Learning ‘how to knit’ is learning how to complete the knit stitch.
The video below shows how to do the knit stitch.
The Knit Stitch in Context
The knit stitch is the most essential stitch
The knit stitch is the first type of stitch that must be learned in knitting, and all other stitches tend to be variations of this stitch or combinations that include this stitch. For example, the purl stitch is actually just the knit stitch, but done backwards.
What the knit stitch actually does
Put most simply, the knit stitch creates one loop of yarn within one other loop of yarn. Knitted fabric is simply row upon row of loops within loops.
Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
- Remember which side of the loop you begin the stitch from: Like reading a book, each stitch is completed from left to right. So, the needle enters the stitch from the left, poking out to the right, where a new loop of yarn is loaded onto the needle to be carried back through and become the new stitch.
- Keep your stitches close to the end/nose of your needles while working, and use your thumbs to keep stitches from falling off your needles. New students are often afraid of dropping stitches since they dont know yet how to fix dropped stitches. This can result in stretching out the yarn between the stitches, resulting in a messy project.
- Breath, pause as needed, and go slow: You don’t need to rush, you can always pause where you are and wait to remember how to complete the step. Don’t think about the finished object just yet, think instead about adding reps of well-completed stitches so your muscle-memory develops more quickly and knitting becomes fun sooner!
What knitting style am I learning?
Continental! Knitting can be done in a few different styles, the most known of which are called Continental and English. Continental is a good style to learn if you wish to lower the range of motion involved in completing each stitch, lessening the impact of repetitive motion, which can lead to strain over time.