Learn to Knit Online with Free Knitting Lessons from Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels
So you are ready to learn to knit. That is great! Making things from yarn is an incredibly fulfilling hobby. You can create cozy clothing, handmade accessories, beautiful home decor, and thoughtful gifts from just a ball of yarn and a little time. Here, you will find free online knitting lessons, tips, tutorials, how-to videos, and patterns to get you started.
Knitting does not need to be overwhelming. Whether you are a total beginner or picking your needles back up to try something new, you will find clear, friendly lessons here to guide you every step of the way.
📘 Prefer Learning with Books?
I have written a complete beginner’s guide to knitting, full of structured lessons and patterns. You can order Liz Chandler’s Knitting Guide: Learn to Knit with Practical Patterns in hardcover or ebook format. It includes 526 pages with full tutorials and 15 practical projects with 65 variations!
🧶 Choosing a Knitting Style
First things first, you’ll want to choose a knitting style. Before you start, decide how you want to hold your yarn. I teach Continental knitting, which means you hold the working yarn in your left hand. It is often faster and more ergonomic for some knitters, but what matters most is what feels comfortable to you. There is no wrong way to knit if your results make you happy.
💡 New to Knitting? Start Here
- Go step-by-step. You do not need to master everything in one day.
- Mistakes are normal. In fact, they are how we learn.
- You will surprise yourself. The first stitch is the hardest, and it gets easier from there.
Want to track your progress? Download the Knitting Skills Progress Sheet to check off each new skill as you go.
The Learn to Knit Index
Use this section as your learning roadmap. These lessons follow a beginner-friendly sequence and include both written instructions and videos.
🧵 Step One: The Basics
Putting the First Stitches on Knitting Needles – Learn to Cast On
How to Hold Yarn When Knitting
Take Your Work Off the Needles – “Bind Off” Knitting
Weave in and Tie Off Loose Ends on Flat Knits
Put it all together with these simple beginner projects:
- Knit a Tiny Washcloth from Start to Finish
- Knit a Tiny Scarf from Start to Finish
- Knit a Quick & Easy Coffee Cup Cozy from Start to Finish
➕ Learn to Purl and Combine Stitches
Knits vs. Purls – How to See the Difference
How to “Bind Off in Pattern” – Taking Knits and Purls Off the Needles
Combine Knits and Purls to Make Beginner Knitting Patterns
Understanding Knitting Abbreviations
🧶 Knitting Skill Boosters
Spotting and Fixing Common Knitting Mistakes
“Frog” – Unravel Knitting to Fix Mistakes or Reuse Yarn
Wind Yarn into Center-Pull Balls by Hand
Learn How to Make a Gauge Swatch
Slip Stitches Purlwise (slpw) – Slip Stitches to Neaten the Edges of Knitting
Knit Thru the Back Loop (ktbl) to Twist Knit Stitches and Add Texture
Slip Stitches Knitwise (slkw) – Slip Stitches to Add Texture
Joining a New Ball of Yarn – The Magic Knot
Switch Needle Sizes on Flat Knits
🌀 Learn to Knit in the Round
What is Knitting in the Round?
Knit in the Round on Double Point Needles (DPNs)
Switch Needle Sizes on Double Point Needles (DPNs)
Bind Off on Double Point Needles (DPNs)
Knit in the Round on Circular Needles
Switch Circular Needle Sizes While Knitting in the Round
Bind Off in the Round on Circular Needles
The Magic Loop – Knit in the Round on Long Circular Needles
Switch Needle Sizes While Knitting in the Magic Loop
🧤 Learn to Shape Your Knitting
Switch from Knitting on Circular Needles to Knitting on Double Point Needles “DPNs” – Hat Decreases
Switch from Knitting on Circular Needles to Knitting in the Magic Loop – Hat Decreases
- Draw Yarn Through Remaining Stitches (Bind Off Hats)
- Weave in the Loose End on Hat Tops
- Weave in the Cast-on Tail in the Round
Slip Stitches onto a Stitch Holder
Using Scrap Yarn Instead of Stitch Holders
Knitting Off Stitch Holders – Making Glove Thumbs on Double Point Needles (DPNs)
Knitting Off Stitch Holders – Making Glove Thumbs in the Magic Loop
Weave in Loose Ends on Fingerless Gloves
- Weave in the Cast-on Tail of Fingerless Gloves
- Weave in the Bind-off Tails of Fingerless Gloves
- Weave in the Tail at the Base of Fingerless Glove Thumbs
Weave in the Loose Ends of Mittens
- Weave in the Cast-on Tail of Mittens
- Weave in the Tails on Mitten Fingertips
- Weave in the Tail at the Base of Mitten Thumbs
🧶 Advanced Techniques
Substituting Yarn – Worsted Weight Recommendations
Yarn Math – Calculating How Much Yarn is Left Over
Switch from Knitting on Double Point Needles “DPNs” to Knitting in the Magic Loop
Switch from Knitting in the Magic Loop to Knitting on Double Point Needles “DPNs”
Knit Two Things, in the Round, at Once
💬 Have Questions?
Leave a comment on any tutorial or visit me on YouTube to see each stitch in action.
🧷 Helpful Knitting Resources
Looking for more ways to support your knitting goals?
- 🎁 Free Knitting Starter Kit: Download a printable pattern, cheat sheet, and tutorial videos to start strong.
- 📚 Liz Chandler’s Knitting Guidebook: Get the all-in-one knitting lesson and pattern book.
- 💻 Browse All Knitting Patterns: Find practical, pretty projects for every season.
Settle in and start your first stitches. You’ve got this!
– Liz
