How to Knit: Learn the Basic Stitches and Techniques. A Storey BASICS® Title

by Leslie Ann Bestor

Overview

Leslie Ann Bestor makes learning to knit fun and easy. Bestor’s simple, fully illustrated instructions lead you through the basics of knitting, from choosing the right needles and yarn to reading a knitting pattern. You’ll quickly learn techniques for expertly casting on, executing knit and purl stitches, binding off, blocking finished projects, and much more. Even if you’ve never held a pair of knitting needles before, this easy-to-follow guide will have you knitting in no time!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612123608
Publisher:	Storey Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	09/06/2014
Series:	Storey Basics
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Leslie Ann Bestor is the author of How to Knit and the best-selling book, Cast On, Bind Off. She is a knitting teacher and store manager at WEBS, America’s Yarn Store, and her designs have been featured in books and magazines. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

When You're Ready to Cast On

To begin to knit, you need to first put stitches on your needles. This is called casting on, and there are dozens of ways to do it, some that are specific to certain situations, such as making socks or lace items, and some that are more general. I am going to show you a couple of all-purpose cast ons that will serve you well through your initial forays into knitting. As you progress, you may want to learn others, and I humbly suggest my book Cast On, Bind Off to further your education.

Slip Knot

The slip knot creates a loop that can be placed on a needle to begin your cast on. You make it like this:

Instructions

1. Make a loop of your yarn with the tail end underneath the long end where the yarns overlap.

2. Reach through the loop (a), grab the long yarn, and pull a new loop through the first loop (b). Place this loop on your needle and pull both ends to tighten.

Knitted Cast On

This cast on is easy to remember because it is a lot like a regular knit stitch, making it a common cast on for beginners. The edge is fairly firm, though it may stretch out of shape, and it looks good from both sides. This cast on can also be worked in the middle or at the end of a row, when you need to add extra stitches to a work in progress.

Instructions

1. Make a slip knot, leaving a 6-inch tail, and place it on the needle.

2. Hold the needle with the slip knot in your left hand and an empty needle in your right hand.

3. Insert the tip of the right-hand needle into the left side of the slip knot, going from front to back. Using the strand of yarn attached to the ball, wrap the yarn around the right needle tip, coming first underneath the needle and then over the top to the back. Pull the right tip forward, catching the wrapped yarn, and draw it through the loop on the left needle without letting either stitch drop off the needles.

4. Transfer the new stitch on your right needle to the left needle by twisting the right needle so the two needles are side by side; then insert the left tip into the bottom of the new stitch and slide the right needle out. Be careful to slide the new stitch all the way onto the thick part of the needle before tightening it. If you tighten while it is still on the tip, the new stitch will be too tight, and you will likely curse loudly when you have to work with it on the next row.

Continue in this manner, knitting into the endmost stitch on the left needle and transferring the new stitch back to the left needle until you have the desired number of stitches.

Getting a Hold on the Needles

Hold the needles comfortably, near the tips. It's kind of like holding a toothbrush — your lower fingers grasp the lower half of the needle in the palm of your hand, and your index finger and thumb are near the tip, to control the movements.

Long-Tail Cast On

This is the workhorse of the cast ons, and many people use it for everything. And, frankly, if you learn only one cast on, this is the one to know because of its great versatility. That said, learning the long-tail cast on can be a bit tricky because in addition to juggling the needle and the yarn, you need to maintain that darn slingshot position — which I describe below. (So, as I suggested in the introduction, you may want to get a friend to cast on the first time for you.) I know, I know, sometimes you just have to dive into the deep end, so here we go.

Slingshot Position

Setup 1. Measure out a long tail. To measure the amount needed to cast on 10 stitches, wrap your yarn around the needle 10 times, pull it off, and measure it. That is how much you need for 10 stitches with that particular yarn-and-needle combo. If you want to cast on 20 stitches, double this length; for 30 stitches, triple it, and so on. Then add a few extra inches.

Setup 2. Make a slip knot at the point you measured, and put the slip knot on the needle. (You need only one needle for this cast on.) Hold the needle in your right hand and let the two yarn ends dangle down, with the tail end closest to your body.

Setup 3. Pinch the tips of your left forefinger and thumb together and poke them between the strands of yarn. With the other three fingers of your left hand, grasp the yarn in the palm of your hand. Spread your thumb and forefinger apart, and rotate them back and up so they are pointing to the sky. Looks like a slingshot, right? Okay, now you're ready to cast on, long-tail style.

Cast On

1. Using the needle, reach under and into the loop on the left thumb, then take the tip of the needle under the yarn on your left forefinger from right to left.

2. Pull up a loop and bring it through the thumb loop.

3. Drop the yarn off your left thumb and gently tighten (not too tight!) the loop on the needle.

Repeat these steps for the desired number of stitches. See, it's really not that hard, just a bit awkward at first.

Note: Because of how the long-tail cast on forms the stitches, it essentially knits the first row for you. That means the first row you work will be a wrong-side row.

CHAPTER 2

The Basic Stitches: Knit, Purl, and ... Slip

Ready? It's time to begin knitting! In knitting, there are only two stitches that are the building blocks for an infinite variety of stitch patterns, all of which are just a maneuvering of these two humble stitches. I suggest that you approach your new craft by getting comfortable with them.

* Knit stitch. Cast on 20 stitches and learn the knit stitch. Practice the stitch for many rows until it feels sort of comfortable and you end up with the same number of stitches on every row. This will give you a garter-stitch swatch (see here).

* Purl stitch. With those stitches still on the needles, learn to purl, and practice that for a bunch of rows. Look — more garter!

Then learn how to end: bind off the stitches (see It's Over: Binding Off, here). Ta-da! You made a thing! You can fold it up and sew around the edges. Voilà — a pot holder! Or a coaster! Or a pouch! Be proud, you are a knitter!

At the beginning of a row, regardless of whether it is right side or wrong side, knit or purl, the needle in your left hand will have the stitches ready to be worked. Your right-hand needle will be empty. Hold the needles comfortably, near the tips. The yarn dangles from the stitch at the tip of the needle, and you pick up the yarn and tension it in your left hand for Continental knitting or in the right hand for English style. (See Continental versus English below.)

A Note on Semantics

The word knit can be somewhat confusing as it describes the act of knitting, which includes both knit and purl stitches, as well as the knit stitch itself. To keep things clear, I will use the term work, as in "work to the end of the row." A stitch that is worked can be either a knit stitch or a purl stitch.

Continental versus English

There are as many ways to hold the needles and wrap the yarn as there are grandmothers who have passed knitting techniques on to their grandchildren. The two main styles are called Continental and English, and the basic difference between the two is about which hand holds the yarn.

* In Continental knitting, the yarn is held in the left hand, and the knitter uses the right-hand needle to scoop or grab the yarn and pull it through the stitch.

* In English Knitting, the yarn is held in the right hand and wrapped around the right needle tip before the stitch is pulled through.

As with any technique, there are advocates of both styles, some more vocal and convinced of the rightness of their choice than others. I am of the school of doing what feels right in your hands. If you already know how to crochet, you may find Continental easier, because the yarn is held the same as in crochet. If you are starting from scratch, pick a style and stick with it for a while to see how it works. Since you are just beginning, at first nothing may feel right or comfortable. Give yourself a chance to gain some competence in one style before trying another, to avoid confusing yourself.

Knit Stitch Know-How English Style

Setup. Position the yarn so it runs from the end stitch on the left needle, over your right index finger, and through your right hand to the ball of yarn. You will need to maintain some tension on the yarn to be able to knit. Refer to the illustrations below and on the next page for two ways to wrap and tension the yarn. And know, too, that there are many more ways besides these examples. You will have to experiment to find what works best for you.

Instructions

1. Holding the yarn in back of the needles, insert the tip of the right needle through the stitch on the tip of the left needle from left to right so the right needle pokes through to the back; the right needle should be underneath the left needle.

2. Wrap the yarn around the right needle tip, coming from underneath, then over the top and to the right.

3. Holding the wrapped yarn firmly, pull the right needle forward through the stitch (a), letting the old stitch fall off the tip of the left needle (b). You've made a knit stitch!

Repeat these steps across the row until all stitches have been knit off the left needle. Then move the needle full of stitches to your left hand and the empty needle to your right hand, and knit back across the row. It may feel awkward at first, but give it some time.

Continental Style

Setup. Position the yarn so it goes from the end stitch, over your left index finger, and through your left hand to the ball of yarn. As with English style, there are many ways to keep tension on the yarn. Some folks wrap or pinch the yarn between their lower fingers (a), while others wrap it completely around the index finger (b) or pinkie (c). The key is to keep your index finger pointing up.

Instructions

1. Holding the yarn in back of the needles, insert the tip of the right needle through the stitch on the tip of the left needle from left to right so the right needle pokes through to the back; the right needle should be underneath the left.

2. Using your left index finger to maintain tension on the yarn, reach the right needle tip behind the yarn and scoop it forward through the stitch (a). Let the old stitch fall off the left needle (b). Now do some more, and you are knitting!

It's important to maintain some tension on the yarn to create even stitches. But be careful to avoid tightening the stitches while they are on the needle tips, as this will lead to stiff fabric and frustration on the next row when you try to poke your needle through those tiny, tight stitches. Instead, slide the stitch onto the body of the needle before gently snugging it.

Purl Stitch Power

English Style

Instructions

1. Holding the yarn in front, insert the right needle tip into the stitch on the left needle from right to left, in the front of the stitch. The needle tips will be pointing in opposite directions and the right needle will be in front.

2. Wrap the yarn in a counterclockwise direction, coming over the right needle tip, then under and back to the right.

3. Holding the wrapped yarn firmly, push the right tip out the back of the stitch (a), letting the old stitch fall off the left needle tip (b).

Continental Style

The purl stitch can be a little trickier for Continental knitters, because you hold the yarn in front of the stitch. Experiment to find a hand position that works for you.

Instructions

1. Holding the yarn in front, insert the right needle tip into the stitch on the left needle from right to left, in the front of the stitch. The needle tips should point in opposite directions, and the right needle should be in front.

2. Bring the right tip under the yarn, out toward your body, then scoop over the top of the yarn (a) and pull it out through the back of the stitch (b).

Pep Talk

Okay, now you're wobbling along with your training wheels. Some of you are feeling impatient to start barreling down the road, and others want to make sure someone is still running alongside, just in case. Wherever you are, that's great! Everyone learns at a different pace, both with our brains and with our hands. This is the point at which you have to let go of expectations and just keep going. Let it feel awkward and uncomfortable, and keep trying anyway. Step away from the judging and comparing, and just hang out with the process.

And that's just it: right now you are in the process stage. You will get to the product stage a little bit down the road, and then it will be about what you can make and who to give it to and when can you start knitting cashmere! I am here to tell you that you will get to the cashmere, and it will be worth it. For now, keep practicing your knits and purls, and look to the next chapters to start making curves!

Slipped Stitch Savvy

You will sometimes have occasion to move stitches between needles without working them. This is called slipping stitches. It occurs during certain increases and decreases or special stitch patterns, and it's a very easy maneuver (as long as you distinguish your knits from your purls; see Reading Your Stitches below).

* To slip a stitch purlwise, insert the needle tip from right to left, as you would if purling, and slide the stitch to the other needle without working it. This is the default, if the pattern doesn't indicate otherwise.

* To slip a stitch knitwise, insert the needle tip from left to right, as you would if knitting, and slide the stitch to the other needle without working it.

Remember: The default is to always slip the stitch purlwise unless the pattern specifies to slip knitwise.

Reading Your Stitches

Knowing what the stitches look like is an important step in learning to knit independently, and it will empower you to find your place, fix mistakes, and more. Picture these words in flashing neon letters! That's how important they are.

Let's start with stitch orientation, which describes how the stitch sits on the needle. It's the same for both knit and purl stitches, and when you drop a stitch, it will be crucial information to have. (Notice I did not say "if," because you will drop stitches from time to time!) So, look at the stitches on your needle, and you will see that each stitch is a loop that straddles the needle. I think of it as the right and left legs of the stitch. The proper orientation of the stitch is with the left leg behind the needle and the right leg in front. Others think of it as the front leg being closer to the tip of the needle. However you view it, get it fixed in your mind, think of a clever way to memorize it (what works for me is to think of the phrase "out in left field," which tells me that the left leg should be away from me), and look closely whenever something feels off. If you were in my knitting class, I would go around and mess up your stitches and make you figure out how to get them all right again. This might be a fun game for you to play with a friend!

And just so you know, if the stitch is not oriented correctly on the needle, it will twist on the next row. Some knitters do this intentionally to achieve a specific effect, but for beginners, I recommend staying off the twisted path.

Reading Edge Stitches

Because edge stitches are sometimes hard to read, they can cause a classic mistake that beginners often make. When you are starting a new row, the first stitch often wants to roll backward around the needle and ends up looking like two stitches instead of one, as in the illustration on the facing page. To avoid falling into this trap (and inadvertently increasing stitches), make sure to pull your yarn downward in front of the needle to straighten things out. Another tip to keep your stitch count steady is to recount your stitches every few rows.

Deciding Whether to Knit or Purl

When I start a new row, how do I know if I'm starting with a knit or a purl? You know by reading your pattern and by reading your stitches. Remember there are only two possible stitches, so we're in luck with this one. The knit stitch is the one people think of when they see a knitted garment. It is smooth and looks like a V hanging down from the needle (a). Purls, on the other hand, look bumpy and have a sideways strand of yarn wrapping the base of the stitch on the needle (b).

Name That Fabric!

Now that you've learned to knit and purl, it's time for some more language lessons. These two stitches can be combined in an infinite variety of ways to create a multitude of patterns. There are three big families that comprise the combinations of stitches that create the most common knitted fabrics.

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "How to Knit"
by .
Copyright © 2014 Leslie Ann Bestor.
Excerpted by permission of Storey Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

An Invitation to Knit: Shortcut to Getting Started

Chapter 1: When You're Ready to Cast On

Chapter 2: The Basic Stitches: Knit, Purl, and ... Slip
Knit Stitch Know-How - Purl Stitch Power - Slipped Stitch Savvy - Reading Your Stitches - Name That Fabric! - Changing to a New Ball of Yarn - It's Over: Binding Off - Weaving in the Ends - Blocking for the Perfect Finish

Chapter 3: Shaping Up Your Knitting: Increases & Decreases
Exploring Increases - Mastering Decreases

Chapter 4: We All Make Mistakes
Rescuing Dropped and Runaway Stitches - When Ripping Back Is the Only Option - What the Heck Is Gauge?

Chapter 5: Getting Down to the Tools and Materials
Needles Are Not All Alike - Accessories Add to the Fun - The Real Magnet of the Knitting World: Yarn

Chapter 6: Learning to Decipher Patterns
Sizes and Measurements - Data about the Yarn - Translating Knitting Shorthand - Working with Pattern Stitches - Learning to Read Knitting Charts - Staying on Track - Multiples and Total Stitch Counts - A Set of Simple "Recipes" for Scarves - Next Steps - Three Things That Make a Good Knitter

Appendix
Yardage Guidelines for Items You Might Like to Knit - Knitting Needle Sizes - Standard Yarn Weight System - Reading List - Online Resources

Acknowledgments

Index