How do you get started with knitting? It’s a question we’re asked regularly, and today we’re going to answer it in detail in this blog post. Of course, knitting requires the necessary materials: a set of knitting needles and a few skeins of yarn, both of which should be suited to the Knitting Pattern you’ve chosen. As a beginner knitter, we don’t recommend jumping right in without a plan. Don’t start off at full speed—instead, choose a beginner-friendly pattern that will guide you all the way to finishing your first knitting project. In the Knitting Patterns for beginners, you’ll come across a number of basic stitches. No need to panic—after reading this blog, you’ll be familiar with the basic stitches you’ll use to knit the most fantastic creations. Here we go!
Beginner's Stitch
The name of the stitch actually gives away why or when it’s used. The cast-on stitch is, after all, the stitch that kicks off all your knitting adventures. In other words, the cast-on stitch is the very first stitch that appears on your Knitting Needle.
1. Make a loop in the thread. Make another loop and pull it through the first loop. Now you have a loop with two types of thread: a working thread and a thread end. Note: To practice casting on stitches, 20 to 30 cm of yarn is sufficient. If you’re working on a real project, the yarn end should be at least three times as long as the desired width of your knitting.
2. Insert a Knitting Needle into the loop and secure the loop on the needle by pulling on the two strands.
Knitting Stitch 1: Stitches
After you've made the first stitch, continue casting on stitches.
1. Pick up the two strands. Wrap one strand around your thumb, and the other strand (the end of the strand) around your index finger.
2. Position the tip of your Knitting Needle to the left of your left strand (the front strand).
3. Insert the tip of your Knitting Needle from the right side under the front loop. Point the tip of the Knitting Needle upward and pull the front loop with you to the right, toward the back loop.
4. You just used the Knitting Needle to make a loop from the front strand. Now, run the tip of your Knitting Needle over the top of the back strand toward the right side of that strand.
5. Using the tip of your Knitting Needle, pull the back loop through the loop you made with the front loop.
6. Then pull the stitch you just made tight.
Knitting Stitch 2: Knit Stitch
“Cast on, wrap, pull through, and let it slide,” is what my grandmother used to tell me when she first gave me a ball of yarn and a pair of Knitting Needles. After a little practice, I had mastered the knit stitch—which is really the basic stitch in knitting. And with the following steps, you’ll soon have the knit stitch in your repertoire of knitting stitches, too. Let’s go!
*Note: Are you right-handed or left-handed? The explanation of the basic stitches in this blog is based on a right-handed person.
1. Hold the Knitting Needle with the cast-on stitches in your left hand. In your right hand, you’ll hold the (still) empty Knitting Needle.
2. Insert the empty Knitting Needle through the first loop on the Knitting Needle in your left hand. As you do this, pass the Knitting Needle under the Knitting Needle. This action is also called “inserting.”
3. With your left hand, briefly hold both Knitting Needles where the tips of the Knitting Needles cross.
4. With your right hand, wrap the yarn around the tip of your right Knitting Needle, starting from the bottom of the Knitting Needle. Then make sure the yarn is at the back of the knitting. This step is also called “yarn over.”
5. Next, pull the looped thread back through the stitch you just made. This step is also called “pulling through.”
6. Using your right needle, gently slide the new stitch off the left needle. This step is also called “slipping.”
The first knit stitch is done! Once you have your first row (a row of stitches) of knit stitches on the right Knitting Needle, switch the Knitting Needles from one hand to the other. This ensures that the Knitting Needle with your stitches is in your right hand.
Knitting Stitch 3: Purl Stitch
From the knit stitch, we’ll move on to the purl stitch. You almost always use the purl stitch in combination with knit stitches. When you alternate between knit and purl stitches, you’ll create the stockinette stitch—the fourth stitch pattern in this blog.
1. Hold the Knitting Needle with the cast-on stitches in your left hand. Insert your right Knitting Needle into the first stitch. Do this from the bottom, in the opposite direction (as with a knit stitch). Your right Knitting Needle is now above the left Knitting Needle. Make sure the yarn is hanging on the left side of your right Knitting Needle. – When you knit a knit stitch, the yarn hangs on the right.
2. Wrap the yarn (which is hanging to the left of the Knitting Needle) around the right Knitting Needle. To do this, bring the yarn over the right Knitting Needle from the right side, and then pass it under the right Knitting Needle. Now the yarn is back where we started: on the left side of the right Knitting Needle.
3. Next, pull the right needle back. Pull the loop you just made along with it. And there you have it… the very first purl stitch on your right needle.
Knitting Stitch 4: Stockinette Stitch
Do you start by knitting a row with knit stitches and then a row with purl stitches? Then you’ve got the stockinette stitch down. If you’d like to get started with the stockinette stitch, just scroll down to the top two stitches (knitting stitches 2 and 3). That’s all you need!
Knitting Stitch 5: Ribbing
Yes, let’s continue with the ribbing! The name of the stitch actually gives away what it’s mainly used for. That’s right—for a ribbed edge! With the ribbing, you alternate a knit stitch with a purl stitch in the same round (row). For a narrow ribbing pattern, for example, knit one stitch and purl one stitch. Would you like the ribbing pattern to be a bit wider? Then knit two stitches and purl two stitches, for example. So you get to decide the width entirely on your own. It’s important, though, to have an equal number of knit and purl stitches on your needles.
Knitting Stitch 6: Barley Seed
Once you’ve got the ribbing down, the barley stitch is a piece of cake. You start the first row just like with the ribbing: first a knit stitch, followed by a purl stitch. The difference between the ribbing and the barleycorn stitch becomes apparent on the second row. With the ribbing, you knit a knit stitch over a knit stitch and a purl stitch over a purl stitch.
For a barley seed stitch, you knit a purl stitch over a knit stitch and a knit stitch over a purl stitch. You then repeat these two rows to create a barley seed stitch pattern.
Knitting Needles and Yarn
A clear explanation of knitting stitches is important, but of course, you won’t get very far without a set of Knitting Needles and yarn. Our selection includes many Knitting Needles, and you can choose from various brands, materials, and sizes. Click here to see the full selection!
Once you’ve found the right Knitting Needles, it’s time to look for yarn. Some patterns specify that you must use a particular yarn from a specific brand. If your pattern gives you a little more flexibility, you can choose the right skein of yarn yourself. You can knit with both animal-based (wool) and non-animal-based yarns (Cotton, Acrylic, Polyester, Bamboo, and Hemp, etc.). The choice of yarn depends on the pattern and/or your personal preference. At Yarnplaza.com, you’ll find a selection of over 20,000 different balls of yarn. So, are you still looking for a ball of yarn for your first knitting project? Click here now! 