Knitting for beginners, one stitch at a time
30 tutorials published
Knit your first scarf with only the knit stitch. This pattern gives the yarn, needle size and stitch count, with notes on casting on, keeping edges straight, joining a new ball and binding off.
Learn how to choose a first yarn that is easy to knit with: which weight to start on, how wool, acrylic and cotton behave, why color matters, and how to read a yarn label.
Learn the knit stitch in four motions: In, Around, Through, Off. Covers how to hold the needles, where the yarn goes, how to turn at the end of a row and how to fix tight or extra stitches.
A clear roadmap for complete beginners: the five things to buy, the four skills to learn in order (cast on, knit, purl, bind off) and a first project you can finish.
Learn how cotton yarn differs from wool, how to keep your stitches even with a fiber that has little stretch, and three small warm-weather projects: a washcloth, coasters and a light headband.
Four warm, simple things to knit for cold weather: a ribbed headband, a chunky cowl, a garter scarf and a lap blanket. Also covers worsted versus bulky yarn and how wool, acrylic and blends compare.
Knit a garter stitch lap blanket in bulky yarn using only the knit stitch. Covers how much yarn to buy, why a circular needle is used flat, the 104-stitch pattern and how to join new balls.
A four-step ladder of first knitting projects, from a dishcloth to a chunky cowl, with the yarn, needle size and stitch count for each and a short list of projects worth saving for later.
Make a chunky garter-stitch cowl from one large skein of bulky yarn. You knit a flat rectangle on US 10.5 needles and seam the short ends into a loop, with an optional seed stitch version.
Knit a stretchy 2x2 rib headband flat on two needles, then seam it into a loop. Includes how to measure your head, the full row-by-row pattern, binding off in pattern and simple size changes.
Knit an 8-inch cotton dishcloth with a smooth stockinette center and a garter-stitch border. The pattern uses about 60 yards of yarn and practices both the knit and the purl stitch.
Extra stitches, holes, twisted stitches and tight edges all have simple causes. Learn how to recognize the most common beginner knitting mistakes and put each one right.
Learn three ways to go backwards safely: tinking one stitch at a time, frogging whole rows and getting the stitches back on the needle, and adding a lifeline as a safety net.
A dropped stitch is easy to rescue. Learn how to secure the loop, then work it back up the ladder with a crochet hook in stockinette, purl and garter stitch.
Learn how to hide yarn tails so they stay put through wear and washing, on both stockinette and garter stitch, and how to join a new ball of yarn at the start of a row.
