by Elie Hutcheson

Created on: June 16, 2010   Last Updated: March 01, 2011

Did you ever see someone knitting a mile a minute and wonder "how do they do it?"  Well it's not as hard as it looks although it does take some practice before you can do it quickly.  Some aspects of knitting are easier to show than to tell like how to thread the needles.  However you can learn how to knit and once you do, you will find that knitting is as easy as learning to ride a bike.  All it takes is time patience and hand-eye coordination.

Step 1 Base Stitches

To make your base stitches measure out a specific amount of yarn, however much you think is enough.  Usually the first couple of times you get it way too short so practice doing this until you get it right.  Make a slip knot at the end closest to the ball and slip it over your knitting needle.  If you're right handed grasp both the yarn that goes toward the ball and the yarn that goes toward the end with your left hand.  Using the thumb and pointer of that same hand, spread the yarn and pull the needle down with your right hand.  Your needle should be pointed towards your left hand and you should have yarn in the shape of a large V draped over your thumb and pointer.  Using your right hand to operate the needle wind it under the leftmost thread of yarn and over the right.  Slip the yarn over your fingers and pull to tighten the loop you've created upon the needle.  Repeat this until you have the desired number of stitches on your starting needle.

Step 2 Knit

Once you have your base stitches, there are two basic stitches to learn which will enable you to knit every pattern you can think of.  The first we will explore is the knitting stitch.  There are a couple of different ways to hold the needle and you'll find one that's comfortable for you.  Make sure the point is up and the flat end is down. (There are needles on which both ends are pointy but you shouldn't use these until you are a more experience knitter)  Press the empty needle into the stitch closest to the point of your base stitch needle.   Make sure the point of your empty needle is facing away from you as you do this.  Wrap the yarn which goes to the ball around the tip of the bare needle and pull it back through the loop which should still be on the first needle.  Now you will have a loop on each needle which is connected by that first stitch.  Slip the top base stitch off the needle and repeat.  When you

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