Knitting Instructions: Intro to Basic Techniques

By Sandra Mishikins

This article is meant to provide a basic overview of knitting. It will also give pointers on how best to increase your skill from the basic to the more advanced techniques without giving up. Read on to learn where to find great knitting instructions and how to put these to use.

Finding knitting instructions isn?t as hard as you might think. Many rolls of yarn come with basic knitting instructions right on the label. Fabric stores often give away free pamphlets. However, the real treasure trove is found at the library. There are countless books on the topic that provide great diagrams from which to learn. Additionally, there are now many quality videos on knitting. By utilizing your library, you can virtually learn everything you need to know about knitting.

Casting on is one of the first things you must learn. To cast on, you simply make a slip knot on the end of one needle. Starting five or six feet from the end of your yarn, make a single loop around your left thumb while holding the needle in your right hand. Insert the needle into the loop and put the yarn (from the ball) around the needle while pulling the yarn through the loop. Finally, slip the loop off the thumb and cinch it tight on the needle. Casting on is really not especially difficult once it has been done once or twice. Some beginners might need to look at a diagram or watch a basic knitting instructions video to get the hang of it.

The process of knitting is usually performed with the cast-on needle in the left hand. The other needle will be worked with your right hand. You will keep your yarn behind your needles and insert your right needle through the first stitch on your left needle. Insert the needle from the front toward the back. Attach the yarn to the right needle and pull it through the stitch. Pass the stitch off the right needle to the left. This is the basic process of knitting, which will be repeated many times.

Another very basic technique is the purl. The purl is much like the basic knit. However, instead of inserting the right needle from the front, you will insert the tip from the back. You will pull the yarn through from the opposite direction and work the stitch onto the left needle.

Once you feel confident in your ability to perform these basic knitting movements, then you are ready to move on to more advanced techniques. Decide what format of knitting instructions you learn best with and stick to that. If you prefer videos then use those. Many people will learn fine from printed diagrams. Try learning one new knitting technique at a time and using it on your next project. By adding single techniques and taking the time to learn them, you will increase your skills in the most efficient manner. - 29957

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