The knit stitch is the basic stitch of knitting: with this one stitch alone you can make scarves, blankets and hats. In this video we show you how to work it step by step, how to enter the stitch correctly and how to keep an even tension from the very beginning.
How to knit the knit stitch, step by step
- Hold the needles. The needle with the stitches in your left hand, the empty needle in your right. The working yarn sits behind the work.
- Enter the stitch. Insert the right needle into the first stitch from left to right, in front of the left needle.
- Wrap the yarn. Take the yarn around the right needle, from back to front.
- Draw the new stitch through. Pull that wrap through the old stitch.
- Drop the old stitch. Let it slide off the left needle. You have knitted one stitch.
Common mistakes
- Yarn held in front. If the yarn sits in front of the work, you create an extra wrap and end up with holes.
- Twisted stitches. This happens when you enter through the back leg. Check that the right leg of the stitch sits in front of the needle.
- Uneven tension. Normal at first. Knit several rows without stopping and your hands find the rhythm on their own.
Frequently asked questions
What do I get if I only knit every stitch?
You get garter stitch: reversible, stretchy and it doesn’t curl at the edges. It’s the ideal fabric for a beginner scarf.
Why are my stitches so tight?
Usually from tugging the yarn after every stitch. Let the yarn run, and go up half a needle size if you need to.
English or continental style?
Both produce the same stitch — only the way you hold the yarn changes. Start with whichever feels more comfortable.
What we used in the video
BeMe yarn by The Woolcatcher and circular needles. Browse the full natural yarn collection.
