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The knit stitch is the most basic of all knitting stitches and forms the foundation of virtually every stitch pattern one can imagine. A simple row of knit stitch is quick and easy to do.

Cast on as many stitches as you want. For the beginner, I suggest a small number of stitches between 20 and 40. To do this form a loop with the yarn you are using and slip it onto a knitting needle. Hold that needle in your left hand. This is called the source needle. A short tail will hang down from the loop, which is also the first stitch. Wrap the yarn leading to the ball of yarn from which you are knitting around the pinkie finger of your right hand. Holding the second knitting needle, called the receiving needle, in you right hand, slip the tip into the loop on the source needle so that it comes out behind the source needle. Then wrap the yarn, using your right hand around the receiving needle from the back so that it lays between the two needles and returns to the right side of your work. Gently pull the receiving needle back through the loop, hooking the yarn as you do. Then slip the new loop back onto the source needle and pull the receiving needle free. You should now have two stitches on the source needle. Continue to add stitches to the source needle in this manner, using the newly formed stitch each time until you have the desired number of stitches.

Now you are ready to knit!

Keep the source needle in your left hand. To knit your first stitch, you will do exactly the same thing you did when you were casting on. This time, however, you will keep the new stitch on the receiving needle in your right hand.

Simply slip the tip of the receiving needle into the first stitch on the source needle so that it is behind the source needle. Wrap the yarn from right to left at the back of the two needles and then pull it between the two needles to the right. Pull the receiving needle back out of the first stitch, keeping the yarn wrapped around it and then slide the old stitch (the one on the source needle) off of the source needle. This is your first knit stitch!

Continue to knit each stitch in this manner until all of the stitches have been worked. You should have the same number of stitches on the receiving needle in your right hand as you started with on your source needle.

To continue knitting you will now 'turn' your work, placing the receiving needle in your left hand. It now becomes the source needle. Hold the empty needle in your right hand and knit the next row.

In essence,

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