Knitting Basics

Looking for simple instructions on knitting basics?

Before we start with the tutorials there are a couple of things you need to be aware of.

I am assuming that you are right handed. A high percentage of knitters are, including myself, and to be honest, as a right hander it would be very difficult for me to convert the instructions for a left handed knitter. Sorry to all the left handers out there, I would if I could and I haven't given up on it completely, but it may take some time before left handed instructions appear on this site.

First things first...

What Do You Need?

Before you start knitting, you will need two knitting needles and a ball of yarn. The needle size doesn't matter a great deal when you are learning except that you are only making things harder than they need to be if you try to use needles that are too big or two small for your yarn.

I suggest that you start with double knitting (8 ply) wool as it is a good thickness to work as a beginner. The needles you use for a knitting project will depend on your tension as you knit.

The usual needle size for 8 ply wool is size 8 or 4.0mm. Start with this size and you can check your knitting tension when you have completed a small block of knitting.

Holding the Needles

Knitting books will tell you to hold the right needle the same way that you would hold a pencil, and to hold the left needle lightly over the top using the thumb and index finger to control the tip of the needle.

Personally, I find it easier to hold both needles the same way, over the top as for the left needle.

The yarn is held in the right hand, loosely wound through your fingers. You are then able to use your index finger to wind the yarn around the needle as you are knitting your stitches.

Again, being a contrary type I use a different, far less efficient method. I do not wind the yarn through my fingers but let it fall free from the work. I have to let go of the right needle to wind the yarn around the needle as I am knitting my stitches. Not the 'right way' to do it, but it works for me.

Common Knitting Terms

Knitting uses a language off all it's own.

If you are finding knitting terms confusing, check out this page for definitions of common knitting terms.

Knitting Tutorials

Ready for the Knitting Basics Tutorials? Click on any of the links below to start them.

• Casting On
• Casting Off
• Knit and Purl Stitches
• Increasing and Decreasing

If you are going to take up knitting you may also what to have a look at my page of knitting terms and knitting abbreviations, particularly if you are going to try out any new patterns.

If you are planning to use your own handspun yarn for your knitting, you might find the pages on knitting with handspun yarn useful.