In knitting, there are really only two basic stitches.
Knit and purl.
Once these two are perfected, it is easy to mix and match them in such a way that you create new patterns.
Knit all the rows is a garter stitch.
Knit one row, purl one row is the stockinette stitch.
Knit one, purl one across is a ribbing.
As is knit 2, purl two.
And there's tons of others that you can do once you learn the two basic stitches! There are other stitches of course, such as slip stitch, a decrease, an increase, and many more.
But those won't be mentioned in this article.
The most common uses for decreases and increases are when you are making a fitted garment, such as a sweater.
I wouldn't recommend that as a first knitting project, since you most commonly have to work on circular needles, which can get rather unwieldily.
Anyways, back to the point of this article.
How exactly do you form these basic stitches on your needle? Well to start off, you need to cast on.
There are many, many, many tutorials for this all over the internet, so I'm not going to tell you my way.
Since it's everywhere.
After you have cast on a few stitches (I recommend about 20 for a beginner practice piece), then take the entire needle full of stitches and put it in your left hand (if you're right handed.
If not, put it in your right hand) with the finished edge facing away from the middle.
Now we're going to talk about how to form the knit stitch.
Take the second needle (the one with no stitches on it) in your right hand.
Now you're going to take the tip of the needle and go up through the back of the top stitch.
You should be going up at an angle.
Now, take the yarn and wrap it around the empty needle clockwise.
Take the needle that now has a single loop on it and pull it through the other stitch, catching the loop on the end.
Now pull the stitch you just worked in off of the opposite needle.
You will have a single stitch on your needle.
Pull tight and continue across the row.
Now we're onto the purl stitch.
This one's a little more difficult, though not much different than the purl stitch.
Instead of going up through the back at an angle, you go down through the front at an angle.
Here's how: Take your empty needle and slide it down through the front at an angle.
The point of the needle should be pointing southwest, according to a compass.
Then take your yarn and wrap it counter-clockwise around the empty needle.
Pull it through so that it is facing northwest.
Now pull the opposite stitch off of the left handed needle.
Once you perfect all of these stitches, you are only limited by your imagination and your creativity.
There's no limit! And, most importantly, have fun!
Knit and purl.
Once these two are perfected, it is easy to mix and match them in such a way that you create new patterns.
Knit all the rows is a garter stitch.
Knit one row, purl one row is the stockinette stitch.
Knit one, purl one across is a ribbing.
As is knit 2, purl two.
And there's tons of others that you can do once you learn the two basic stitches! There are other stitches of course, such as slip stitch, a decrease, an increase, and many more.
But those won't be mentioned in this article.
The most common uses for decreases and increases are when you are making a fitted garment, such as a sweater.
I wouldn't recommend that as a first knitting project, since you most commonly have to work on circular needles, which can get rather unwieldily.
Anyways, back to the point of this article.
How exactly do you form these basic stitches on your needle? Well to start off, you need to cast on.
There are many, many, many tutorials for this all over the internet, so I'm not going to tell you my way.
Since it's everywhere.
After you have cast on a few stitches (I recommend about 20 for a beginner practice piece), then take the entire needle full of stitches and put it in your left hand (if you're right handed.
If not, put it in your right hand) with the finished edge facing away from the middle.
Now we're going to talk about how to form the knit stitch.
Take the second needle (the one with no stitches on it) in your right hand.
Now you're going to take the tip of the needle and go up through the back of the top stitch.
You should be going up at an angle.
Now, take the yarn and wrap it around the empty needle clockwise.
Take the needle that now has a single loop on it and pull it through the other stitch, catching the loop on the end.
Now pull the stitch you just worked in off of the opposite needle.
You will have a single stitch on your needle.
Pull tight and continue across the row.
Now we're onto the purl stitch.
This one's a little more difficult, though not much different than the purl stitch.
Instead of going up through the back at an angle, you go down through the front at an angle.
Here's how: Take your empty needle and slide it down through the front at an angle.
The point of the needle should be pointing southwest, according to a compass.
Then take your yarn and wrap it counter-clockwise around the empty needle.
Pull it through so that it is facing northwest.
Now pull the opposite stitch off of the left handed needle.
Once you perfect all of these stitches, you are only limited by your imagination and your creativity.
There's no limit! And, most importantly, have fun!