Learn the knitting basics

You will learn to hold the yarn and how to knit, purl, cast on, and bind off.  I am teaching the Continental method of knitting, but add instructions to the English method in this handout.

You will learn through a simple project such as a scarf or dishcloth to use these new skills.

Cast on

1.  Knit on Cast- on         

                I have started to teach the knit on cast on method in the beginners knitting classes as from there it is only a small step to learn the knit stitch itself.

                Knit -on cast on

            

 

2.  Long tail cast-on

              Put the slip knot on one needle and hold the needle in your right hand. With the left hand, separate the two strands that are hanging down, with the "tail end" to the left and the "ball end" to the right. Hold both strands toward the bottom of your hand, just to give it some tension. You now have some yarn from the ball end draped over your left index finger, and some yarn from the tail end draped over your thumb.

                Take the needle and bring it down so a loop forms on your thumb. Then put it through that loop and pull yarn from your index finger through this loop.  Drop the loop off your thumb and pick up more tail end yarn with your thumb.  Repeat these steps until you have cast on the right number of stitches.

                Here is a nice video illustrating the process:

                Long Tail Cast on

 And for the left-handed knitter:

 Left-handed long tail cast on

3. Backward loop cast on

                Put your slip knot on one needle and hold the needle in your right hand.  Simply loop your working yarn and place it on the needle backwards so it does not unwind.  Repeat until you have the necessary amount of stitches.

               

                Here is a nice video illustrating the process:

                Backward Loop Cast on

Basic Stitches

1. The Knit stitch

                The Continental method of Knit Stitch:

                With the yarn in the back you insert your right needle from the left to the right of the stitch and pull the yarn  through from the right.  In Germany this stitch is also called the right stitch.

                Knit Stitch (continental method)

knit stitch continental method for the left handed knitter 

                The English method of Knit Stitch:

                Knit Stitch (English Method)

2. The Purl Stitch

                The Continental method of Purl Stitch:

                With the yarn in the front you insert your right needle from the right to the left of the stitch and pull the yarn through from the left.  In Germany this stitch is also called the left stitch.

               

                Purl Stitch (continental Method)

Purl Stitch continental method for the left-handed knitter 

                The English method of Purl Stitch:

                Knit and Purl Stitch (English Method)

 

Cast off

                 To cast off you simply knit (or purl) two stitches.  You have now two stitches on your right needle.  You slip the first stitch over the second stitch. You have cast off your first stitch.  Now you knit a second stitch and again slip the first stitch on your needle over the second stitch.  You will repeat this process until all stitches are cast off. 

After casting off all your stitches you cut your yarn to a few inches and weave in the end with a darning needle or crochet hook.  

ENJOY YOUR NEW SCARF (or dishcloth)!

Again, here is a video to illustrate the process:

cast off