Learn to Knit

Want to learn to knit?

If you or someone you know wants to learn to knit, I have a video tutorials and a pattern that will show you all of the basics! It’s also helpful if perhaps you learned to knit in the past but it’s been awhile and you need a bit of a refresher. (Note: if you are teaching someone else to knit, check out my 6 tips here!)

The Pattern:

The pattern is called The Basics and features 3 beginner patterns: Appleton (a ‘knit every row’ scarf), Bethel (a rib scarf) and Canaan (a textured cowl). Each pattern is also written for 3 different weights of yarn – DK, Worsted or Bulky (so you can choose whichever weight you prefer!). Click here for more pattern details or and to purchase the PDF.

In the pattern I reference the below video tutorials. These videos cover the following techniques:

You can watch each of these tutorials below!

The Video Tutorials:

How to Cast-On:

I have 2 different video tutorials for how to cast-on – you can decide whichever one you want to try first (or try both).

The first one is the “Backward Loop Cast-on”. This cast-on is super simple and is great if you are a brand new knitter (or teaching a brand new knitter). Other types of cast-ons are easier to work when you are already comfortable holding the needles and know how to work the knit stitch. But if (or your student) isn’t at that point yet, then the backward loop cast-on is a good place to start. Below is my lesson:

The second video is the “Long-tail Cast-on” and it’s my favorite method for casting-on. It has elements/maneuvers similar to the backward loop cast-on but takes it 1 step further. It provides a much more stable and uniform-looking edge than the backward loop cast-on but is just slightly more complicated.

How to work a knit stitch:

Learn the most important stitch – the knit stitch! So once you have your stitches cast-on, you’ll want to learn how to knit them. The video below shows you exactly how I do that. If you are using my “The Basics” pattern, this is the only stitch you’ll need to learn to make the “Appleton Scarf”.

(Note: I knit what is called the “English method” of knitting, where you hold the working yarn in your right hand. There is also the “Continental method”, so you may see other videos on the internet using this method (and the working yarn is held in the left hand). Both create the same end results, it’s just that they use different maneuvers to achieve these results.)

How to work the purl stitch:

Learn to knit the purl stitch! If you are using my “The Basics” pattern, you’ll need to learn this stitch in order to make the “Bethel Scarf” or the “Canaan Cowl”.

How to bind-off:

In this video I show you the most basic way of binding-off – this is how you finish off your project.

How to join a new ball of yarn:

When you run out of yarn and need to join a new ball of yarn, here is how you do it!

How to work back-and-forth on circular needles:

If you are working back-and-forth on a scarf, you don’t have to use straight needles – you can use a circular! In this video I show you how.

Joining to work in the round:

If you are working on a hat or cowl, you will be instructed to cast-on on a circular needle and then “join to work in the round” – this video shows you how.

Weaving in ends

After you’ve bound-off all of your stitches, the last step is just weaving in ends! I like to use the ‘duplicate stitch’ method for weaving in ends – check out my tutorial by clicking below: