• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

Colorful, contemporary knit & crochet.

  • BLOG
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Podcast
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Ravelry

Knewbies | How to knit

February 11, 2015 8 Comments

How to do a knit stitch - knitting 101 tutorial with video

It’s knit day!!! Also known as the first day of your knitting life, the day you learn how to do a knit stitch is an important one. Just like anything else, it takes a bit of practice to get it down, but once your muscles memorize the rhythm of the knit stitch, basic knitting will become the knitting-is-the-new-yoga type of relaxing that you hear people talk about.

How to do a knit stitch - knitting 101 tutorial with video

How to knit

Here’s the video for today’s lesson, covering how to do a knit stitch.  The video shows how to work the first row of stitches after the cast on, and how to keep working them on each subsequent row. I tried to go slow and keep new knitters in mind, so I hope this is helpful for you!

Garter Stitch / This is what a garter swatch looks like.

How to do a knit stitch - knitting 101 tutorial with video

If you keep knitting row after row of knitting, this is what it will look like. A piece of knitting that’s made by knitting across every single row is called garter stitch. Lucky for those of you who are starting to knit right now, garter stitch is really trending in fashion and contemporary knitting designs. It’s really nice for beginner knitters to make things like baby blankets, cowls and scarves, and dish cloths. As long as you cast on the right amount of stitches and knit until you need to bind off, you can even start to design your own pieces this early on in your knitting journey. Right now, it’s all about knitting rectangles and squares, but you can make a lot of things with rectangles and squares!

How to do a knit stitch - knitting 101 tutorial with video

Soon I’ll be doing a video showing you how to do a basic bind off, which will enable you to start making your own completed knitting projects (a.k.a. “finished objects” in the knitting world). Isn’t that exciting? I’ll also share a design or two in the coming weeks featuring garter stitch so you guys have something to practice your knit stitches on that will actually turn into a for-real, usable, knit project! As always, let me know in the comments if you’re getting stuck or have any ideas for what you’d like to see next from Knewbies. Happy knitting!

Filed Under: Knitting 101 Tagged With: beginning knitting tutorial, how to do a knit stitch, how to knit, how to knit for beginners, knewbies, knitting 101

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a knitting, crochet and crafts designer. She first learned to knit at age 8 from a grandmother who saw in her a need for something to keep her busy. She's now a full time designer, video host, blogger & teacher. You can keep up with her designs and more by following handsoccupied on your favorite social network.

Previous Post: « Survey Results!
Next Post: Picks of the Week »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • Knewbies | How to PurlKnewbies | How to Purl
  • Knewbies | How to Bind OffKnewbies | How to Bind Off
  • Newbie Fringe Scarf PatternNewbie Fringe Scarf Pattern
  • Knewbies | Learn to Knit from Scratch!Knewbies | Learn to Knit from Scratch!

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Comments

  1. Beth

    February 12, 2015 at 5:43 am

    This is great — thanks so much for doing this! I already knew how to cast on, knit and purl, but I do have trouble with binding off, for some reason. Nice to hear the garter stitch is trendy. :)

    Reply
  2. Alycia

    February 15, 2015 at 7:20 pm

    I love your videos! I’m a total newbie to knitting (experienced in crochet) and I have a few questions! Can you explain how to count the # of rows you’ve done?

    And can you explain how to hold the yarn to give a nice tension? I seem to be naturally holding the yarn in my right palm (i’m a righty) but it feels loose to me.

    And as

    Reply
    • Heidi

      February 17, 2015 at 2:37 pm

      Sure thing! I’ll do future Knewbies posts on these – did you have another question besides the two listed?

      Reply
  3. Debbie Price

    February 16, 2015 at 8:35 pm

    I am going to knit up squares in different colours and hopefully make a small blanket. A girl can dream, right? Thanks for doing this for all of us who want to learn to knit. Being a knitting librarian is a great thing!
    Hugs,
    Deb

    Reply
  4. Amandine

    February 17, 2015 at 2:25 am

    You should check out the technique from Scandinavia! It’s much smoother and faster. Hold the yarn over your left hand’s second finger(next to your thumb) instead of leaving it hanging. This way you won’t have to let go with your right hand , you can just knit away –

    Reply
  5. Kaiti

    February 27, 2015 at 5:31 am

    I love this! I tried taking up knitting a couple of years ago and lost interest because I had a difficult time understanding my instructional books. I have been thinking about taking it up again recently. Your web site is fantastic, and the way you film your videos is super helpful. Looking forward to the next one!

    Reply
  6. Donna

    March 28, 2015 at 12:21 am

    Thank you so very much for the tutorials
    they are so very helpful and easy to follow. No even the classes I paid a quite hefty fee
    to participate in helped me as much as you have in these tutorials. Please continue on with the next stitches. I find knitting so relaxing and stress reliving. The classes made me very anxious.
    Donna W.
    Spanish Fort AL.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      March 28, 2015 at 6:22 pm

      Your comment just made my day! I’m doing more videos as I type, plus I’m doing tutorial videos with Blitsy.com this month and on an ongoing basis with allfreeknitting.com – let me know if you need help finding them. I love doing online teaching videos, especially when I hear great feedback like this. All best, Donna! -Heidi

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Amandine Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Heidi Gustad modeling the Intarsia Mountain afghanHi! I’m Heidi Gustad, a Knit & Crochet Designer obsessed with colorful knitting, crochet & yarn crafts. In this picture, I’m wearing my favorite vintage Norwegian sweater.
❤💛💙

work with heidi

SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL

& get 20% off in the shop!

Let’s be friends!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Ravelry
Stickeryou ad

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Yarn craft designer & blogger, partial to primary colors, vintage style, & most needlecrafts. ✂️ 🎙️Co-host, @seriouscrafts podcast.

Heidi Gustad 🧶💛🧵
Instagram post 18034073425224368 For those asking, here’s my Christmasy Soldotna from the front. ↩️ Full details on the blog, link in bio. 🎄🧶🎅🏼 #handmadewardrobe
Instagram post 18107597614079331 The Mini Rebel Sweater is now available on Ravelry (link in bio) and is being released along with the latest @fireflyfiberarts Fandom Fibers box! (Kits are exclusively available from Firefly btw!) Swipe to see all 8 sweaters designed for Fandom Fibers over the last couple years. #fandomfibers .
.
.

Between the mini fandom sweaters & the now-legendary hamster sweater story (thanks to sharing it on @seriouscrafts) - who’da thunk these would become such a thing? 🧶☺️❤️ Guess it’s just about time to make human-sized sweater patterns to, eh? #handsoccupied
Instagram post 17896375633420961 Christmas handmade sweater alert! 🎄 Head to the blog (link in bio) today to read about my Christmasy take on the Soldotna Crop sweater pattern by @boylandknitworks, including tips for customizing for fit! 📐 Yes, it’s okay to incorporate shaping in your knitwear, even on a sweater with positive ease. 😉❤️
Instagram post 17907716131385211 Feeling festive this fine weekend with my sidekick Storm. 🐩🎄❄️
Instagram post 18043011205209234 Happy weekend, everyone! There are several new faces today, so to you, I say welcome! 😊 I’m Heidi, the knitting, crochet and yarn crafts designer behind Hands Occupied. I’m based in Chicago, where I work out of a small studio space, the Hands Occupied Studio. Every week I host an open Craft Night and on the last Sunday of the month we have a Crafternoon. They’re all free and open to anyone who wants to hang out and craft with others (snacks are always welcome!). .
.

A little about me: I’m a knit and crochet pattern designer, but I’m really about all things string, from crochet to macramé. Lately I’ve been particularly obsessed with contemporary latch hook and punch needle trends. However, in my recent handmade wardrobe projects I’ve been drawn to everything vintage. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Funny how that works! 😆.
.

In addition to the blog, design work, and the Studio, I co-host the Very @seriouscrafts Podcast, a top 10-ranked crafts podcast heading into our third season in 2020! 🎙 That about covers it - thanks so much for indulging a long caption 🙏🏼 , and I’m so glad to have you here! ☺️❤️💛💙 #handsoccupied #veryseriouscrafts
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Good to Know

  • New here?
  • Collaborate
  • Policies
  • Press

Looking for something?

knitting-button crochet-button yarn-crafts-button free-button life-button inspiration-button knit-along-button knitting-101-button

Et Cetera



 

My Podcast

Very Serious Crafts - Subscribe Button

needles

Copyright © 2019 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy