A common question from beginning knitters is how to tell if a stitch was a knit or purl? If just below the loop on the needle, the yarn is horizontal, like a frown, that was a purl stitch. If just below the loop on the needle, the yarn is more vertical and/or you can seeContinue reading “How to Tell if it was a Knit or Purl?”
Tag Archives: learn to knit
How to Knit a Tidy Rib Stitch
Rib stitch is made by alternating knit and purl stitches, usually knit 1 purl 1 (K1P1 or one-by-one rib) or knit two purl two (K2P2 or two-by-two rib). It makes a very stretchy fabric such as at the end of a pair of gloves, top of a pair of socks, edge of a hat, orContinue reading “How to Knit a Tidy Rib Stitch”
Knit Stitch Troubleshooting
This video gives a slow motion breakdown of some common things that can go wrong for new knitters learning the knit stitch, and how to avoid them.
Lesson 2 – Knitting a Garter Stitch Coaster
In this lesson, you’ll knit a Garter Stitch Coaster. You can either work through each of the following in order to learn each of the steps required to knit the coaster, or you can jump straight to the pattern and tutorial video for the coaster and come back to this page if you need moreContinue reading “Lesson 2 – Knitting a Garter Stitch Coaster”
Lesson 1 – Knitting Materials
This lesson starts by providing a list of the two to four items you need to get started with your knitting. After that, I’ll share everything I keep in my knitting bag, and the other knitting tools I keep close at hand. Getting Started with Knitting All you really need to get started knitting isContinue reading “Lesson 1 – Knitting Materials”
How to Hold Your Yarn for Knitting (Continental Style)
Everyone holds their yarn a little differently when knitting. Two main camps are divided between knitters who hold the yarn in their left hand (Continental Knitters or “Pickers”) and those who hold the yarn in their right hand (English Knitters or “Throwers.”) Even within those groups, there is much variation. The following notes and theContinue reading “How to Hold Your Yarn for Knitting (Continental Style)”
Yarn and Stitch Orientation Tips
Keeping your yarn and stitches sorted out can be tricky for a beginning (and sometimes an experienced) knitter. The following are some yarn and stitch orientation tips: Unless instructed otherwise, always wrap the yarn counter-clockwise (for both knit and purl). You may also want to check out this video demonstrating which way to wrap theContinue reading “Yarn and Stitch Orientation Tips”
Which Way to Wrap the Yarn
New (and even experienced) knitters can sometimes wrap the yarn backwards, which results in twisted stitches. The video below shows how to wrap the yarn the correct way around your needle when knitting or purling. Spoiler: always wrap counter-clockwise. You may also want to check out these tips for yarn and stitch orientation.
How to Do the Continental Cast On
Casting on is how you get the yarn into loops and onto the needles at the beginning of a project so you can start to knit. There are many different methods of casting on. Perhaps the easiest for new knitters is the Continental Cast On, which is very similar to simply knitting. Check out theContinue reading “How to Do the Continental Cast On”
How to Make a Knit Stitch
There are two main stitches in knitting: the knit stitch and the purl stitch. When looking at fabric knit in stockinette, the side with the “v” shaped columns is the side that was knit; the purl side is the one with the “bumps,” which are sometimes described as “smiles and frowns.” Note that the backContinue reading “How to Make a Knit Stitch”
Cushion of Joy 