Learn to knit the basic knit stitch with this video tutorial!
The basic knit stitch is like the fundamental building block of all knitting. Once you have learned the knit stitch, you’re halfway there and most other knitting techniques are just variations on that!
I remember when I first learned to knit and the basic knit stitch seemed hard. I couldn’t remember if I was supposed to insert the right needle from right to left or left to right.
And of course there were those pesky accidental yarn overs that leave holes in your knitting. Ugh.
And now I can knit without even looking at my hands. I promise, it’s easier than typing, just keep practicing.
This tutorial will help you learn the basic knit stitch so you can get started knitting!
Tips and Tricks for the basic knit stitch.
-ALWAYS always keep the yarn behind your project. When you turn the work, move the yarn to the new back side.
-Insert your right needle from left to right just like reading.
-Practice, practice, practice
Continental vs. English knitting
It truly does NOT matter which hand you hold the yarn with, the left, for continental knitting, or the right for English knitting.
There are some people who claim superiority for continental knitting saying it’s faster, but I am not those people.
In fact, I discovered about a year ago that I was holding the yarn totally “wrong” anyway. And you know what? I was still knitting. You couldn’t tell by looking at my projects. It honestly doesn’t matter.
I’ve since reworked my technique to be “correct” because it made my hands less tired, and now I can hold the yarn with either hand (which is handy for knitting with more than one color) but for a beginner just pick whichever feels more natural. And then practice that until it is easy.
In this tutorial I am holding the yarn with my right hand as I find that that is more common among beginning knitters. I also think it’s a little easier to see how the yarn loops around the left needle that way. But again, hold it in a way that feels right to you and keeps your tension even.
How to knit a basic knit stitch
Here’s how to knit a basic knit stitch, be sure to watch the video to see the technique in motion!
- To knit a knit stitch, hold the working yarn BEHIND your work. You can hold the yarn with your right hand (English style) or with your left hand (Continental style).
- Insert the right needle through the first stitch on the left needle from left to right
- Wrap the yarn around the tip of the right knitting needle
- Pull the yarn through to form the new knit stitch
- Drop the old stitch from the left knitting needle
- Repeat steps 2-5!
How To Knit a Knit Stitch
Learn how to knit the knit stitch, this easy stitch is the basis for all knitting projects and is one of the first things a beginning knitter should learn!
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- To knit a knit stitch, hold the working yarn BEHIND your work. You can hold the yarn with your right hand (English style) or with your left hand (Continental style).
- Insert the right needle through the first stitch on the left needle from left to right
- Wrap the yarn around the tip of the right knitting needle
- Pull the yarn through to form the new knit stitch
- Drop the old stitch from the left knitting needle
- Repeat steps 2-5!
Notes
Be sure to always keep the yarn BEHIND your work when knitting knit stitches.
Watch the video to see how to knit a basic knit stitch in motion!
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