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Learning to knit - the basics

Ok, you've got your wool and your needles and you're primed, raring to go - so what now?  Well, there are a few basics you've got to master before you can get on and make something, so we'll start here.

gauge/tension

This is one of the most important things to get your head around.  Knitting is all about math - OK, deep breath, stay with us!  Not the boring, brain scrambling math that you remember from school (well, not unless you get into complex colored knitting styles like fair isle - which, who knows, you might find you actually like once you get started.) 

Knitting requires some really basic math - but if the idea of math really gives you the heebie-jeebies, try to think of it as insurance - you don't want to spend all those hours lovingly beavering away only to find the gorgeous creation you've been working on has misshapen a body and sleeves that are too long- NOT the sophisticated, stylish look we're going for!

To get a garment to fit right, you must knit it so that the number of stitches in the pattern measure the same when you knit it, as when the designer did - otherwise you'll end up with with the aforementioned mess. So you need to make sure the stitches you knit are of the right tightness (or tension).

A tension square is recommended at the beginning of every new pattern -DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO SKIP THIS PART (believe us, we've all done it and lived to regret it later).

All knitting patterns will have a tension of gauge listed at the beginning of the pattern.  It will usually look something like this:

20 sts and 28 rows = 10cm (4 in) measured over stockinet stitch using size 6 (4mm) needles.

Now, you could cast on 20 sts and keep on knitting for 28 rows to see if yours matches - but there is a slightly better way to do it.  Cast on 5-10 more stitches than recommended in the tension square, and keep knitting for 5-10 more rows.  Then lay your square flat and get a tape measure or ruler and count vertically and horizontally.  Count how many stitches equal the required distance (e.g. 10cm), then count how many rows are needed for the same.  If you've too many stitches, try the tension square again using larger needles.  If you've too few stitches use a smaller sized needle. 

Important note: check your tension regularly.  It's very common (especially as you become a more proficient knitter) for your tension to change as you relax and become more confident.

casting on

The first step when beginning to knit is learning how to put the wool onto the needles - otherwise know as casting on.  There are several ways of doing this but there are 2 main types that seem to be used the most - the thumb and cable method.  There is no 'best' one - chose the one you feel most comfortable using, or that produces the kind of edge you prefer. The cable cast on, for example, produces a firm edge that can be useful if it's being used somewhere that gets a lot of wear and tear - such as a sleeve cuff.  We're going to show you the thumb method here.

making a slip knot

Step 1 - Hold the tail end of the yarn in your palm with your thumb. Wrap the yarn from the ball twice around your index and middle fingers.

Step 2 - Pull the strand attached

to the ball through the loop between your

two fingers, forming a new loop.

Step 3 - Place the new loop on the needle.

Tighten it by pulling on both ends of the yarn to form the slip knot.

To prepare for casting on, leave an extra long tail when making the slip knot.

casting on

Step 1 - With a slip knot on the needle in your right hand, wind the tail end around your left thumb. Wrap yarn from the ball over left index finger. Hold both ends in your palm.

Step 2 - Insert the needle upwards in the loop on your thumb, then behind the loop on your index finger. Use the needle to draw the yarn up from the ball through the loop to form a stitch.

Step 3 - Take your thumb out of the loop and pull the tail end to tighten the stitch on the needle. Repeat steps 1 to 3 until the desired number of stitches are cast on.

stitches

There are two basic stitches that you need in knitting - Knit and Purl.  These two stitches, worked in different combinations, form the basis of all  knitting stitches - yes, even the fancy ones.  So getting these right is really important.

knit stitch

Step 1 - hold the needle with the stitches on in your left hand. With the empty needle in your right hand, wrap the yarn around your fingers as shown.

Step 2 - Insert the right needle from front to back into the first stitch on the left needle. Keep the right needle under the left needle and the yarn at the back.

Step 3 - Bring the yarn under and over the right needle, and pull it gently between the two needles. Use your right index finger to manipulate the yarn.

Step 4 - With the right needle, catch the yarn and pull it through the stitch on the left needle. Slip the stitch off the left needle, leaving the new stitch on the right. Repeat steps 2 to 4 until all the new stitches are on the right needle.

purl

Step 1 & 2- with the yarn at the front of your work, insert the right-hand needle through the front of the first stitch on the left hand needle as shown

Step 3 - wind the yarn from right the left over the point of the right hand needle.

Step 4 - draw the loop through onto the right hand needle and slip the original stitch off the left hand needle.

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