6 Beginner Knitting Stitches to Know
Taking up knitting can be daunting, especially when your pattern has unknown abbreviations such as K, P and Rep scattered throughout. Luckily, by mastering these starter knitting stitches, you will soon be producing simple knitted items.
1. Garter Stitch
Knit (K) every row so that both sides of your fabric look the same. Cast on your stitches then insert the right needle through the first stitch, pointing away from you. Wrap the yarn around the needle and slide the loop onto the right needle. Repeat (Rep) until all stitches have transferred across, then swap the full needle to your left hand and keep going.
2. Stocking Stitch
Alternate knit and purl (P) stitches on each row, knitting odd rows and purling even ones. To purl, slide your right needle into the stitch from the back, wrap the yarn around the front of the needle and slide the loop across.
3. Reverse Stocking Stitch
As the name suggests, knit the even rows and purl the odd ones.
4. Moss Stitch
Alternate knit and purl stitches on each row, starting with two knits, purl, knit and so on until the end two stitches, which are both knitted. On subsequent rows, knit the purls and purl the knits to create a bumpy texture.
5. Double Moss Stitch
Repeat the first four rows to create a pattern. Start row 1 with two knits, then alternate purl and knit until knitting the final two stitches. On the second and fourth rows, knit the knits and purl the purls. On row 3, alternate knit and purl, starting with purl.
6. 1×1 Rib Stitch
Rib stitch follows a simple pattern of two knit stitches, then alternating purl and knit stitches until the final two, which are knitted. For all other rows, knit the knits and purl the purls.
It is easier to start by using super chunky yarn, like that seen at https://www.woolcouturecompany.com/collections/super-chunky-yarn, as the piece will progress quicker, giving you a sense of satisfaction.
Don’t worry if you don’t get it right straight away. Persevere and play with it and you will soon be producing masterpieces.