Free Online Knitting Tutorials for Beginners

In my last knitting article I showed you where you could find free knitting patterns online. If you aren't lucky enough to know someone who can teach you how to knit, this article should save you hours of searching for an online knitting tutorial video. Learning how to knit can be confusing at first because there are so many knitting terms you need to get familiar with. This guide is to help you learn the basics of knitting such as casting on and off, knitting and purling. This is all you need to make a scarf, the easiest item anyone can knit.

Before you start learning the basics of knitting you will need 2 knitting needles and a ball of yarn. Try and get some knitting yarn that is not too fancy but thick enough (the thicker it is, the quicker your scarf will be finished), and in a plain light colour as this makes it easier to see the stitches you have made. The size of needles you need for the yarn you choose should be written on the pack but I would recommend asking the shop assistant for advice.

If you want to learn how to knit the first thing you need to know is how to cast stitches. Casting on stitches is the action of putting the first row of stitches on the needle before you can start knitting more rows. The method I have always used is the easiest to learn, called the wrap cast on method and you can take a look at it on this photographic tutorial but if you want a more secure way to cast on stitches you can also do it using the slip knot cast on method which I have just discovered and will adopt from now on; take a look at this online knitting tutorial video that explains how to cast stitches on one needle using the slip knot cast on method.

The next step in learning how to knit online is after you have cast enough stitches to obtain the required width on your work, you will need to knit those stitches in order to make it longer. Each line of knitting is called a row. You can knit a row in knit stitch, in purl stitch or in a mixture of both stitches. In the French language the knit stitch is called "maille à l'endroit" which means literally "stitch in place" and a purl stitch is called "maille à l'envers" meaning "stitch in reverse". Most knitting patterns you will find online are a mixture of knits and purls and when you are a more advanced knitter you can make up your own.

I found an excellent online knitting tutorial video explaining how to knit stitch; you don't have to use oversized needles like in the video but it does make your knitting quicker so you can use them if you want to knit something thick like a scarf or a blanket.

When you are comfortable doing the knit stitch, you should learn how to purl. Here is an online knitting tutorial video for learning how to knit the purl stitch. this is all you need to learn for basic knitting of a straight shaped item such as a scarf. Now all you need to learn is how to safely take out the needles without losing all your stitches.

Casting off is the term used for finishing a piece of knitting. You can cast off in knit stitch, purl stitch or in a mixture of both; you would usually cast off your stitches the same way that you would knit them if you had to continue on to an extra row. Here is an online knitting tutorial video showing you how to cast off. The second method in this video looks a bit complicated but if you are familiar with crochet it might look more appealing to you.

If you are just beginning to knit and are looking for some ideas of simple items to knit, how about knitting a scarf for a loved one this Christmas? This will be a much appreciated gift and a unique way for someone to think of you whenever they are wearing it.