Learning the Basics
Knitting might look complicated from the outside, like a secret language made up of loops, codes, and clicking needles. But at its heart, it’s wonderfully simple. In fact, most of knitting is built on just two stitches: the knit stitch and the purl stitch. Once you know these (plus how to start, finish, and shape your work) you’ll have the skills to knit almost anything.
This section will guide you through the absolute essentials of knitting.
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Casting on — how to start your project.
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The knit and purl stitches — the building blocks of every project.
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Binding off (also known as casting off) — how to finish your work neatly.
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Increasing and decreasing — how to shape your knitting.
Tips for learning these stitches
Watch It in motion. There are excellent tutorials on YouTube that show you how to knit and purl from every angle. Sometimes watching someone’s hands do the work is more helpful than reading about it. Don’t hesitate to hit replay a few times.
Search tip: Try searching “how to knit stitch for beginners” or “purl stitch slow tutorial.”
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Choose the right yarn and needles. Learning is easier with light-coloured yarn (so you can see your stitches) and medium-sized needles (like 4.5–5.5 mm). Avoid anything fuzzy or overly textured at first.
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Go slow and be gentle with yourself. Everyone fumbles when learning a new stitch. It’s part of the process. Let your mistakes be part of the meditation. Breathe, unpick, and try again.
Casting on: How to start
Casting on is simply putting stitches onto your needle so you can begin knitting. You can find any number of simple tutorials to follow on YouTube to learn how to cast on.
Tips for success
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Keep your tension loose enough so the stitches slide easily on the needle.
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If you’re new, count your stitches after every few casts to avoid starting over.
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Practise on smooth, light-coloured yarn so you can see each loop clearly.
Knit Stitch (K): The Foundation
The knit stitch is the bread and butter of knitting. When you knit every row back and forth, you create garter stitch, one of the most meditative and forgiving patterns in knitting. It’s great for scarves and blankets.
Purl Stitch (P): The Mirror Image
If the knit stitch is exhale, the purl is inhale. Purls give you soft, round bumps.
Stockinette Stitch
When you alternate knit and purl rows, you create stockinette stitch, the most common fabric in knitting. One side is smooth (the knit side with tiny little V-shapes), the other bumpy (the purl side). It’s what most people picture when they think of a “classic knit.”
With just knit and purl, you can create a surprising variety of textures and designs. Here are a few foundational stitch pattern sequences to try.
Rib Stitch
Vertical stripes of knits and purls. Perfect for cuffs, hems, necklines, and scarves.
Single Rib Stitch Pattern: Cast on even number of stitches. *K1, P1*, repeat to end of row. Repeat all rows.
Double Rib Stitch Pattern: Cast on stitches in multiples of 4. *K2, P2*, repeat to end of row. Repeat all rows.
Casting Off — How to Finish
When your piece is the length you want, it’s time to bind off (or cast off). This locks the stitches so your knitting doesn’t unravel. Simply search on YouTube to find easy-to-follow tutorials on how to cast off.
Shaping Your Knitting
Increases and Decreases
Increasing (adding stitches)
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Kfb (knit front and back): Knit into the front and then the back of the same stitch before slipping it off the needle – one stitch becomes two.
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YO (yarn over): Bring the yarn over the needle to create a decorative hole (used in lace knitting).
Decreasing (removing stitches)
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K2tog (knit 2 together): Knit two stitches as one — a simple right-leaning decrease. Often used at the end of a row or to shape evenly.
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SSK (slip, slip, knit): Slip two stitches knitwise, then knit them together through the back loop — a left-leaning decrease, often used at the start of a row to mirror K2tog.
