Tag: knitting

Now that you understand the knit stitch, you are ready to move on to your next knitting challenge: learning to make the purl stitch.

A purl stitch is essentially a backwards knit stitch. You will hold your yarn in front of your needles to create a “U” shaped stitch, which looks like a bump. If you make a knit stitch, turn it over: the back side of a knit stitch looks exactly like the front side of a purl stitch.

If you purl every stitch in every row of a flat knitted piece, you end up with a garter stitch pattern, just as you do when knitting with only the knit stitch.

Combining knits and purls can create all sorts of fun patterns and textures.

Two important things to remember when making the purl stitch:

1. Hold the working yarn in front of your needles, and
2. Insert your right needle into each stitch from back to front.

Below are both video and written tutorials to help you learn how to make a purl.

Video Guide: How to Make the Purl Stitch

Written Guide: How to Make the Purl Stitch

Purl, Step 1:

Hold your yarn and needles as if to knit, except place the working yarn in front of your left needle.

Purl, Step 2:

Insert your right-hand needle tip into the front loop of the next stitch on your left needle from back to front.

Purl, Step 3:

With your left pointer finger, bring the working yarn down, towards you, over then behind the right needle tip. This will form a loop on the right-hand needle tip.

Purl, Step 4:

Pull the new loop of yarn on the right-hand needle through the first stitch on your left needle.

Purl, Step 5:

Slide the stitch you just worked into off the left needle, allowing the new stitch to remain on your right needle.

Purl, Step 6:

You have made your first purl stitch!

Repeat steps one through five each time a pattern asks you to purl a stitch. 

Practice With My Knitting Patterns

If you purl an entire piece of knitting work, you end up with a garter stitch pattern, just as you do when knitting with only the knit stitch. Because of this, one way to learn and practice the purl stitch is to make a Face Scrubby with only purls. You can follow the free Beginner Face Scrubby Pattern, except replace all the knit stitches with purl stitches.

When you are ready to start a new project, you can to learn to purl with the Basic Face Scrubby or Washcloth pattern found in my Simple Washcloth Knitting Pattern Collection. You will combine knits and purls in to create the traditional, smooth Stockinette stitch pattern that is commonly used in knitwear.

Up Next

To help you “read” your knitting and make sure you are following patterns correctly, you can start to see the knit stitches as “V” shaped and the purl stitches as upside down “U” shapes. Learn to identify knits and purls next.

Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index

Once you have cast on your first stitches, you will be ready to begin your first knit stitch row.

The abbreviations “k” or “K” are often used in patterns to instruct you to make the knit stitch.

Two important things to remember when making the knit stitch:

1. Hold the working yarn behind your needles, and
2. Insert your right needle into each stitch from front to back.

There are different styles of knitting, the most common of which are Continental and English style knitting. Both styles of knitting give you the same knitted piece at the end, but they differ in how you hold your yarn. Here, you’ll learn how to knit in the Continental style. I like Continental style knitting because it is quicker to make the knit stitch once you have practiced.

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

Video Guide: How to Make the Knit Stitch

Written Guide: How to Make the Knit Stitch

Knit, Step 1:

After turning your work, arrange the working yarn onto your left hand in your preferred yarn hold. Hold the empty needle in your right hand.

Knit, Step 2:

Place the working yarn (coming from your yarn ball) behind your left needle.

Knit, Step 3:

Insert the tip of your right-hand needle into the front loop of the first stitch on your left needle.

Knit, Step 4:

Bring the right needle tip over the working yarn and begin to form a counterclockwise loop around it.

Knit, Step 5:

Pull the loop on your right needle tip through the stitch on your left needle.

Knit, Step 6:

Slide the stitch you have just worked into off your left needle, allowing the new stitch to remain on your right needle. You have made your first knit stitch!

Repeat steps one through six to knit an entire row off your left needle and onto the right. When the left needle is empty, you can turn your work again and start the next row.

This pattern, of using only knit stitches and turning after each row, is known as the Garter Stitch. It is used in many knitted projects.

Practice With My Free Knitting Patterns

Knit along with me and practice your knit stitches with my Free Beginner Face Scrubby Pattern.

If you are looking for a bigger project, my Free Beginner Knit Scarf Pattern is also made in garter stitch (all knit stitches). It is just as simple as my face scrubby pattern; it just takes a bit longer to make.

Up Next

After mastering the knit stitch, you will be ready to learn the purl stitch and start adding texture and patterns to your knitting projects.

Or, skip ahead and learn to take your stitches off the knitting needles with a standard bind off.

Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index

When you begin to knit, you’ll need to learn to put your initial stitches on your needles. In knitting, this is called “casting on” stitches. When reading a pattern, the abbreviations CO, co, or, c/o are often used to mean cast on.

There are several methods of casting on, each of which serves a different purpose. Some cast-ons are decorative, some are stretchy, and the way you put your yarn on your needles can really change the end garment.

For beginners, it is a good idea to start with the “long tail cast on.” This cast on gives you a stretchy – but not too stretchy – end for your work. It also ends up looking clean and neat if you ensure that your put each stitch equally tightly (with even tension) on your needle. I use the long tail cast on for almost all of my basic garments, like scarves, hats, and mittens.

Below are both video and written tutorials to help you learn how to put your first loops onto your knitting needles with the long-tail cast on. Knit along with me using my Free Beginner Face Scrubby Pattern.

Video Guide: How to Cast On Knit Stitches

Written Guide: How to Cast On Knit Stitches

Cast On, Step 1:

Pull approximately one inch of yarn per stitch you plan to cast on out of the ball of yarn. For example, if you want to cast on 14 stitches, pull roughly 14 inches of yarn out of the ball.

Cast On, Step 2:

Make a slipknot at this point in the yarn, then place it on a knitting needle held in your right hand. (Note: This slipknot will count as your first cast-on stitch.)

Cast On, Step 3:

Bring your left hand under the slipknot, with the working yarn above your hand and the yarn tail below your hand. Drape the working-yarn side between your left pointer finger and left middle finger.

Cast On, Step 4:

Drape the tail side of the yarn over your left thumb.

Cast On, Step 5:

Keeping the yarn draped over your thumb and pointer finger, turn your left hand so you can see your palm; the working yarn should lie over your left-hand middle, ring, and pinkie fingers. Keep the slipknot from falling off your needle by gently holding it in place with your right pointer finger.

Cast On, Step 6:

With your left ring and pinkie fingers, pinch the two strings that now drape over your left palm. Bring the tip of the knitting needle in front of your left thumb nail. You should now be holding the yarn properly to allow you to make your first cast on stitch.

Cast On, Step 7:

Insert the tip of your knitting needle under the yarn at the base of your left thumb.

Cast On, Step 8:

Bring the tip of the needle over both the strands of yarn behind your left thumb.

Cast On, Step 9:

With your needle, grab the yarn at the base of your left pointer finger by bringing the needle over the strand, then down toward your thumb.

Cast On, Step 10:

Pull the loop you have created over the strand coming from behind your left thumb and under the strand in front of left your thumb.

Cast On, Step 11:

You should now have a new stitch on your needle and a loop around your left thumb; gently remove your thumb from the stitch, while continuing to clasp the loose ends of your cast on with your left ring and pinkie fingers.

Cast On, Step 12:

Place your left thumb back under the yarn tail that now comes from your second cast on stitch. Use this thumb to pull the stitch tighter (but not too tight) onto your knitting needle.

Cast On, Step 13:

Rotate your hand back into position to cast on another stitch by turning your left palm toward you while still holding the working yarn and yarn tail with your left ring and pinkie fingers.

Cast On, Step 14:

Repeat steps 7 through 13 until you have cast on all the stitches your pattern requires. **Remember, your slipknot counts as your first stitch.**

Practice Your Cast On With My Free Knitting Patterns

The easiest and fastest knitting pattern to learn with is my Free Beginner Face Scrubby Pattern. It is short and you will have a finished object more quickly.

If you would rather try a longer pattern, my Free Beginner Scarf Pattern is suitable for absolute beginners, as well. Because it has more stitches in the pattern, it will take longer than a scrubby to finish.

Up Next

If your are making a flat piece, like the Face Scrubby or Scarf, you will need to turn your work next. Find out what that means here.

Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index

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

Choose Knitting Materials

• Choosing Yarn for Knitting
• Choosing Knitting Needles
• Choosing Knitting Tools

How to Make a Slipknot

Putting the First Stitches on Knitting Needles – Learn to Cast On

Turn Your Work

How to Hold Yarn When Knitting

Learn the Basic Knit Stitch

Take Your Work Off the Needles – “Bind Off” Knitting

Weave in and Tie Off Loose Ends on Flat Knits

• Weave in the Cast-on Tail
• Weave in the Bind-off Tail
• Tie Up Loose Ends With a Tiny Knot

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

Learn the Purl Stitch

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

Reading Knitting Patterns

Following Knitting Patterns

🧶 Knitting Skill Boosters

Improve Your Knitting Tension

Spotting and Fixing Common Knitting Mistakes

• Twisted Stitches
• Dropped Stitches
• “Tink” – Knit Backward to Undo Mistakes
• Slipped Stitches

“Frog” – Unravel Knitting to Fix Mistakes or Reuse Yarn

Wind Yarn into Center-Pull Balls by Hand

Blocking

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

Decreases

• Knit Two Together (k2tog)
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk)

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

Finishing Knit Hats

• 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

Increases

• Make One Left
• Make One Right

Slip Stitches onto a Stitch Holder

Using Scrap Yarn Instead of Stitch Holders

Bind Off in the Magic Loop

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

Customize Knits

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 Printable Patterns: Find practical, pretty projects for every season.
• 🎉 Beginner Basics Bundle: A curated pattern pack designed for brand new knitters.

Settle in and start your first stitches. You’ve got this!

– Liz

Share this with Friends:

• Share on Pinterest
• Share on Facebook
• Share on X
• Share on Tumblr
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Reddit
• Share on WhatsApp
• Print this Page
• Email this Page
• Share on SMS