Do You Want To Learn How To Knit? Here’s What You Can Do

280

Learning how to knit can make for a great hobby, stress-buster, and can serve as a fun activity too. In this article, we are going to guide you on the basics of knitting through a step-by-step tutorial meant for beginners. The first step of knitting begins with the knit stitch. Then it proceeds to the basics of casting on, knitting a row, and casting off.

Essential Knitting Tools:

You will require a few basic knitting tools in order to start off:

• Knitting needles(6-8 US size)

• Yarn ball (medium)

• Crochet hook or yarn needle

Basic Knitting Steps

There are many knitting basics involved in knitting. It includes the stitches and methods involved in every knitting project. Here are the basic knitting skills that you require:

• Making a slip knot and casting on

• Creating the knit stitch

• Creating the purl stitch

• Binding off or casting off

Basic Knitting Patterns for Beginners

There are two basic knitting styles for beginners. One is the English method and the other is the German or Continental method. The difference lies in the way you hold the yarn.

While trying the English method, the knitting yarn should be held in the right hand. And, while trying the German/Continental method, the knitting yard is held in the left hand. Both the knitting methods can produce equal results.

Here is a step-by-step guide for helping you learn to knit:

1. Slip Knot

Making a slip knot is the first step of any knitting project. Here are the steps on how to knit and create the slip knot.

• Create a look at the end of the yarn.

• The long ends of the yarn should be attached on top of the short end.

• Place the loop on top of the yarn to the side of the loop.

• Select the yarn through the loop.

• Pull it gently through the loop. Do not pull it too much as the loose ends might come through.

• Pull the knot tight, placing the loop at the top open.

• Slip the new loop onto one knitting needle.

• Pull the ends to tighten the knot around the needle.

2. Casting on

There are several cast-on methods, but the backward loop method is the simplest for beginners and requires lesser time:

• Hold the needle with the slipknot in your right hand

• Cover the yarn behind your left hand and palm

• Place the knitting needle underneath the yarn across your palm

• Draw out your palm from the yarn while creating a loop around your knitting needle

• Pull the loop tight by pulling on the knitting yarn

• Repeat the process using your hand and yarn to create cast on stitches, as required

• Keep the loops facing upwards and looser to make the knitting process simpler

[sc:mediad]

3. Knitting Stitches

There are several types of stitches you can create while knitting, but the knit stitch is the primary one. Here are the steps on how to knit stitch:

• Hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand.

• Hold the needle without the stitches in your right hand.

• Wrap the working yarn around your right middle finger.

• Insert the needle without stitches under the front of the first loop and push it through.

• Hold the knitting yarn attached to the yarn ball and wrap it around the right needle in rotational motion, so that it sits between the two needles.

• Wrap the yarn from back to front.

• Look in between your two needles.

• Move the right needle up and down to position over the left hole.

• Jab the right needle through the left hole to the left needle.

• Do it slowly, so that the loop does not slip off the needle.

• Start pulling the inserted needle from the loop slowly; making sure the yarn is wrapped around tight.

• Hold the un-knit stitches on the left needle using your left hand, and bring the right needle and your knit stitch up and off.

• A knot should appear on the right needle. If not, cast on another stitch, and try again.

• Repeat the steps until you have knitted every stitch that appeared on the first needle and then transferred to the second needle.

• Switch the needles.

• Move the needle in your right hand with all the finished stitches in your left hand.

• Move the needle to your right hand making sure all the loops are facing the same direction.

• Knit every row and switch the needles.

• Keep repeating the steps until you create a garter stitch pattern.

4. Casting off

Cast off is also known as binding off. It can transform all live loops into the flat finished edge of a knitted piece.

• Knit two switches

• Poke your left needle into the first stitch on the right needle.

• Lift the first stitch over the second stitch.

• Pull out the left needle, leaving all the stitches on the right needle.

• Knit another stitch.

• Repeat the steps until only one stitch remains on the right needle.

• Slip the needle out of the last loop.

• Keep the loop intact.

• Cut the yarn off, leaving a six inch end.

• Place the cut ends through the loop.

• Pull it tight.

• You can even cut off the ends as it is very short. Weave in your ends using a yarn needle.

These are the basic steps of knitting for beginners. Knitting is not really that tough. Even though there are a lot of details and complex patterns involved, you can integrate these basic stitches to gauge and knit further.