How to Knit Basic Knit Stitch

Every knitter's journey starts with a foundation stitch, a knit, whether you want to design dishcloths or scarves. It will become a more special and emotional journey for beginners when they pick their knitting needles and start making designs with the basic knit stitch. Your first experience would be learning and enjoyable, too. So, let's explore the basic knit stitch and start making some creative projects right away in our blog.

Basic Knit Stitch - First Knitting Stage

Knit stitch is a foundation of many creative patterns, so understanding and knowing it will make your journey smooth and enjoyable. When working in rows, it produces stretchy, textured fabric, which is known as garter stitch. It serves as a foundation for many knitting patterns and even for the complex ones. Once you become confident in handling the knit stitch, which means you can easily control the yarn and work with any knitting needle size.

Step-by-Step: Learn Knit Stitch 

After gathering all your knitting accessories and materials, let's begin the process:

Step 1: Start with a popular Cast-on Stitch

Before you begin your project, first, you need to place the stitches on your circular knitting needles or straight ones. You can try the simple long-tail cast-on method.

1. First, measure a yarn tail about 12 inches long.
2. Now, make a slip knot and place that on the needles.
3. Hold the yarn tail in the left hand and the working yarn in the right hand.
4. Loop the yarn over your thumb and index finger, now scoop up the yarn from the thumb and then the index finger.
5. At last, pull the loop through and tighten it gently.
6. Let's begin with 20 cast-on stitches.

Step 2: Hold your knitting needles

Make sure you hold the needles with stitches in the left hand and empty one in the right.

1. Now, start by bringing the working yarn to the front.
2. Your hands must be relaxed and not too tight.

Step 3: Insert the Right Knitting Needle

Let's make your first knit stitch.

1. Insert the right-hand needle from the front to the back through the first stitch on the left-hand.
2. You will see an 'x' formation on your left knitting needle.

Step 4:  Wrap the yarn

1. Take the yarn that is attached to the working yarn, wrap it around the right needle counterclockwise.

Step 5: Pull the Yarn through

1. Now, using the right needle, pull the wrapped yarn through the stitch, and you get a new loop.

Step 6: Slip off the old Stitch

1. The next step is to slide the old stitch from the left needle as you have made a new stitch on the right hand.

Step 7: Turn Your Work

1. Make the next stitch by turning your work; now, your right-hand needle is on the left-hand side with a full stitch.
2. Continue the steps from 3-6. If you are making a gauge swatch, check the length needed.

Now, practicing the stitch regularly, and at the end, you get a garter stitch, a stretchy and bumpy texture.

Tips and suggestions for knitting knit stitches

Follow these points that will help in learning knit stitches:

1. It is important to identify any errors at the beginning, otherwise, you might have to unravel your creation. So keep checking your pattern regularly.
2. Relax your hands, let the yarn flow easily, and avoid pulling it too tightly.
3. Suppose you accidentally drop the stitch. Don't panic; you can use a repair or crochet hook to fix this issue.
4. In case you add an extra stitch, use stitch markers that help to track the rows.
5. Maintaining a consistent tension is every knitter's dream because inconsistent tension results in uneven stitches, which make your project unprofessional.

Now you can confidently knit your first knit stitch after following the above steps. We recommend you don't rush as a beginner; instead, understand the yarn's texture, practice holding the yarn correctly, enjoy the rhythm of the needles, and the joy of seeing how your fabric comes to life. 

Do you know, you will enjoy every stage in your knitting journey? It will become more joyful, worthwhile, and inspirational, too, with Lantern Moon's luxurious collection of handcrafted knitting accessories and needles, which includes stitch markers and finishing needles.

Let's begin with the cast-on stitches with confidence; it doesn't matter whether you use double pointed knitting needles or circular ones. Allow your hands to produce a cozy, amazing, and completely unique masterpiece.