Knitting for Beginners - Cast On, Cast Off, Plain Knitting, and Purl Knitting

Here are the basic knitting for beginners instructions. There are basically three things you need to know as a beginning knitter. How to cast on and off, plain knitting, and purl knitting.

The first process in knitting is known by the term Casting On. There are two ways of doing this: with one needle, and with two. Learn both ways, and then you can choose which you are more comfortable with.

Our first diagram represents casting on with one needle. Take the thread between the second and third fingers of the left hand, leaving an end of about a yard for every hundred stitches; pass it round the thumb of that hand, giving it a twist, so as to form a loop. Take a knitting-needle in the right hand, insert the point in the loop, and pass the thread from the ball round the needle; then bend the point of the needle through the loop, which tighten, and one stitch will be complete.

Continue to make loops over the thumb, with the end of thread, and knit them with that from the ball until the proper number is cast on.

Basic Knitting Instructions - Casting on With One Needle

To cast on with two needles(generally called the Spanish method), begin by making a loop on the end of the thread, into which slip the point of one needle, holding it in the left hand. Take the other needle in the right hand, and slip its point into the same loop, bring the thread round the point of this needle, and bend the needle towards you, so that the thread forms a loop on it. Slip that also on the left needle, without withdrawing it from the right. Put the thread round the right again, and repeat the process.

Knitting for Beginners - Casting on with Two Needles

The first knitting stitch for beginners is Plain Knitting.

After all the stitches are cast on, hold the needle containing them in the left hand. Pass the thread round the little finger of the right hand, _under_ the second and third, and above the point of the first. Then take the other needle in the right hand, slip the point in the first stitch, and put the thread round it; bring forward the point of the right-hand needle, so that the thread forms a loop on it. Slip the end of the left-hand needle out of the stitch, and a new stitch is knitted.

Basic Knitting Stitches - Plain Knitting

The second basic knitting stitch for beginners is purling.

Begin by bringing the thread in front of the right-hand needle, which slip into a stitch pointing towards you; that is in the reverse of the usual mode (see diagram). Put the thread round the point of the needle, still bringing it towards you, bend the needle backwards to form a loop, and withdraw the stitch from the point of the left-hand needle.

Knitting for Beginners - Purling

Note: When knitted and purled stitches occur in the same row, the thread must be brought forward before a purled stitch, and taken back before a knitted one.

Finally, To cast off:--knit two stitches; insert the point of the left hand needle in the first stitch, and draw it on the other. Knit another stitch, and treat these two in the same way.

How to Knit - Casting Off

Those are the basic knitting for beginners stitches. Here are some more resources to learn how to knit.

Lion Brand has more advanced stitches. They are all available online, or in a pdf file you can download.

Another great video resource is KnittingHelp.com . They have tons of free videos to help you learn to knit.

Let's Start Knitting!

Knitting for Beginners
Cast on, Cast off, Plain Knitting, and Purl Knitting.

The History of Knitting
From socks to sweaters to fuzzy yarns.

Leave "Knitting for Beginners" and return to "Vintage Knitting"

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