What You Need to Begin

• Yarn: Choose a smooth, light-colored yarn in a medium (worsted or chunky) weight. Avoid novelty yarns at first, as they can be tricky to work with.

• Needles: Start with US size 7, 8, 10, or 11 (5–8 mm) needles, either straight or circular. Bamboo or wooden needles are often recommended for beginners because they grip the yarn and are less slippery.

• Scissors: For cutting yarn.

• Tapestry or darning needle: Useful for weaving in ends and finishing your project.

• Stitch markers (optional): Helpful for marking pattern repeats or the start of a round.

Basic Steps to Start Knitting

1. Casting On

   • Casting on is how you get stitches onto your needle to form the foundation of your project. The long-tail cast-on is a popular beginner method.

   • Start by making a slip knot, then use your needles and yarn to create the required number of stitches for your project.

2. The Knit Stitch

   • The knit stitch is the foundation of most knitting projects. Hold the needle with the cast-on stitches in your left hand and the empty needle in your right.

   • Insert the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle, wrap the yarn around the right needle, pull the yarn through to create a new loop, and slip the old stitch off the left needle. Repeat across the row.

3. Knitting Rows

   • After completing a row, switch the needles between your hands so the needle with stitches is always in your left hand. Continue knitting rows until your piece reaches the desired length.

4. Casting Off (Binding Off)

   • When your project is the right size, you’ll need to cast off to secure the stitches and prevent unraveling. Knit two stitches, then lift the first stitch over the second and off the needle. Repeat until all stitches are off.

5. Finishing Touches

   • Use a tapestry needle to weave in any loose yarn ends for a neat, professional finish5.

Beginner Project Ideas

• Scarf: Cast on 20–30 stitches and knit every row (garter stitch) until your scarf is 5–6 feet long. This is a classic first project.

• Dishcloth: A small, quick project that lets you practice basic stitches without a big time commitment.

Tips for Success

• Start with a small practice swatch before tackling a larger project like a scarf or blanket7.

• Don’t be discouraged by mistakes—they’re part of the learning process. Many local yarn shops, libraries, and online communities offer classes and support for beginners.

• YouTube and knitting blogs provide excellent step-by-step tutorials and videos if you prefer visual learning.

Final Thoughts

Knitting is a skill that grows with practice. Even the most experienced knitters were once beginners, so be patient with yourself and enjoy the process. With just a few supplies and some practice, you’ll soon be creating handmade pieces to cherish or share.

Happy knitting!