journey. The type of yarn you choose can drastically affect the outcome of your project. Look for a medium-weight yarn to start — it's easier to work with and perfect for beginners. Don't shy away from colors! A bright, vibrant yarn can make the learning process much more enjoyable.

Select the Appropriate Needles

Next, you'll need to select your knitting needles. As a beginner, start with medium-sized needles (US size 8 to 10) as they are easier to handle. There are various types of knitting needles, but wooden or bamboo needles are great for beginners due to their slight grip which helps prevent stitches from slipping off.

Gather Other Essential Tools

Last but not least, gather other essential tools you'll need. This includes a pair of scissors to cut your yarn, a tape measure for checking the size of your work, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends. You may also want to get a small notebook to jot down notes or keep track of where you are in your pattern. Remember, knitting is a journey — the more prepared you are, the smoother your ride will be.

2. Learn Basic Knitting Terms

Let's continue with our knitting 101 by learning some basic knitting terms. These terms are like secret codes that, once understood, will unlock a whole new world of patterns and projects for you to explore. So, don't feel overwhelmed — we'll take it step by step.

Understand Knit and Purl

Knit and purl are the two basic stitches in knitting. The knit stitch is done by inserting your right needle into the front of the first stitch on the left needle, from left to right. For the purl stitch, you insert the right needle into the front of the first stitch on the left needle, from right to left. Master these two stitches, and you can create an endless array of patterns!

Know Your Gauge

Ever wondered why your knitting project doesn't turn out the size you expected? That's where gauge comes in. Gauge refers to the number of stitches and rows per inch you get with a specific size of needle and type of yarn. By knowing your gauge, you can ensure your project turns out the right size. It's a good habit to make a small "gauge swatch" before starting a project to check your gauge.

Familiarize with Casting On and Binding Off

Casting on is how you add stitches to your needle to create the foundation row of your project. There are many ways to cast on, but as a beginner, the long-tail cast on is a good start. On the other hand, binding off, also known as casting off, is how you remove the stitches from your needle to finish your project. The basic bind-off is a great method to start with. Master these two processes, and you're well on your way in your knitting 101 journey.

3. Practice Basic Stitches

Now that we've got a handle on the knitting lingo, let's move on to the heart of knitting 101 — practicing the basic stitches. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't worry if you don't get it right the first time. Let's dive into it.

Mastering the Knit Stitch

The knit stitch is the first of the two foundational stitches in knitting. Here's a quick guide to mastering it:

Hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand and the empty needle in your right.
Insert the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle from left to right, front to back.
With your right hand, wrap the yarn counter-clockwise around the right needle.
Slide the right needle down, bringing the loop of yarn through the stitch.
Finally, slide the old stitch off the left needle. Congratulations, you've just knit a stitch!

Remember, patience is key here. Keep practicing until you feel comfortable with the knit stitch.

Perfecting the Purl Stitch

Next up in our knitting 101 guide is the purl stitch. Here's how:

Hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand and the empty needle in your right.
Insert the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle from right to left, front to back.
With your right hand, wrap the yarn counter-clockwise around the right needle.
Slide the right needle down, bringing the loop of yarn through the stitch.
Slide the old stitch off the left needle. Great job, you've just purled a stitch!

Keep practicing this stitch until you feel just as comfortable with it as you do with the knit stitch.

Combine Knit and Purl

The true magic happens when you combine knit and purl stitches. By alternating between these two stitches, you can create a variety of textures and patterns. The most common combination is called the stockinette stitch, which is created by knitting one row and then purling the next. Try it out, and see the magic happen in your hands!

4. Follow a Pattern

Following a knitting pattern can seem like decoding an alien language at first. But don't worry, with a little bit of patience and our knitting 101 guide, you'll be fluent in no time. Let's get started!

Read and Understand Patterns

Knitting patterns are a set of instructions that guide you through creating a knitted item. They include details like the type of yarn, needle size, gauge, and, of course, the steps to create the item. Reading a pattern is like following a recipe. You need to understand the ingredients and the steps to make your dish — or in this case, your knitted masterpiece. Keep the pattern handy and refer to it often as you knit. Over time, you'll get the hang of how to read and follow them.

Identify Common Knitting Abbreviations

Patterns use a set of standard abbreviations to keep instructions concise. Here are a few common ones:

K stands for knit.
P stands for purl.
CO means cast on, which is how you start your knitting.
BO means bind off, which is how you finish your knitting.

There are many more abbreviations in the world of knitting, but these are a good place to start. As you become more comfortable with patterns, you'll naturally start to recognize these abbreviations and what they mean.

Start with Simple Patterns

Like everything else in knitting 101, start with the basics when it comes to patterns. Choose simple patterns that use only knit and purl stitches at first. As your skills develop, you can start to tackle more complex patterns. Remember, it's not a race. Take your time, enjoy the process, and soon enough, you'll be knitting up a storm.

5. Fix Common Mistakes

Even the most experienced knitters make mistakes. The trick is not to panic but to learn how to fix them. As part of your knitting 101 journey, let's look at some of the most common knitting mistakes and how to fix them.

Learn How to Undo Stitches

Accidentally added an extra stitch? No problem. Knitting is pretty forgiving. Here's how you can undo stitches:

Unravel: Simply pull your needle out of the stitches and carefully unravel the yarn until you reach the mistake.
Re-knit: Then, with a bit of patience, re-insert your needle and re-knit the stitches.

It might seem a bit scary at first, but with practice, you'll become a pro at fixing these little mishaps.

Correct Twisted Stitches

Twisted stitches can make your knitting look uneven. But how does a stitch get twisted in the first place? It's all about how you insert your needle. If you're consistently getting twisted stitches, chances are you're wrapping your yarn the wrong way. Pay attention to how you're wrapping your yarn and make sure you're doing it consistently each time. You'll soon have those stitches back in line.

Deal with Dropped Stitches

Dropped a stitch? Don't fret! Grab a crochet hook and follow these steps:

Stabilize: First, make sure the dropped stitch doesn't unravel any further. You can do this by threading it onto a safety pin.
Pick Up: Then, using your crochet hook, pick up the dropped stitch and the strand of yarn above it. Pull the strand through the stitch, effectively creating a new stitch.
Repeat: Continue this process until the dropped stitch is back on your needle.

Remember, everyone makes mistakes. What matters is how you fix them. And with this knitting 101 guide, you're well on your way to becoming a master problem solver in your knitting endeavors.

If you've enjoyed learning the basics of knitting and are looking to expand your crafting skills, we highly recommend checking out the workshop 'Creative Ways to Use Traditional Hand Embroidery Techniques' by Irem Yazici. This workshop will introduce you to various hand embroidery techniques and inspire you to create unique and beautiful projects. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to enhance your crafting abilities!