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Lesson 6: Bind Off (Ending Flat Knits)

Binding off is a way of taking your stitches off the needles so your work does not come unraveled. In this kids’ knitting lesson, you will learn to bind off so you can finish your first project.

Bind off is the knitter’s way of saying that it’s time to take the stitches off the needles.  

At the end of your project, you’ll need to take the stitches off the needles in a way that keeps them from coming undone. A bind off links the stitches together, so they don’t unravel when you take out the needle. 

For this bind off, you will knit two stitches, then link them together before knitting the next stitch. There will never be more than two stitches on the right-hand needle when you are binding off. 

Your last row

Below are both video and written tutorials to help you learn how to bind off. Working on the Beginner Coaster? You can check your pattern here.

Kids’ Video Guide: How to Bind Off

Kids’ Picture Guide: How to Bind Off

Before you cut the yarn, you will knit a bind off row to connect your last stitches together.

How to Bind Off

Bind Off Step 1: Knit 2

Knit two stitches.

Bind Off Step 2: Lift

With the left-hand needle tip, lift the first stitch on the right-hand needle up and over the second stitch.

Bind Off Step 3: Pull Through

Bring the second stitch through the first stitch.

Bind Off Step 4: Slide Off

Let the first stitch come off the needle. Check that the first stitch is now looped over the second, leaving only one stitch on the right-hand needle.

Bind Off Step 5: Knit 1

Knit one stitch, then repeat steps 2-5 until no stitches are on the left-hand needle and one stitch is on the right-hand needle.

Once you have taken all the stitches off the left hand needle, it is time to cut the yarn that connects the knitting project to the ball.

How to Cut the Yarn

Cut Yarn Step 1: Cut the Yarn

Set your work down, being careful not to let the last stitch fall off the needle. Measure about 10 inches of yarn away from the last stitch, then cut the yarn at that point. (You will use this long end later.)

Cut Yarn Step 2: Grab the Right-Hand Needle

Use your left hand to hold the project in place, then grab the needle near the last stitch with your right hand.

Cut Yarn Step 3: Pull Stitch Away

Pull the needle and stitch away from the project making the loop on your needle bigger.

Cut Yarn Step 4: Pull Yarn Through

Keep pulling until the yarn comes through, turning the loop into a straight end.

Now, you have taken your first knitting project off the needles. The very last step is to get rid of the two loose ends that are still connected to your project.

Up Next

Tie up loose ends. Go to Kids’ Lesson 7 to continue. (Coming soon.)

Start Lesson 7: Tie Up Loose Ends

Return to the Kids’ Knitting Guide.

Lesson 5: Make the Knit Stitch

Once your cast on stitches are in your left hand, you will be set up to make the next row in your knitting project and to learn your next skill: the knit stitch.

The knit stitch is a way to loop yarn around knitting needles to make fabric out of yarn. In this kids’ knitting lesson, you’ll learn how to make the knit stitch so you can make your first knitting project.

A knit stitch is the most used skill in knitting and all the projects in the Kids’ Knitting Guide are made of knit stitches.

Below are both video and written tutorials to help you learn how to make the knit stitch.

Working on the Beginner Coaster? You can check your pattern here.

Checking the coaster pattern, our next instruction says: “Rows 2 – 18: Knit 10. (10 stitches) Turn.” This means we will be knitting every stitch in every row of the project. First, we will learn to make a knit stitch, then practice by repeating it until the project is ready to come off your needles.

Kids’ Video Guide: How to Make the Knit Stitch

Kids’ Picture Guide: How to Make the Knit Stitch

Step 1: Hold Yarn and Needles

Keep holding the needle with stitches in your left hand. Drape the yarn that connects the project to the ball over your pointer finger and under your middle, ring, and pinkie fingers. Hold the empty needle tip in your right hand.

Step 2: Poke

Poke the right-hand needle tip into the front side of the first loop on your left-hand needle.

Step 3: Grab

Bring the needle tip over the yarn that rests in front of your pointer finger, then grab that yarn with the right-hand needle tip.

Step 4: Pull

Pull the yarn and needle tip through the loop on the left-hand needle. You should now have a loop on the right-hand needle.

Step 5: Slide

Slide the first loop off the left-hand needle. The new loop on the right-hand needle is your first finished knit stitch.

Now that you’ve made your first knit stitch in your coaster, you can use the skills you have learned to finish your project. To finish the row, knit 9 more stitches in the same way. When you come to the end of the row, turn your work and start knitting the next row. Once you have knit 18 rows, your project will measure about 4 inches long. Then, you can take the project off the needles by “binding off.” 

Up Next

Binding off: how to take your stitches off the needles. Go to Kids’ Lesson 6 to continue.

Start Lesson 6: Bind Off

Return to the Kids’ Knitting Guide.

Lesson 4: Turn Your Knitting

Now that you have cast on all your stitches, you are ready for the next step. Following our coaster pattern, we’ve now cast on all 10 stitches, and the pattern says: “Turn.” Turning your work after each row lets you knit a flat square or rectangle.

Turning your work in knitting means flipping your knitting over so you can make the next row in a flat project. In this kids’ knitting lesson, you’ll learn how to turn your work to keep going on your first project.

Turning your work is a simple hand switch. You’ll flip the knitting needle that is full of stitches from your right hand to your left hand, so the tip is facing right. This will set you up to make your first knit stitch and start knitting in flat rows.

Below are both video and written tutorials to help you learn how to turn your work. Working on the Beginner Coaster? You can check your pattern here.

Kids’ Video Guide: How to Turn Knitting

Kids’ Picture Guide: How to Turn Knitting

Step 1: From Right Hand

After you have cast on (or finished making a row), your stitches will be on the needle held in your right hand. The tip of the needle will be pointing toward the left.

Step 2: To Left Hand

To turn your work, flip your knitting needle over, so the tip points toward the right, then place it in your left hand. Pick up the empty knitting needle with your right hand, making sure it points toward the left.

Once you are holding the needle with stitches in the left hand and the empty needle in the right hand, you will be set up to start making your first knit stitches.

Up Next

The knit stitch. Go to Kids’ Lesson 5 to continue.

Start Lesson 5: The Knit Stitch

Return to the Kids’ Knitting Guide.

Lesson 3: Cast On (The Long Tail Cast On)

The long-tail cast-on is a way of creating your first knitted row of stitches. In this kids’ knitting lesson, you will learn the long-tail cast on so you can knit your first project.

“Cast on” is knitter-speak for putting your first stitches on the needles. There are a lot of different ways to cast on. Here, you’ll learn the “long tail cast on.” It’s called this because you pull a long piece of yarn (or “tail“) out of the ball before you start. Using that long tail, you will make loops that wrap around your knitting needle. These “cast-on stitches” make the base of your knitting project.

Check your knitting pattern to see how many cast-on stitches you need for every new project. Since we will make a coaster first, you can start by making ten (10) cast-on stitches.
Grab your knitting needles and your yarn. It is time to cast on your first knitting project!

Your first row

Below are both video and written tutorials to help you learn how to cast on stitches. Working on the Beginner Coaster? You can check your pattern here.

Kids’ Video Guide: How to Cast On

Kids’ Picture Guide: How to Cast On

After you have made and placed your slipknot, follow the steps below to hold your yarn and needles so you can start making cast-on stitches. Then, you’ll begin adding cast-on stitches to form your first row.

How to Hold the Yarn for a Cast On

Hold Step 1: Pinch

Hold the knitting needle tip with the slipknot in your right hand. Pinch your left thumb and pointer finger together, holding the other three out.

Hold Step 2: Under

Place the pinched fingers under the ends of the slipknot.

Hold Step 3: Grab

Close your hand over the yarn and grab the yarn with the last three fingers on your left hand.

Hold Step 4: Rotate

Rotate your left hand so that you can see your last three fingers and spread out your thumb and pointer fingers, so each holds one strand of yarn.

Once you are holding the yarn and needles correctly, you will start making cast-on stitches.

How to Make Cast-On Stitches

Cast On Step 1: Under 1

Move the needle tip under the strand of yarn that is looped around your left thumb.

Cast On Step 2: Over 2

Bring the needle tip over the next two strands moving toward your palm.

Cast On Step 3: Grab the Yarn

Grab the second strand of yarn with the needle tip by placing it over the yarn and pulling the needle and yarn toward your thumb.

Cast On Step 4: Pull it Through

Pull the yarn and needle tip through the yarn loop that is on your thumb.

Cast On Step 5: Slide Off Thumb

Slide the loop off your thumb. Make sure to keep the loop on your knitting needle. The loop you just made on your needle is your second cast-on stitch.

While continuing to hold the yarn in the same way, repeat cast on steps one through five to make as many stitches as your pattern instructs. For our coaster, stop casting on stitches when you have 10 on the needle.

Up Next

Turn your work. Go to Kids’ Lesson 4 to continue.

Start Lesson 4: Turn

Return to the Kids’ Knitting Guide.

Lesson 2: Making a Slipknot

A slipknot is the first loop you will put on a knitting needle to begin a project. In this kids’ knitting lesson, you’ll learn to make a slipknot to start your first guided knitting project.

To start knitting, you will make a slipknot as your first stitch. Wrap the yarn around your hand, bring a bit up and under to create a loop with a knot at the bottom. This loop starts big and then slips tighter when you pull the end of the string.

Your first stitch

Below are both video and written tutorials to help you learn how to make a slipknot. Working on the Beginner Coaster? You can check your pattern here.

Kids’ Video Guide: How to Make a Slipknot

Kids’ Picture Guide: How to Make a Slipknot

Step 1: Pull the Tail

Find the end of the yarn and pull it out of the ball. Measure about 2 inches of yarn for every stitch you need to cast on. For our coaster, measure out 20 inches of yarn. This is your “long tail.”

Step 2: Wrap Around Your Hand

Starting at the 20-inch point, wrap the yarn around your left hand so that it crosses over your palm.

Step 3: Loop Under

Loop the yarn you are holding in your right hand under the yarn that is wrapped around your left hand. This will make a small loop. Pinch the loop and carefully take your left hand out of the yarn.

Step 4: Pull Up

Hold the loop in your right hand and gently pull on the ends of the yarn with your left hand. This will tighten the knot at the bottom of the loop.

Step 5: Tighten

Continue pulling on the yarn ends to tighten the loop until it is small enough to fit around your finger loosely.

Step 6: Slip Onto Needle

Pick up one end of your circular knitting needle in your right hand with the tip pointing toward the left.

Slide the slipknot onto the knitting needle tip.

Tighten the slipknot so it fits snugly around the needle but can still slide back and forth.

Up Next

Now we can finish our cast on. Go to Kids’ Lesson 3 to continue.

Start Lesson 3: Cast On

Return to the Kids’ Knitting Guide.

Lesson 1: Choosing Yarn and Needles

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to choose yarn, needles, and knitting tools so you can start your first knitting project.

As a new knitter, you’ll discover an exciting world of yarn and knitting needles. To keep things simple, we are going to start with just one type of yarn and one pair of knitting needles. They will be the perfect set of kids’ knitting tools to learn the basics and make all five knitting projects.

Kids and beginners looking for a fast project should choose extra-thick yarn and knitting needles, plus a few small gadgets to help finish up. Use the affiliate links here to shop on Amazon or you can usually find these knitting supplies at your favorite local yarn shop.

Video Guide: Knitting Supplies for Kids & Beginners

In this video, I’ll walk you through the knitting supplies for this series of lessons. Then, keep reading below to find everything you’ll need.

Yarn

The thickest, squishiest yarn that is still easy to handle is called “super-bulky” or “No. 6” yarn on the label. This fluffy string knits up in a flash. Here, we will use Wool-Ease Thick & Quick by Lion Brand Yarn. I worked in the color “Bluegrass,” but there are lots of choices. Choose your favorite! You will need seven balls of yarn to make every pattern in the Kids’ Knitting Guide. Or start with one ball of yarn for your first project.

Knitting Needles

Each yarn size has knitting needle sizes that match. For our super-bulky yarn, we’ll use a thicker needle. The size of needles is shown on the package with a US number and millimeter number. To learn with this series, look for a needle that is labeled US 13 (9 mm).

Instead of using the two sticks you might imagine when you think of knitting needles, we are going to use a “circular knitting needle.” This knitting needle has a bendy cable between the two pointy sticks. It will let you knit both flat things, like scarves, and round things, like hats. The cords can be long or short. For now, choose a circular needle that is 16 inches (41 cm) long.

The last thing you’ll need to choose from a knitting needle is material. They often come in metal, wood, and bamboo. When you’re learning, choose bamboo. It helps keep your yarn from slipping off your needles. Plus, it’s a little quieter to work with.

Other Kids’ Knitting Tools

Now that you have yarn and needles, you’ll just need a few more small tools.

A measuring tape is helpful for your whole project. You’ll measure your yarn and your knitting projects to make sure they are the right size.

A stitch marker is a small ring that you can slip onto your knitting needles. This will help you keep track of where you are in your knitting projects.

Darning needles look like big sewing needles, but they are not sharp. These let you sew the yarn ends back into the knitting project. Make sure you get a darning needle with a large opening (called the needle “eye”) for our big yarn.

Scissors clip the leftover yarn away. These are make just for kids, but all scissors are sharp! (Kids, be careful and adults, make sure you help or supervise.)

Below, you’ll find a complete shopping list. Gather your tools and we can start knitting!

Your First Knitting Shopping List 🧶

1. One ball of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick by Lion Brand Yarn in your choice of color. (Shown in the color “Bluegrass.”)
2. One circular knitting needle that is 16 inches (41 cm) long in size US 13 (9mm). (Shown in Clover Takumi brand bamboo needles.)
3. One measuring tape.
4. One large stitch marker. (Shown in ChiaoGoo brand circle stitch markers.)
5. One large-eye darning needle.
6. One pair of scissors.

Next

Find your first knitting pattern. Here we will make a coaster. Open the coaster pattern, and also open your first lesson: Making Your First Stitch. The lessons will teach you how to use a pattern and make your first knitted thing.

This will be fun! Let’s get started.

Return to the Kids’ Knitting Guide.

Step-by-step knitting lessons for kids 🧶

Hi, friends! Do you want to make your own awesome stuff? Did you know that with just one set of knitting needles and some fluffy yarn, you can create all sorts of fantastic things? That’s knitting. And I know you’re going to love it!

Knitting is a way to make fabric by looping yarn with two needles, one stitch at a time. In Kids’ Knitting Guide, you’ll learn how to knit step by step, starting with your very first stitch.

The Kids’ Knitting Guide is a guided series of knitting lessons made to teach kids to knit. In this series, you will learn basic knitting skills while making five useful projects.

What You’ll Learn Here

Start at Lesson 1 and follow the lessons in order to learn how to knit from the beginning.

Lesson missing? The series is being written now. I’ll add the next lessons to this page as they’re published, so you can come back here for the next step.

In this cozy corner, we will start right at the beginning. Together, we will:

• Lesson 1: Choose your tools (yarn and needles)
• Lesson 2: Make a slipknot (your first stitch)
• Lesson 3: Put stitches on the needles (cast on)
• Lesson 4: Turn your needles over (to make flat things)
• Lesson 5: Learn the knit stitch (the thing you’ll do most)
• Lesson 6: Take your project off the needles (bind off)
• Lesson 7: Get rid of loose strings (you’ve finished knit a flat project!)
• Lesson 8: Knit in a circle (this makes hats and toys without sewing)
• Lesson 9: Take a circular project off the needles to make a hat (draw yarn through)
• Lesson 10: Get rid of any loose strings on hats (finishing up)
• Lesson 11: Take a circular project off the needles to make a toy (bind off in the round)
• Lesson 12: Get rid of loose strings on toys (all done!)

If you are anything like me, you’ll want to be finished and use your project as quickly as you can. So, in these lessons you’ll knit with super-bulky yarn. This big, squishy yarn makes fluffy projects that will be finished in a flash.

If you ever feel stuck, just go back one lesson and try again. Knitting gets easier with practice.

What You’ll Knit First

We will use this big yarn to let us learn more quickly, too. Every project you knit gives you a new skill. And the bigger the yarn, the faster the project. By the time you knit through this series, you will be able to make:

• A cute coaster for your favorite cup
• A pretty placemat for the table
• A cozy scarf for anyone to wear
• A fluffy hat to keep you warm
• A sweet pillow toy to snuggle or share

Get Started

This is going to be fun! Start your first lesson: let’s pick out your yarn!

Want to knit the projects that go with these lessons? Explore the full Kids’ Knitting Guide Pattern Bundle with all five project PDFs in one convenient download.

🧷 Helpful Knitting Resources

Looking for more ways to support your knitting goals?

• 🙋 Knitting Troubleshooter: Download a printable cheat sheet to keep next to your project, so you know what to do if you make a mistake.
• 📚 Complete Knitting Lessons: Ready to knit more? Find all of my knitting lessons.
• 💻 Browse All Knitting Patterns: Find practical, pretty projects for every season.