Learn How To Knit – Free Resource Guide

Here’s a collection of step-by-step resources available online (for free!) that will teach you how to knit.

All resources are for beginner knitters and I’ve also included a selection of beginner knit dishcloth patterns at the bottom of this post to practice knitting. If you already know how to knit, you might enjoy them too.

Step One – Cast On

To begin knitting, you first need to learn how to cast on. This is what you do to get the yarn on one needle so you can start knitting.

Online Teaching Resources:

• Video: How To Cast On: There are a few different ways to cast on, I myself like the Long Tail cast on. It looks a little complicated at first, but once you get it–it’s super easy. At first you’ll leave yourself too short a tail a time or two, but you quickly learn to avoid that in the future .
• Picture Tutorial: This is a nice picture tutorial using a huge knitting needle, it helps to figure out the technique if you couldn’t quite grasp it from the above video.

Step Two: Learn The Stitches

Next you need to know how to do the two basic stitches in knitting: Knit and Purl.

Online Resources:

• How To Knit Video: There are two different methods you can learn to knit, the Continental method (left hand) or the English method (right hand). See which one you prefer, it isn’t dependent on whether you are right handed or left handed. I myself knit with the English method. Some say the Continental is a lot quicker way of knitting. These videos will also show you how to hold the yarn for knitting.
• The Knit Stitch: Here is a written tutorial with some pictures to help you along (English Method).

Good To Know: The Garter Stitch is simply row upon row made up of knit stitches.

• How To Purl Stitch – Video: Again there are different methods to doing the purl stitch. If you found you preferred the Continental Method for the Knit stitch, keep consistent in all your knitting and do the Continental Method for Purl stitch.
• How To Purl Stitch – Video – English Method: Here’s another video that may help you get a better idea in case the one above left you with any questions.
• How To Purl Stitch – Picture Tutorial: Here’s a good picture tutorial that shows how to make a purl stitch.

Good To Know: The Stocking Stitch is alternating rows of knit and purl. The first row will be all knit stitches, the next row will be all purl stitches, the next knit stitches, and on.

Step Three – Useful Things

You learned how to cast on, how to knit, how to purl, and next you’ll want to know how to increase and decrease the stitches (it’s very easy!) and how to change colors of yarn.

Online Resources:

• Knitting Increases – Video
• Knitting Decreases – Video
• Increases and Decreases – Tutorial With Pictures
• How to Change to a Different Color when Knitting – Video

Step Four – Finishing

Once you’ve knitted your piece, it’s time to cast off (or bind off) so the knitted work doesn’t unravel. You’ll also want to weave in your ends (the yarn string at the beginning and end of the project) so there’s no loose yarn bits dangling.

Online Resources:

• Casting Off / Binding Off – Video
• Knitting Instructions: How to “Bind Off” – Picture Tutorial
• Basic Techniques – How To Cast Off
• Demo of a small project: Watch the “Demo of a small project” video, it has some coverage of weaving in ends. This page also has a bunch of troubleshooting tips.
• Weaving in Ends – Tutorial: You simply take a large needle and sew/weave the yarn string into the knitted piece to hide it. When you get more advanced as a knitter, you can look at tackling How to weave in ends while knitting.

Getting Started With Patterns

Now that you know the basics of knitting, practice with easy beginner knit patterns—but first you’ll need to learn how to read a knitting pattern:

• How to Read a Knitting Pattern
• Reading Stitch Patterns for Knitting
• Knitting Glossary

Free Beginner Knit Patterns For Dishcloths

These make perfect projects for beginners, whip up a bunch!

• Waffle Knit Dishcloth Pattern: This pattern is lovely and one of my favorites.
• Three Cherries Knitted Dishcloth
• Free Designer Dishtowel Knitting Patterns *Three patterns, I love the “Blue” pattern.
• Grid Pattern Dishcloth (pdf)

Learning To Fix Mistakes & Finding Help

If you already know how to crochet, you know how easy it is to rip out and find your way to the place where you made an error. Knitting–it’s not as easy. It takes a bit of experience and some knowledge of how the stitches should look to be able to spot where the error is and how to “unknit” or pull back to the spot.

I suggest practicing knitting and taking some time to examine the stitches. Start with things like dishcloths so it’s not a big deal if they’re flawed a bit at first. You’ll know when something looks wrong or when there’s a bit of a hole, be patient and examine it so you can understand why it happened and maybe figure out how to fix it. When you first start knitting, it helps to look at mistakes as “learning opportunities” because you really do get more comfortable with finding and fixing things once you’ve messed up a few times.

When you’ve finished a row, pull out a stitch or two and see if you can figure out how to work it back on the needle. This will take practice, but over time it won’t be as intimidating.

Also if you need help, why not join a knitting forum where experts and beginners alike help each other (like the KnittingHelp.com Forum). You can also take your knitting to your local yarn shop, they usually have experienced knitters on staff that would be happy to help you fix a mistake (if they’re not busy)–it does help if you are a customer of theirs. Ask them too if they know of any knitting groups that meet in your area. You should know at least the basics and be comfortable as a beginner before joining one (depending on the group), but they’re fantastic to learn new techniques and mentor each other.

And Now You’re Knitting…

Once you’ve figured out the basics and are comfortable with beginner projects, holding your yarn and needles and reading patterns, you’ll be able to move onto things like knitting socks and sweaters and all kinds of great things…nearly everything you want to know or learn about knitting can be found online for free! Knitting is a wonderful (and productive) hobby to enjoy, have fun!

Don't Miss These Tips:

• Learn How To Crochet – Free Resource Guide
• Free Knitted Dishcloth Pattern
• Chra’s Potholder Pattern: {Knitting}