Knitted goodness made by you
This guide will show you everything you need to get started with knitting.
First, you’ll learn how to get yarn onto the needles. Then, you’ll learn how to make the all-important knit stitch. Lastly, we’ll go over how to get your knitting off the needles.
Sound good? Let’s dive in!
Knitting boils down to three essential skills. These are the cast on, knit stitch, and the cast off. These three techniques make up the backbone of knitting. Master them and you’re officially a knitter. It’s that simple!
Before You Begin
To knit, you’ll need needles and yarn. That’s it! But where to buy them? And what kind of needles and yarn? Thick or thin? Wood or plastic? The options are endless!
YARN: I always recommend a chunky yarn and correspondingly thick needles for beginners because they’re much easier to grip.
In these tutorials I’m using Lion Brand’s Hometown (in color Fort Lauderdale Coral) and 9mm needles.
You don’t need to use the same yarn as me, but try to get yarn that’s at least a medium weight (aka. worsted weight) or thicker. Thinner yarns are harder to control. Not sure what “yarn weight” is? Check out this brief guide to yarn weights.
TIP: If you’re buying yarn and needles, choose cheap acrylic yarn so that mistakes won’t feel like such a big deal. As a beginner, you’ll make mistakes – and that’s totally normal!
Mistakes are part of the journey, and they’ll hurt less if you’re using inexpensive yarn as opposed to pricey artisan yarn.
NEEDLES: I recommend wood or bamboo needles for beginners. Wood and bamboo have a natural surface drag that “grips” the yarn and make it less slippery than steel or aluminium needles. Plastic needles are okay too.
If you have the choice, go for bamboo or wood. Otherwise, use whatever’s available!
SIZE MATTERS: What needle size do you need? It depends on the yarn you use! When you buy a ball of yarn, the yarn label will usually include a “recommended needle size” listed in millimetres.
Follow the yarn label when you’re first starting out. Going up or down a millimetre won’t be a big deal, but any more and your knitting might be too tight or too loose.
1.
You’ve got needles and a ball of yarn. Now you want to knit something. But how do you get the yarn onto your needles? Enter the cast on!
Casting on is a way to turn loose yarn into neat little stitches that sit perfectly on your needle. It’s the first step in knitting. Watch the video for a full step-by-step tutorial or follow along in 12 steps below. Ready to start? Let’s do this!
2.
You’ve learned how to turn yarn into stitches – good job! But they can’t just sit there like bumps on a log. They’re waiting to be knit!
The knit stitch is the most basic and fundamental stitch. After all, it’s the namesake of the craft we’re learning. Master the knit stitch and you, my friend, are a bonafide knitter.
PEP TALK: Like most skills, knitting takes time to perfect. You probably won’t get the hang of it on your first try. You probably won’t even get it on your second try. The important thing is to keep trying.
Why?
You’ve heard the concept of “muscle memory,” right? It’s the idea that the more you repeat a movement, the more it becomes second nature.
Because the movement is controlled by your subconscious mind instead of your conscious mind, you don’t need to think through each step of a movement. Without thinking, you can just do it. That’s muscle memory!
When you first start knitting, your hands will feel big and clumsy holding those knitting needles. But after practicing, your hands will learn the movement of knitting. It’s almost like your hands have their own brain!
Think of it like learning how to drive. As a new driver, you probably concentrated really hard on how to turn the wheel. Are you turning too hard? Will you hit the curb? Oh my gosh, the light turned yellow. Hit the brake!
You’re a nervous, sweaty mess. But with practice, you learned how much to turn the wheel and how to ease into a stop so you don’t get whiplash. After awhile, driving becomes second nature. Your hands and feet figure out how to coordinate with your eyes and brain to move your car around – no easy feat! That’s the miracle of muscle memory.
So, don’t fret if you don’t get the knit stitch right away. Most people don’t. The more you practice, the faster muscle memory will kick in. Before you know it, you’ll be knitting with your eyes closed. You have muscle memory to thank for that!
2.5
Here’s some knitting vocabulary for you: those cast on stitches on your needle? That’s called a ROW. Or more specifically, a row of stitches.
When you’ve knit all the stitches on your needle, that means you’ve knit the whole row. Woohoo! That’s a big deal!
So, now what?
Okay, notice that after you’ve completed your row, the yarn is at the left side of your row (aka. the end of your row). In order to keep knitting, you need the yarn at the right side of the row (aka. the beginning of the row).
How to do this?
It couldn’t be easier! Just spin the needle around. Ta-da! The working yarn (aka. the yarn attached to the ball) is now at the right side of the row, and you’ve got a new row of stitches, ready to be knit!
Each time you get to the end of the row, just spin your work around so that the working yarn is on the right. Keep going until your knitting is as long as you want it to be.
3.
At this point, you’ve got some rows of knitting under your belt. You should be very proud of yourself! You’ve used two sticks to transform a loose bundle of string into a neat little rectangle. Amazing! Now it’s time to get your knitting off the needles.
The cast off will get the job done. This technique is awesome because it means that your project is complete! It’s all grown up, ready to fly off the needles and enter the real world!
HOT TIP: When casting off, remember that you always need TWO STITCHES on the right needle to cast off. No more and no less. Casting off is a game for two (stitches).
“Ce-le-brate good times, come on!” Your knitting is off the needles! This is big!
You conquered the cast on, nailed the knit stitch, spun your needle ’round, and catapulted stitches over each other to cast off.
You, my friend, are a capital-K, grade-A Knitter! *wipes tear* I’m so proud of you!
STRUGGLING AND MAKING MISTAKES?
Okay, let’s get real. Not everyone will have a smooth, carefree journey from total beginner to master knitter. You might encounter bumps along the way.
These include: new stitches mysteriously appearing on your needle, knitting that’s too tight or loose and little holes appearing in your work.
These issues are 100% normal for a beginner, so don’t fret! To help you bounce over these hurdles, check out our collection of beginner troubleshooting tutorials:
1. KNIT YOUR FIRST SCARF
Once you’re comfortable with the knit stitch, you’re ready to knit your first scarf. How exciting!
Cast on a number of stitches that is roughly the width you want your scarf to be. Start knitting until your scarf is the length that you like. Then, cast off. That’s it!
My preference is for long, luxurious scarves that wrap around my neck once with a generous length hanging down either side – but that’s just me!
Some like ’em short while others seek a middle ground. As the kids say, you do you. If you’re not sick of me, we can knit a scarf together in this scarf tutorial!
Skills used: cast on, knit stitch, cast off
Difficulty Level: 1/5
2. KNIT AN INFINITY SCARF
If you’ve already knit a scarf and you’re looking for a slightly more challenging project, then this infinity scarf is just the ticket!
You’ll build on your existing skills while learning two new techniques: knitting in the round and the purl stitch. These two techniques alone will open up a world of knitting possibilities!
Follow along with the tutorial to knit the ever-popular Cushy Cowl infinity scarf. This is a circular tube of garter stitch that you can loop around your neck for instant warmth and comfort! Check out the infinity scarf tutorial here.
Skills used: cast on, knitting in the round, knit stitch, purl stitch, cast off
Difficulty Level: 1/5
3. KNIT YOUR FIRST HAT
If you’ve knit the infinity scarf or you’re just ready for a challenge, then get ready to knit your first hat! Build on your knitting skills by learning how to knit in the round and *drumroll, please* how to knit with double pointed needles!
In addition, you’ll learn how to decrease stitches to create a tapered shape and how to knit a simple rib stitch using knit and purls. Oh yeah, you’ll also learn how to make and attach a big, fluffy pom pom!
Follow along with the tutorial and knit the Big Hat, one of our most popular patterns.
Skills used: cast on, knitting in the round, knitting with DPNs (double pointed needles), decreasing, knit stitch, cast off, making a pom pom
Difficulty Level: 2/5
4. CHECK OUT THE PATTERN LIBRARY FOR PROJECTS
Do you have the knitting bug? Are you itching to cast on a new project? If so, check out pattern library for inspiration.
Go ahead and pin your favourite projects, save them for later, or cast on right away! The pattern library includes a mix of free and premium patterns, along with video tutorials that walk you through each step.
Visit the Knitting Pattern Library here.
After you do the long tail cast on, which side is the Right Side and which side is the Wrong Side?
The “right” side or “wrong” side of the longtail cast on is totally up to you! There is no objective right or wrong side to the long tail cast on.
At last a knitting instruction I can follow. My mother has tried so often to teach me to knit but somehow I just couldn’t “get” it – now I do “get” it – thank you so much!
You’re welcome, Caroline! I’m so glad you “get” it now! 😀
Hi Carol teach me how to knit hat step by step plse
Hi! Thank you for the tutorials. They are super helpful. I am still confused by the difference between Knit Stitch and Stockinette Stitch. I am dong the Knit stitch as instructed but it also has the knit and purl on both sides. I never see a side that is all Vs. It’s always just a rotation of the knit and purl. How does one get the Vs all on one side. Thank you!
Thank you for your tutorials. They are really helpful, neatly edited and easy to follow. I was having a problem understanding the difference between the knit stitch and the stockinette stitch. In your tutorial for the knit stitch above it seems that what was happening is I was actually ending up with a garter stitch by repeating the knit stitch over and over. I don’t think you noted this in the tutorial but I could be wrong. When I tried to do the stockinette stitch I couldn’t figure out why I didn’t have a right or wrong side just a ‘both’ side. Am I missing something about the difference? I don’t see that there is a knit and purl back and forth tutorial on your site. I’m just still a little confused. Thank you!
I would like to ask what knitting needles you can recommend? I Am very interested in knitting but it is so hard for me to find a good starter knitting needles. Thank you!
Hi there! I recommend bamboo or wooden needles. The bigger the better. I would choose a pair that are 5mm or larger. On this page under the section “Gather Your Materials” I go over the best needles for beginners. Hope that helps!
I love your site so much but I’ve been trying to find a step-by-step of how to purl? It seems confusing to me & the videos I’ve seen you do it in so far all make it seem like there’s one out there somewhere in which you’ve already slowly described it… Am I missing something here in my searches?
Hi Kelsey! I’m definitely overdue for a purl stitch video! I made one years ago here: https://youtu.be/N_y-4iAk9js but there’s no voiceover and just music. It’s probably not as precise as it could be. This video from RJ Knits is quit good: https://youtu.be/lC4Pm3JWnD0
Hi
Do you have a speedy knitting technique?
first I don’t know how to knit ,after I watch how to knit I already know how to knit
thank you
What do I do with the little tail that’s left over after I’m done casting on?
Secretly weave the end tail into the project.
Hello I have an issue with the correct way to wrap the yarn around fingers so knit and purl tensions are even. I have been knitting for years and have never been happy with tension and realize it must be the yarn wrap.
I love your tutorials. Best knitting website ever. But why have you not posted videos in a while?
Hi! I’ve just added a new purl stitch video. You can find it here: https://sheepandstitch.com/library/how-to-purl-stitch-in-knitting-for-beginners/
Davina thank you so much you helped me with so much of my knitting! Now I want to knit everyday all the time you made it so much easier for me. Thank you again.
I am starting to meet this pattern ziggy zebra never been knitting
I just love how you have shown how to knit for beginners. So easy to follow. I have crocheted for many years and now I wanted to try knitting. Love it so easy so far. Getting ready to knit the scarf can’t wait to see how I do. Thank you for your easy method of knitting for beginners.
Hi Davina I LOVED your tutorials they helped me so much with knitting. Now knitting is sort of my “thing.” Thanks again love your videos too.
Your videos are wonderful and so user friendly!! Very helpful, I’m just a beginner so I needed something very easy to follow!
Hi Davina,
Thank you very much for all the tutorials and the information you provided. You make knitting so accessible and easy!
I have a question regarding yarn and niddle size. If I have a yarn with no lable, and I am a beginner, how can I match the right niddles size to the yarn?
I just want to say thanks for these wonderful tutorials. I am teaching my young niece to knit, and your instructions and images are so simple and encouraging, which will help her when I’m not there to answer questions and show her myself. They also help me put into words the actions and steps that have become second-nature to me over the years. Knit on!
I am 66 years old and recently retrieved old balls of yarn to keep me company in this time of CoVid-19. The last time I knitted was 20 years ago and I was a beginner then!
Needless to say, there was much anxiety involved when trying to meerly cast on. Then I found your tutorials.
Listening to your pleasant and clear voice and watching your succinct visuals help me to venture back into the world of yarn! Even this old person can follow them.
Thank you so much,
S. Shanaman
Davina, your tutorials are so helpful for beginners! I signed up to learn knitting on a paid website and became so frustrated when I wasn’t getting it. So thankful I stumbled onto your YouTube page before giving up. What you’ve put together is truly such a gift!
I tried but this is just confusing me 😂 I still have no clue what I’m doing and there is definitely something im doing wrong cos I can’t find the loop during the stitch.
What do you do with the little tail once you start the knit stitch? Do you just cut it off?
Hi Davina,
Will you make a blog post or video showing hand exercises and stretches to help prevent knitting injuries? I would really appreciate it.
Thanks!
Thank you SOO much for these videos and tutorials. I tried knitting a few years ago but failed since the book was very hard to follow. I thought I would never be able to knit until I saw your fun videos. These were very helpful. Thank you Davinia!!!
You’re very welcome! I’m glad you’ve found success with these videos!
Love, love, LOVE your instruction and videos! I am a total beginner and your videos made it so simple to learn. My stitches may not be perfect but I am learning and enjoying myself. Thank you!!!
My mom taught me to knit when in 6th grade. While still in high school we went to one of her friends who taught us the two strand way to cast on. What a joy it was to learn for me because I was a very tight knitter. This way made it so much easier to knit my first row. You showed me another way to cast it on and I will try it and see if it will be easier. Thanks so much for teaching more than one way to add a new ball of thread. My needles are packed right now so I may go buy new ones so I can make this pattern.
WOW! I didn’t think that I could learn how to knit so easily!
Thanks, Davina!
sometimes I read : “Cast on 40(40, 42, 42)…” what means the numbers inside the brakets?
Well I really enjoyed your Blog!!
This blog has really made me more enthusiastic about learning knitting 🙂
Hello!
I am having a load of trouble getting the knit stitch down. I can cast on just fine with no problems, but when it comes to the knit stitch everything goes wrong. I’m frustrated because I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I tried a more bulky yarn with 9 mm bamboo needles and I tried a smaller yarn with the same needles. I never fail to run into trouble even after playing around with the sizes of yarn. My knit stitches always get too tight, and they get tighter and tighter as I keep on going until I finally cannot go any further because they are just too tight. Then I tried making my cast-on stitches looser but that did not fix anything when it was time to knit stitch. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, and It’s annoying. I would really like it if you could tell me what I’m doing wrong!
Hi there! I really need some urgent help. I’m a beginner and I’m knitting a baby cardigan for my sister’s baby and she’s due in a week. I’m up to the sleeves and using circular needles (following this tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeiNEAtDMd0&ab_channel=SoWoolly) and I have no idea what she’s doing!
I don’t even know how to start and which stitch to pick up and whatnot. If there’s any way you can advise me, please help! I really wanna get this done before the baby comes because I’m also knitting a romper.
Much appreciated!
I have tried to knit so many times with other websites but I got confused but now I know thanks to sheep and Stich.Thank u
You have no idea how much you have helped me. I’m disabled (in bed all day, with limited “good” moments) and I needed to find a purpose in life. There is a local program where people can knit items for children with cancer. I purchased the yarn and needles, and after they arrived, I tried to find a website to teach me. Yours was the first I found, and the width of the yarn and type and size of needle is the exact one you suggested to learn on. Five minutes later, I can cast. I haven’t gotten to step #2, because I had to say thank you first. I didn’t think I was going to be able to learn. You are a gifted teacher, and I’m quite grateful.
I don’t even remember why, but last fall I had this notion that I wanted to learn to knit. I’m a bit of a perfectionist but am also the type of person who doesn’t want to start with a scarf, I want to start with a cable knit sweater (and have it turn out perfect). Haha! I started with a lap blanket for in my car.
Anyways, I happened upon your website and loved your videos… so easy to see what your hands are doing and your explanations/instructions were great.
Knitting has been great for helping tame my perfectionism. Because, nothing I have made has turned out perfect yet. lol. During my first project, the lap blanket, I was talking on the phone to my daughter and I purled 3/4 of a row when I should have been knitting. I didn’t catch the mistake until about 6 rows later. At that point in my knitting journey, I didn’t even know how to take out rows without going all the way back to the beginning. So, I left the mistake… It reminds me of my daughter every time I look at it. 🙂
Since then, I’ve made two blankets, one infinity scarf, one regular scarf (that I ended up re-making 3 times because it kept curling), squares for a patchwork type of blanket and I’m getting ready to attempt socks.
I love your blog and all your videos. Thanks so much for being a part of my knitting journey!
hi davina!
your tutorials help me a lot but i just wanted to clarify, when doing the 1×1 rib stitch, do i have to bring the yarn over the needle? or can i just pick kinda love it to front and back if you know what i mean. sorry i feel like i’m exposing this poorly. but like grab the working yarn and just pull it back a little
I thinks this video on rib knitting will help answer your question: https://sheepandstitch.com/library/rib-knitting-for-beginners-1×1-and-2×2-rib-tutorial/ cheers!
Thank you this helped a lot, i am now a knitter! I’m so proud but also fell like a grandma lol. Thanks!!!
I found this blog of yours a lot and I really enjoyed your blog !!
This blog has really made me more enthusiastic about learning knitting.
I found this blog of yours a lot and I really enjoyed your blog !!
This blog has really made me more enthusiastic about learning knitting. thanks.
Love your videos and instructions. They have made this adventure so much more easier.
Thank you so much !!!!
I am using Yarnspirations Bernat Baby Blanket yarn to make a 30inx30in baby blanket. As suggested on the yarn I am using US 11 straight knitting needles. Can I fit 120 cast on stitches on those needles.
I learned how to knit on this website. Thank you so much Davina
I was able to learn so easy with your direction. You did a excellent job. Thank you!
I loved these videos, they were super easy to follow. I bought a knitting for beginners kit and no matter how I tried I just couldn’t understand from the book that came with it but then I found your videos and now I am on my way to being a knitting pro! My question though is what do you do with the little tails from the beginning and end of the project?
Thank you for your clear instructions for beginners. I searched for a site where the children I will be teaching how to knit can go to help them when I’m not with them. I will give them your website address so that they will have someone (you) by their side for the times when they forget.
I’m so happy to have found your site! You explained the process of knitting so simply. Honestly I struggled a lot with it trying to learn on my own and while I have years of crocheting under my belt I just couldn’t seem to get the hang of knitting. After watching your videos something just clicked and now I am proud to say I am looking forward to finishing my first knitting project. You turned me from a doubter into a doer! Thank you!
Do you tension your yarn when you do the knit stitch? I am learning the English way. Do you knit English or do you knit another way?
this is amazingly easy
thanksss
How should I hold the needles while knitting and do I need to wrap the yarn around my fingers? Is that what you do? I am blind so I can’t see how you do it. Also, can you do a video on knitting fast?
I wrap the yarn around my finger to tension the yarn. You don’t need to hold the yarn the way that I do. I was just taught this way.
Howdy!!! I just found your blog. What a great informative space for beginners. I’m having trouble keeping the tail of the cast on at bay. Do I keep it to the side of the knitting (aka to the left) or do wind it in as I go? Help would be awesome.
If you find the tail end annoying, you can weave it into your knitting after having knit a couple rows. Thread up the yarn tail on a tapestry needle and weave the tail end into the yarn to hide and secure it.
I just found your page. Excellent, easy to follow.
Thank you!!!
I am a beginner. Thanks so much for you beginner guide. I can caste on; and knit stitch but I have so much trouble with the purl stitch. Your directions are very clear. I think that I practiced the knit stitch so much that the purl stitch is just so opposite that it is hard for me to master it. Maybe I could join a group of experienced knitters to help me out. I love how relaxed knitting makes me feel. Thanks for such clear instructions and for your beginner guide. Pam