What is Knitting? A Beginners Guide

At its essence, answering the question ‘what is knitting’ is easy. Knitting involves interconnecting loops of wool to craft fabrics, clothes, and an array of creative wonders. But it’s far more than just needles and wool. Knitting is an age-old practice of patience and precision, and, for many, an escape from the frenetic pace of modern life. In this article, we’ll give you some beginner knitting tips to get you started on your journey.

Whether you’ve borrowed a cosy hand-knitted scarf on a winter’s day, admired the intricate designs of a unique jumper, or are simply seeking a new craft to delve into, this guide is your portal into the serene world of knitting for beginners. Welcome to the tapestry of loops, stitches, and boundless creativity.

From the Old English word cnyttan, meaning to knot, the history of knitting is mired in conjecture and is debated among textile historians. It’s believed that some of the earliest surviving examples of a rudimentary form of knitting are indeed socks from the historic city of Fustat in Egypt, now a suburb of Cairo. They’re notable for their intricate colour patterns and have been dated to somewhere between the tenth and fourteenth centuries.

It seems that people generally began to learn to knit, at least the type of knitting we might recognise today, in the early fifteenth century. Commercial knitting guilds were set up in western Europe, and in 1473 a Margaret Yeo of London described her occupation as ‘cap knitter’.

The first mechanised knitting machines were built in the early nineteenth century and textile factories specialising in knitwear were commonplace by the 1870s.

Today, knitting is a popular hobby enjoyed by millions of people of all ages around the world.

Knitting for beginners doesn’t require much equipment or a large financial outlay. In fact all you need to get started with knitting is a couple of balls of wool, a pair of knitting needles, a tape measure and a pair of scissors.

For beginners, it’s generally recommended that single-point 4mm to 5mm needles made of wood or bamboo are a good place to start, as they offer a good grip on the wool, preventing it from sliding off too easily. They’re also lightweight and warm to the touch. However, plastic and metal needles are also common and might be preferred by some because they allow for faster knitting once you get the hang of it.

When you start to learn to knit, pure wool can be a bit scratchy so a medium-weight worsted or aran wool-acrylic blend may be a good option, but it’s all about personal preference.

One of the beginner knitting tips that’s most helpful at the outset of your creative journey is to start with a light coloured wool. It can make it easier to see and understand your stitches. Dark wool can sometimes obscure stitch definition.

When you decide you want to learn to knit, the two stitches you’re going to need to know are the knit stitch and the purl stitch.

Virtually all knitting patterns are derived from these two basic stitches or a combination of both. Mastering both the knit and purl stitches provides a solid foundation and allows you to create a wide range of textures and patterns.

Once you’re comfortable with the knit and purl stitches, you can explore more advanced techniques and stitch combinations over and above these beginner knitting tips, expanding the variety and complexity of your projects.

The Knit Stitch

There are lots of options and reference books which provide guides to learn to knit, but here’s a basic description of the knit stitch to get you started –

Step 1

Create a slip knot and cast on the required number of stitches.

Step 2

Insert the right needle into the front of the first stitch on the left needle, from left to right.

Step 3

With your right hand, wrap the yarn around the right needle from back to front

Step 4

Pull the right needle (with the yarn looped around it) back through the stitch, creating a new loop on the right needle.

Step 5

Slide the old stitch off the left needle. The new stitch is now on the right needle.

The Purl Stitch

As with the knit stitch, here are the basic steps you need to create the purl stitch –

Step 1

Create a slip knot and cast on the required number of stitches.

Step 2

Insert the right needle into the front of the first stitch on the left needle, from right to left (opposite direction from the knit stitch).

Step 3

With your right hand, wrap the yarn around the right needle from front to back.

Step 4

Pull the right needle (with the yarn looped around it) back through the stitch, creating a new loop on the right needle.

Step 5

Slide the old stitch off the left needle. The new stitch is now on the right needle.

The key difference between the two is primarily the direction in which you insert the needle and wrap the yarn. With practice, these motions become fluid and automatic.

Remember, practice makes perfect, so if you’re just answering the question ‘what is knitting’, it may take a while to get the hang of it!

The journey into the realm of knitting for beginners is filled with the joy of creation, the soothing rhythm of needles clicking together, and the tactile pleasure of yarn running through your fingers.

As your skills flourish, you’ll uncover the immense satisfaction that comes from crafting something with your own two hands, be it a snug scarf to shield against winter’s chill, a cosy blanket to drape over your couch, or intricate garments that become cherished heirlooms.

Beyond the practical, knitting provides a retreat from the bustle of daily life, allowing a space to relax. From simple scarves to elaborate sweaters, from dainty baby booties to ornate lace shawls, the possibilities are as limitless as your imagination.

Remember that every knitter starts with a single stitch, and every piece, no matter how intricate, begins with these beginner knitting tips.