The most fundamental knitting stitch is, of course, the knit stitch. Step by step instructions are available for beginners and those who need a refresher.
Knitting is impossible without the knit stitch, of course. Grab a pair of knitting needles and a skein of worsted weight yarn to learn, practice, or refresh this stitch.
Supplies Used
For illustration purposes, the photographs show the use of size 9 knitting needles and a cotton worsted weight (size 4) yarn. A long-tail cast-on of seven has been done, three knits have already been completed and are shown on the right needle, and a knit stitch is about to be made in the fourth cast-on stitch.
Instructions
In this case, the English (or throw) method is illustrated. The Continental Style is also very popular, but while learning the stitch, choose one and stick with it. Either way gets the same result.
Place the right needle knit-wise into the cast-on stitch, as shown in Figure 1. Make sure the needle is inserted under (behind) the left needle and is coming into it from the left. This is sometimes referred to as “slipping the stitch knit-wise.”
Wrap the working yarn around the right needle, as shown in Figure 2. Take care that the yarn is coming in from the back and isn’t twisted anywhere. It should be wrapped around the needle from the back and around from the left. Continue wrapping the yarn from the left to the right over the right needle. Then, pull down on the yarn so it continues on the right side under the left needle.
Figure 3 illustrates what the stitch should look like after executing the previous steps. The yarn was pulled down behind the left needle, and should now be held straight and parallel to the right needle. A new stitch is being made near the point of the right needle. While holding the yarn next to the right needle, gently pull the right needle back a bit and under the newly forming stitch. Insert the tip of the right needle there, and push it forward over the left needle.
Once the right needle has been fully extended over the left needle, move the right needle to the right and slip the stitch off. The new knit stitch should be on the right needle, as pictured in Figure 4.
When to Use the Knit Stitch
As expected, the knit stitch is used constantly in knitting. Once a cast-on is complete, knit stitches can be made at any time. Sometimes, a pattern will call for it (the abbreviation is K, or “knit” will simply be spelled out.) Other times, designers use it whenever they want. Whatever the case, the knit stitch is done the same way every time.
More Help
For more help with knitting, visit the knitting videos at Knitting Help. KnittingHelp.com is an excellent resource for all things knitting. To move on to purling, take a look at "The Purl Stitch."
