Knitting For Beginners

Knitting doesn't have to be difficult. To help you get started, I'll cover essential knitting stitches, abbreviations, casting on, and finishing your projects! I’ll also link a couple of Youtube videos that were extra helpful during my learning process.

Abbreviations

To start off, the most commonly used abbreviations:

K - Knit

P - Purl

MC - Main Color

CC - Complementary Color

CO - Cast On

Decrease Abbreviations:

K2tog - Knit 2 together

P2tog - Purl 2 together

SSK - Slip, slip, knit

To complete a K2tog, just knit the same way you would normally, but instead of knitting through a single stitch, pick up two. P2tog is the same way, except with the purl stitch. When completing a SSK, slip two stitches from your left needle onto your right needle (slip them as if if you were going to knit them) and then putting your left needle through the front of both the stitches and knitting them together.

When K or P is followed by a number, this means to knit or purl that number of stitches. For example, K3 would mean, knit 3 stitches.

The term “ribbing” refers to the repeated use of the knit stitch and purl stitch after one another to create lines or “ribs”. This is most commonly seen as K1, P1 or K2, P2. K1, P1 will create smaller ribs, while K2, P2 will create wider ribs.

Gauge

Before casting on, it is important to figure out the gauge of your yarn. Gauge refers to the number of stitches required to knit a certain amount of inches/rounds. The gauge for any type of yarn can typically be found on the label, but make sure to note the suggested needle size on the label as well. The gauge for the same yarn will vary depending on the size of needles you use to knit. If you are using yarn that doesn’t have a gauge listed, or have lost the label for your yarn, you can knit a small swatch using your desired needle size. You typically swatch by knitting a 4 inch square in your desired pattern, but you can also make a larger swatch if desired. Here’s a video explaining this! It’s also worth noting that one person’s gauge with the same needles and yarn can be completely different than the next person’s. This is because everyone knits differently, some much looser or tighter than others.

Casting On

There are many different ways to cast on. My personal favorite is the long-tail cast-on method. There is a more basic casting-on method, but I’ve found that it doesn’t hold up as well or look as good as the long-tail method. Click here to watch a great tutorial on the long-tail cast-on by Sheep & Stitch.

If you need a cast-on method with a little more stretch, the German twisted cast-on is my go-to. Here’s a video on how to complete this method!

Needles

In terms of needle size, your yarn will usually suggest a range of needle sizes that will work best with that particular fiber type and size. However, it isn't required that you use the suggested needles, just be sure to knit a swatch before starting your project to be sure how your needle size will affect your piece. When first starting out, it can be difficult to pick the type of needles to buy. I typically knit my hats using bamboo or wooden needles. I’ve linked my favorite 16-inch needles here. Metal needles can also be great, but the yarn can sometimes have the tendency to slip off the metal more easily than wooden needles. It really comes down to personal preference at the end of the day.

Stitch Markers

Stitch markers help you keep track of important points in your piece. For example, if knitting on circular needles, place a stitch marker where you begin your round to keep track of when you have completed a round. Stitch markers can also help when decreasing, to keep your decreases evenly spaced and accurate. There are a TON of adorable stitch markers available on Etsy, but if you want to save money, I recommend just buying some jump-rings in the jewelry aisle and using those instead.

I hope these tips helped you get started on your first knitting project! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Note: None of the links used above are affiliate links.

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