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Knitting can be a fun and relaxing hobby, and better-yet, can allow you to make thoughtful hand-made gifts for your friends and family. Although it may seem daunting, learning to knit is actually quite simple!

1. The basic supplies: knitting needles and yarn.

Needles come in a range of lengths and materials. For a beginner, I would recommend aluminum straight knitting needles that are about 14 inches long. Once you develop knitting skills, you can try out other lengths and materials.

There are many different types of yarn that vary in their weight and fiber content. Start out with a medium-weight yarn of an inexpensive synthetic material.

2. The slip knot.

The easiest way to begin knitting is to make a "slip knot." To do this, you will first unravel about two feet of yarn and then create a slip knot, placing the loop onto one of your knitting needles. Tighten.

3. Casting your first stitch.

Hold the needle with the slip knot in your left hand and place the other needle into the slip knot and under the left needle, using your right hand. Now, situate both needles in your left hand, and use your free right hand to pick up yarn from the ball. Bring the yarn under then over the tip of the right needle. Using the right hand, pull the loop that you made on the right needle through the stitch. Slide the left needle into the new stitch and remove the right needle. You now have successfully cast-on, and should have two stitches on your left needle.

4. Complete a cast-on row.

Position your hands as you did for the first stitch, and insert the point of the right needle from front to back into the newest stitch and cast on about twenty stitches onto the left needle. You now have a cast-on row.

5. Begin to knit.

Holding the left needle, insert the point of the right needle into the first stitch from front to back. Using your right hand, bring yarn under and over the right needle and pull the yarn through the stitch on the left needle. Then, slip the loop off the left needle, so that the new stitch is on the right. Repeat these steps in each stitch on the left needle to complete a knit row. Continue knitting rows in this fashion, switching the needles each time.

6. Completing the job.

To bind-off, knit two stitches of a row, then insert the left needle into the first stitch and pull it over the second stitch, taking it completely off the right needle. Knit one more stitch and do the same. Continue until only one stitch remains. Make a knot into the last stitch on the needle.

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