How to Start Knitting: 3 Tutorials and Your Beginner Tool Kit.

Ready to learn how to knit, but not sure where to get started? We have all the information you need to knit your first piece here. These are the basic tools and skills to make a garter stitch square or rectangle. We've created a list of items to create your beginner knitter tool kit, along with three tutorial videos to teach you how to cast on, make the knit stitch, and bind off.

What you need to start knitting: 

1. A PATTERN. In these three tutorial videos we will teach you how to knit the garter stitch, one of the most basic knitting stitches. We have a free pattern, the Astrology Cowl, that you will be able to knit after this tutorial (as a beginner it may be easier to only use the Ushya yarn for this pattern, the Goldrush is optional). There is also a social media site for knitting called Ravelry, which is a favorite for finding patterns. 
2. YARN. When beginning, we highly suggest using the yarn recommended in your knit pattern. Slight changes in the weight (or thickness) of the yarn and the fiber content can significantly alter the results of your piece. 
3. NEEDLES. Just like the yarn, we suggest that you use the recommended needles from your knit pattern. If you don't plan to follow a pattern and want to knit a garter stitch rectangle to make a scarf, buy needles based on the recommended needle size on the yarn label. 
4. SCISSORS. 
5. TAPESTRY NEEDLE. This item is optional. The tapestry needle is needed if you are going to seam your ends together to make a cowl. This needle has a blunt end and a large eye so that you can use it on thicker yarn. 

Now that you've got your tool kit in order, it's time to knit! We've created a tutorial for each of the three things you need to learn to knit your first piece: a cast on, the knit stitch, and a bind off. 

Here are videos of the 3 things you need to learn to start knitting: 

1. CAST ON. Here are the written steps to the knitted cast-on: 

1. Create a slip knot and place on left needle. 
2. Place right needle through the front loop of the slip knot (or stitch) on the left needle. 
3. Wrap yarn around the right needle (from right to left, behind). 
4. Pull right needle with wrapped yarn through the slip knot (or stitch) on the left needle. 
5. Now you will have a new stitch on your right needle. Transfer it to the left needle.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 until you have the desired number of cast on stitches. 

 Here are the written steps to the knitted bind off: 

1. Hold live stitches in your left hand, empty needle and yarn to the right.
2. Place right needle through the front loop of two stitches on the left needle. 
3. Wrap yarn around the right needle (from right to left, behind). 
4. Pull right needle with wrapped yarn through the two stitches on the left needle. 
5. Drop two old stitches from left needle, it is replaced by the new stitch on your right needle. 
6. Now you will have a new stitch on your right needle. Transfer it to the left needle.
7. Repeat until there is only one stitch left. Cut yarn, pull yarn through last live stitch to secure piece.