Learn How to Knit - The Basics

Learning how to knit for the first time can seem very daunting but the truth is it is actually very simple.  For years I have been amazed by people who have watched me knitting and then remark they would love to be able to do that but never got past knit and purl.  The truth is that once you can do a knit stitch and a purl stitch you are sorted, every other stitch is simply a variation on the knit stitch or the purl stitch or the pattern is created by completing the knit stitches and purl stitches in different orders. 

So in order to learn how to knit you need:

1. to learn how to knit you need some needles, the length and weight of which should be comfortable for you but I would not recommend any that are to long in length until you get used to them.
2. your next requirement is some yarn.  If this is your first attempt I would use some acrylic yarn for learning how to knit. This should be plain yarn.  The more decorative bubbly and fluffy wools are harder to see the stitches and can tend to become easily tangled.
3. before you can learn how to knit, you will need to cast on.  This is the process by which you make your stitches or loops on the needle.  This is actually the hardest part of learning how to knit, so I would recommend that if you know somebody who can already knit that you ask them to cast on and work the first couple of rows for you and that you start from learning how to do the knit stitch and come back to casting on later.  If this is not an option, a little patience and you will be fine.
4. Once you have stitches on the needles the first stitch to master as you learn how to knit is the knit stitch.
5. Once you are happy with the knit stitch, the next stitch to master as you learn how to knit is the purl stitch.
6. Finally the last technique you will need to know while you learn how to knit is how to cast off.  This removes your knitting from the needles and leaves it wit all the stitches secured so it will not unravel with time.

		How to Cast On.  This section includes a variety of was for casting your stitches or loops onto your needle.
		How to Knit. This section shows describes how to do the basic knit stitch.
		How to Purl This section shows describes how to do the basic purl stitch.
		How to Cast Off This section covers a variety of ways for casting off.  Casting off  removes your knitting from the needles and leaves it with all the stitches secured so it will not unravel with time.