Beginner Knitting
Guide
Cast on, knit stitch, purl stitch, and bind off
Sacha Teacher Monday, 07 June 2021 History of Knitting & Tutorial
“Cast On” Photo Guide
Make a loop with the yarn, the
Measure out enough yarn (wool).
shorter string (tail) should be at the
front.
Bring the
tail behind the
loop and
partially pull it through to make a knot (don’t pull it through all the way!).
This little
loop is called a
slip knot,
you’re now ready to cast on.
Place the slip knot on the needle. Pull the working yarn to tighten the knot
and the tail to make the loop fit the needle.
Put your thumb behind the yarn whilst holding the tail in your hand.
Hook the yarn onto your thumb, don’t let go of the tail!
Touch the
needle to
the front of
the thumb and slide the needle into the loop on your thumb
Hold the
needle
with your
left hand and the working yarn in your right.
Wrap the yarn around the needle, going under and then over.
Pull the
loop on your thumb over and off the needle.
You can now take your thumb out of the loop.
Pull the yarn tail to tighten the new stitch!
Repeat steps 5-9 for each cast on stitch.
“Knit Stitch” Photo Guide
Make sure you are holding the ‘live’ stitches in your left hand and the
empty needle in your right!
Insert the right
needle into first
stitch, front to back.
Grab the working
yarn and wrap the
yarn around the right needle going under and then over.
Pull the right
needle back
gently and notice
how the yarn peeks through in front of the stitch.
Gently pull the needle down and through the live stitch.
Pull the stitch off the left needle, Pull the working yarn to tighten the
make sure it stays on the right! stitch (not too much).
Ta-da! The final result is a knit stitch!
Repeat steps 1-5 for each knit stitch.
When you have completed the row, make sure to swap which hands are
holding the knitting needles. The live stitches should always be in your
left hand, and the empty needle always starts in the right!
“Purl Stitch” Photo Guide
Make sure you are holding the live stitches in your left hand and the
empty needle in your right!
Make With
sure the
working yarn is in front of the right working yarn in front, insert the right
needle – you will have to move it! needle into the stitch from back to
front
Wrap the working yarn
around the right
needle going over
and then under.
Wrap all the way around the right needle to create a loop.
Pull the right
needle back
gently and
notice how the yarn peeks through behind the stitch.
Gently pull the needle down and through the live stitch.
Pull the stitch off the left needle, Pull the working yarn to tighten the
make sure to keep your new stitch on stitch (not too much).
the right! Ta-da! The final result is a purl stitch!
Repeat steps 1 – 7 for each purl stitch
Just like with knitting, when you have completed the row, make sure to
swap which hands are holding the knitting needles. The live stitches
should always be in your left hand, and the empty needle always starts
in the right!
“Bind Off” Photo Guide
Knit (or Slide the
purl – left
depending on the pattern) two needle into first stitch.
stitches.
Pull the first stitch
over the second stitch
and off the
needle.
There is now one stitch on the right needle. The other has been cast/bind off!
Knit (or
purl)
one stitch.
When one stitch remains, cut the
Repeat Steps 2-6 until one stitch working yarn to create a tail (make
remains. sure its quite long (fingertips to
elbow).
Wrap the yarn around the needle and You are now left with another loop on
pull the remaining stitch over the yarn your needle! Pull the loop until it
tail. becomes a tail again.
Pull the Your
yarn tail
to tighten the last knot in your work knitting is now safely and securely off
the needle!
When you have finished your work, you will notice you have 2 tails!
Use a large sewing needle (tapestry needle) to sew in the ends, don’t
worry too much about how tidy it is for your first project. Make sure you
sew it quite deeply so it won’t come undone.
If you find it difficult check out this video on YouTube:
Knitting Help – Weaving in Ends in Garter stitch.
