Introduction to Knitting
Introduction
A guide for absolute beginners.
Knitting Needles
All about the knitting needles available to buy, and what you will need as a beginner.
Knitting Yarns
A roundup of the different yarn materials and dye patterns you could see.
Getting Started
First steps; reading yarn labels & making slip knots.
Casting On & Binding Off
Knitted Cast On
Casting on is all about getting stitches onto your needles - and this is the method beginners usually learn first.
Long Tail Cast On
A very popular method and my personal favourite.
Old Norwegian Cast On
A very similar method to the long tail cast on, but creates a stretchier edge.
How to Bind Off
Learn how to remove the stitches from the needles at the end of a project.
More Basics
What is Knitting?
Learn how knit and purl stitches are formed.
Knit Stitch & Garter Stitch
The knit stitch is of course vital to knitting, and garter stitch is a pattern made entirely of knit stitches.
Purl Stitch & Stockinette Stitch
The purl stitch is one of the basic building blocks of knitting, and stockinette stitch is the most recognisable pattern in knitting.
Weaving in Yarn Tails
A simple diagram to show how you can hide the yarn tails in the back of your knitting.
Change to a New Ball of Yarn
How to change to a new ball of yarn when you run out or when you want to change colour.
How to Knit Yarn Overs
Learn the most common yarn over methods for placing in between knits, purls, or knit and purl stitches.
Knit the Knits & Purl the Purls
Learn to recognise knit and purl stitches just as you're about to work them.
How to Slip Stitches
A super simple technique that involves passing a stitch between your needles without working it.
I-Cord
Learn how to knit I-cord, which is basically knitted rope.
Increases
kfb & kfbf
Increase by one or two stitches with these 'knit front and back' methods.
pfb & pfbf
Increase by one or two stitches with these 'purl front and back' methods.
Make One (M1)
Increase one by making a new stitch where there wasn't one before.
Make One Purl (M1p)
How to do the purl version of the 'make one' increase technique.
Decreases
k2tog & k3tog
Decrease the stitch number by knitting 2 or 3 stitches together.
p2tog & p3tog
Decrease the stitch number by purling 2 or 3 stitches together.
ssk & sssk
How to use slip and knit stitches to decrease by one or two stitches.
ssp & sssp
How to use slip and purl stitches to decrease by one or two stitches.
skpo & sk2po
A single decrease & a double decrease created by slipping, knitting and passing stitches over.
s2kpo
A centred double decrease created with slip & knit stitches.
k2tog tbl & p2tog tbl
Knit or purl 2 stitches together 'through the back loops'.
Knit & Purl Patterns
Ribbing
Knit columns of knit and purl stitches to create a very commonly-used stretchy fabric.
Seed Stitch
A lovely bumpy pattern made by alternating only knit and purl stitches.
Moss Stitch
A chunkier version of the seed stitch, this pattern is reversible and very popular.
Double Basket Rib
A basketweave layout made up of blocks of ribbing.
Basketweave
A classic basketweave effect with blocks of garter stitch and stockinette stitch.
Chevron Garter Stitch
Create raised patterns - like zigzags - in garter stitch, on a background of stockinette stitch.
More Patterns & Textures
Herringbone
A clever chevron pattern which creates a chunky knitted fabric.
Fisherman's Rib
A very cosy knit that looks like a looser brioche stitch.
Half Fisherman's Rib
Similar to the Fisherman's Rib, except every other row is just a plain knit row.
Slip Stitch Rib
Slip stitches are very simple and show as elongated stitches in your knitting.
Brioche Stitch
A lovely squishy stitch and one of my favourites.
2-Colour Brioche
How to knit brioche stitch but with vertical stripes of alternating colours.
Bobbles
Learn how to knit bobbles of different sizes.
Diamond Shapes
Find patterns for 3 different diamond or leaf shapes.
Spring Coil Stitch
How to knit little 3D 'springs' of yarn on the front of your work.
Selvedge Patterns & Edgings
German Slip Stitch Selvedges
Create neat side edges on your knitting with knits, purls and slip stitches.
Twisted Chain Slip Stitch Selvedges
Create nice even edges by slipping the first stitch and knitting the last stitch in every row.
I-Cord Cast On
How to start off your knitting with a chunky I-cord edge.
I-Cord Edging
How to add chunky side edges to your knitting project.
Double & Triple Selvedges
Patterns for adding a neat 2-stitch or 3-stitch wide selvedge.
My Mashup Pattern
This is a pattern for very neat selvedges that I made by smushing together 2 other selvedge patterns.
I-Cord Bind Off
See how to complete your project with a chunky bound off edge.
More Techniques
Tassels
How to make and add tassels to your knitting - 2 different ways.
Learn Continental Knitting
The English method of knitting is what I normally use, but on this page you can learn more about how the Continental method works.
Continental vs. English Knitting
A quick comparison of the 2 most popular knitting methods.
Metal Scales
Learn to attach metal scales to your knitting for a fun
Lace Knitting
Simple Eyelets
This is the first stop for beginners to lace knitting; how to make a simple eyelet.
Eyelet Stripe Lace
Learn to knit vertical columns of eyelet stitches.
Chevron Lace
A pretty zigzag pattern of eyelets.
Triple Chevron Lace
A delicate zigzag pattern with a trio of eyelet lines.
Tulip Lace
This popular and traditional pattern is also called quatrefoil or diamond lace.
Cable Knitting
Colour Work
Knitting Stripes
Part I
Learn how to change yarn and alternate between 2 different colours.
Knitting Stripes
Part II
Take a closer look at the different ways you can carry yarn up the side of your work.
Knitting Stripes
Part III
Watch how I knit with 3 different colours now, and still carry the yarns up the side.
Fair Isle for Beginners
How to get started creating lovely Fair Isle patterns.
Converting
Fair Isle Charts
A guide to converting Fair Isle charts from circular to flat charts, and vice versa.
Fixing Mistakes
Lifelines
This is a prevention method for knitting mistakes, so that when do a boo-boo, you can then easily fix it!