Knitting for Beginners: Step-by-Step Guide

1. What materials and tools are needed to learn how to knit?
2. Learning to knit from scratch
   Set of loops
3. What is an edge stitch with knitting needles? How to knit edge stitches with knitting needles?
4. Face loops: ways to knit a face loop with knitting needles
5. Purl loops with knitting needles: ways to knit a purl loop with knitting needles
6. Simple knitting patterns from knit and purl stitches
   Elastic band 1x1
7. Elastic band 2x2
8. Facial surface. How to knit stockinette stitch?
9. Purl stitch. How to knit purl stitch with knitting needles?
10. Garter stitch
11. Knitting patterns for beginners with detailed descriptions
    Knitted hat and scarf set
12. Hat and scarf set with pompom
13. Striped open back top

Determining the size of the future sweater

The size of the product will dictate to us the number of loops that need to be cast on and the total amount of work on individual parts of the sweater. The size of the sweater is determined based on the measurement - chest circumference.

How to measure chest circumference

1. To measure we will need a measuring tape. If there is no such thing, then you can take the braid, take measurements, and then attach it to a ruler or tape measure.
2. You can take measurements yourself, but then you need to be very careful that the tape does not slip off your back. It is better to ask someone for help in this matter, so the results will be more accurate.
3. For women, it is better to take measurements in a bra, since the finished product will be worn exactly on it.
4. Wrap the measuring tape around your chest so that it goes under your armpits and is horizontal to the floor. The tape should be positioned so that the starting point begins in the center of the chest, and it covers the widest part of it.
5. Do not puff out your chest or take a deep breath or exhale. Remember to ensure that the tape does not twist. All this can distort the measurement results.

Converting bust size to product size

• XS (extra small): 81 cm
• S (small): 91 cm
• M (medium): 102 cm
• L (large): 112 cm
• XL (extra large): 122 cm
• XXL (super large): 132 cm

Choose what to shoot with

You won’t be able to get a nice-looking video on an old phone, so make sure you buy a camera or smartphone with a good camera. Both options have both their advantages and disadvantages.

Smartphone

pros

• Nice price
• Compact
• Easy to use

Minuses

• Low quality (low detail, color rendition, noise)

Camera

pros

• High color rendering
• High detail
• Replaceable optics

Minuses

• Price

To help you understand the difference between video shot on a smartphone and on a camera, compare the following two examples.

As you can see, the first video is less clear, while the second one wins in terms of color rendition and detail. The first looks “flat”, while in the second, we see the hands of the craftswoman in focus, and the background is neatly blurred. Therefore, I recommend that all craftsmen consider purchasing a camera.

If you choose a camera, then:

• Give preference to a camera with a rotating screen. With its help it is convenient to monitor what is happening in the frame.
• Connect your camera to your laptop or computer and download a program that allows you to adjust image settings from your device.

If you are wondering which cameras are best for shooting video, then read the detailed review on our website. There are models for every budget.

Required tools and materials

• Yarn - here it is important to correctly determine the number of skeins required to make the product. The amount of yarn is determined based on the size of the intended sweater.

XS: 3 skeins

S: 4 skeins

M: 4 skeins

L: 5 skeins

XL: 5 skeins

XXL: 5 skeins;

• Knitting needles - everything is simple here, you need to choose the right size knitting needles for the product you are going to knit;

• Scissors;
• Yarn needle with a blunt tip and a wide eye;

• A row counter is an indispensable thing for a beginner, because in the first couples it is difficult not only to distinguish rows, but also to simply knit stitches;

• Pins for locking loops are a necessary thing if, during the knitting process, it becomes necessary to close loops in vulnerable areas of the product. If you cover such places with an additional knitting needle, it can simply fly off and add a lot of trouble to the needlewoman.

Properly light your work area

Shooting under a household lamp has a number of disadvantages. Firstly, it gives very contrasty shadows, which looks bad when the hands are shot at close range. Here are alternatives that will help solve this problem.

Compact LED ring light . Such a device softly illuminates the surface without leaving deep shadows. Typically, the warmth and brightness of the lighting can be adjusted. There are models that come complete with a phone holder, as well as a floor or tabletop tripod and cost from 800 rubles. The ball head of the tripod allows you to position it at any angle relative to the working surface.

LED panel . It must be used with a diffuser - a special material that is installed on the front side of the panel, covers the LEDs and softly diffuses the light. There are small panels that can be mounted on the same Octopus tripod and placed on a table. There are modifications that use batteries, so you don’t have to worry about access to an outlet. Such devices are bought in pairs to illuminate the work surface from different sides.

Loop calculation

To calculate the density, you need to knit a small piece of the pattern that you have chosen for the sweater, measuring 10x10 cm. Thus, we get a sample that needs to be steamed with an iron or washed and dried in order to understand the final shape and appearance of the product. Then you need to measure how many loops/rows you get in 1 cm of the sample. Based on these data, it is already possible to calculate the number of loops for a product of a certain width.

On the website of the fair of masters - https://www.livemaster.ru/ we found another interesting formula for calculating loops for a sweater, published by the user ODemi - handmade with Soul.

• The craftswoman suggests knitting a small sample (10x10 cm or less).
• She counts how many loops there are in 1 cm and 5 cm.

• Based on the obtained numbers, using proportions, she calculates how many loops need to be cast on for a product with a width of 55 cm. Thus, 2 values ​​are obtained.

• It is also calculated how many loops are contained in 1 cm and 5 cm. But this calculation differs in that the craftswoman stretches the product a little, exactly in the way it will be worn. There is a slight tension in the threads of a sweater when we put it on.

In this case, it is important not to overdo it with stretching the sample. Just imagine how the threads of the product will be stretched when it is put on a person.

• Based on the obtained values, using the proportion, she calculates how many loops need to be cast on, for example, for a work with a width of 55 cm. Again, 2 values ​​are obtained.

• It calculates the arithmetic mean between the 4 obtained values.

(110 + 99 + 83 + 77) : 4 = 92 p.

• The resulting number is slightly adjusted: for example, 92 stitches + 2 edge stitches.

This is a scientific approach to knitting. Share in the comments, did you manage to calculate the required number of loops this way?

Start with a script

Often in handicraft videos we come across phrases: “I don’t even know what else to add”, “I forgot what else I wanted to say”, “uh ..”, etc. What emotions do such statements evoke in viewers? Mistrust? Boredom?

A pre-thought-out scenario will help you get rid of this. Take a sheet and divide it into two parts. On the left, write everything you say, and on the right, everything that will happen on the screen at that moment. This will organize your content, make your video consistent, and you will deliver everything you intended to your subscribers.

It’s worth leaving personal stories for a special section on YouTube - a vlog. If followers want to know more about your life, they will find them there. Also, don't make a long (more than 5 seconds) introduction with endless greetings and introductions. Showcase the final result and get straight to the point. Here's an example of a good introduction.

Pattern selection

Before you start knitting, you need to choose a pattern for the future product. Beginners are not recommended to rush headlong into the pool and try to master the most complex and technical patterns. It's worth starting with garter stitch, which is knitted with facial stitches.

Video tutorial on garter stitch

Here are a few variations of simple patterns that will definitely suit beginner needlewomen.

Checkers pattern

The most popular and universal pattern.

Knitting pattern for the "Checkers" pattern

Legend:

+ Edge loop

⬤ Face loop

☐ Purl type loop

Pattern "Spikelets"

Due to the specific pattern, the items will look narrow and may even be a little tight.

Knitting pattern for the “Spikelets” pattern

Legend:

+ Edge loop

⬤ Face loop

☐ Purl type loop

"Rhombus" pattern

At first glance it may seem quite complicated, but in reality this pattern uses a knit and purl variation. Traditionally used for knitting men's clothing.

Knitting pattern for the "Rhombus" pattern

Legend:

+ Edge loop

⬤ Face loop

☐ Purl type loop

Lightning Pattern

The difficulty with this pattern lies in the transfer of the knit stitches, so a small step is needed to shift the pattern.

Knitting pattern for the "Lightning" pattern

Legend:

l – front

- - purl

"Rice" pattern

An alternative name for the pattern is “tangle” or “pearl”. Below is a diagram of a small pattern.

Knitting pattern for the “Rice” pattern with symbols

Elastic band 1x1

The video explains in detail how the process of creating a 1x1 elastic band occurs. Which we will need in one of the sweater knitting patterns.

Video tutorial on knitting elastic 1x1

How to knit an elastic band with knitting needles?

This is the most popular type of knitting, without which no job can be completed. It involves alternating two types of knitting: front and back, 1, 2, or 3 loops of each option. It is used to process necklines and sleeves.

We cast on the number of loops we need, as we learned to do earlier, slip the first loop without knitting onto a free knitting needle, and with the second loop we knit two knit stitches, then two purl stitches and continue alternating them until the end of the row, the last stitch is always a purl stitch, regardless of the pattern.

Simple patterns for knitting sweaters

We have selected two simple schemes for you. The first is a simple oversized women's sweater, the second is a simple men's sweater that every novice needlewoman can handle.

Simple oversized women's sweater

Women's sweater without knitting the armhole. Source

Tools and materials

1. Bulky yarn
2. Knitting needles number 6 or 7

Pattern for a women's sweater

Knitting the back

It is better to start knitting a women's sweater from the back. If you make a mistake with the size, and the risk is high, if you are a beginner, then the front part can be made a little wider for the chest.

1. Cast on 52 loops on the knitting needles - 50 loops will go into the fabric, and 2 loops are edge loops, which are never included in the calculations of knitting the fabric with knitting needles.
2. Knit the first row with a 1x1 elastic band (knit 1 loop, purl 1 loop). Continue in this alternating manner to the end of the row.
3. Turn the product over and continue knitting the elastic using the “pattern” method. If you have an even number of loops, you will end up with the second row starting with a purl stitch. Knit 7-9 rows with an elastic band.
4. Start knitting the main fabric from the front row - the front row “looks” at you. Start knitting the back to the height of the shoulder line (not reaching 3 cm), only with knit stitches - this is how you get a garter stitch.
5. Beginning needlewomen should not spend a lot of time knitting armholes - this will make it difficult and a little confusing. Make your first sweater by knitting with the sleeves dropped.
6. Having reached the shoulder line, start knitting the neckline. To do this, knit 15 loops on the front side with knit stitches, bind off 20 loops, knit the remaining 15 loops. Now you will knit the shoulders separately, but do not slip the stitches on the auxiliary needles. Turn the work over, knit 12 loops - the last 3 are “removed” by knitting 2 loops together according to the pattern. Turn the work over again and knit another row of 12 loops. Close the loops if you already have 3 cm for the neck. Attach the thread to the edge of the second shoulder and make a symmetrical decrease, bind off the loops, tear off the thread.

Knitting before

If necessary, the front can be made slightly wider than the back (if the chest size is greater than 3). Knitting should begin in the same way as the back, but 5 cm is not knitted to the edge of the shoulders - so that you can knit the neck.

Changes in loop calculations

1. Knit 19 stitches, cast off 12 stitches, knit the remaining 19 stitches.
2. Turn the work over and knit a row with 15 loops.
3. Turn the work over again, bind off 3 loops, knit 12 loops - so knit 5 cm of the neckline.
4. Similarly, symmetrically tie the second part of the front.

Knitting a sleeve

This model is knitted without knitting the armhole, due to which the sleeves are lowered and the style resembles oversized clothing. In this option, after finishing knitting, you just need to close the loops.

Subsequence

1. Cast on 24 loops and knit the same 7 or 9 rows with a 1x1 elastic band.
2. Now move on to the main knitting, increasing the loops in every 4th row - increase in the front rows to make the increases unnoticeable.
3. It is better to increase by pulling an additional loop from the previous row. You can use other methods of adding loops, but it is better to do it unnoticed.
4. The main pattern will have to knit approximately 30 rows. Taking into account the addition of loops after and before the edge stitch, the result should be 38-42 loops.
5. Close the loops.
6. Knit the second sleeve in the same way.

Assembly and strapping

Take your time to connect the sweater pieces together. To begin with, it is recommended to soak them in water, and then dry them on a towel. Then the parts can be sewn together in any convenient way.

1. The shoulder seams are sewn first.
2. Then the sleeves are sewn on.
3. Next, the side seams are made.
4. At the end, all seams must be ironed.

If the sweater is the size you originally intended (this pattern is designed for clothing size 46), then it’s time to start tying the neckline.

1. Using circular knitting needles, begin pulling the sweater neck loops from the middle of the back.
2. Gently pull the stitches onto the needles. Make sure there are an even number of them.
3. Knit the binding with a 1x1 elastic band (7-9 rows will be required).
4. When knitting the neckline, there is no need to reduce the number of loops - the elastic band is elastic, so the collar zone bandage will fit properly on the neck.

Simple men's sweater

Men's striped sweater. Source

Sweater sizes

48/50 (52/54) 56/58

Tools and materials

• Yarn (100% section-dyed sheep wool; 100 m/50 g) 650 (700) 750 g;
• Knitting needles No. 5;
• Circular knitting needles No. 5, 50 cm long.

Basic pattern

Alternately - 4 knits, 2 purls.

Knitting density

16 p. x 22 r. = 10 x 10 cm.

Pattern for a men's sweater

Knitting the back

1. Cast on 90 (96) 102 stitches on knitting needles and knit as follows: edge, 1 purl, 14 (15) 16 x 6 stitches each with the main pattern, 1 purl, edge.
2. After 45 (46) 47 cm = 98 (100) 102 r. from the initial row, close on both sides for armholes 2 (3) 4 p., then in every 2nd p. 1 x 2 p. and 3 (4) 6 x 1 p. = 76 (80) 84 p.
3. At armhole height 21 (22) 23 cm = 46 (48) 50 r. close for shoulder bevel in every 2nd r. 2 x 6 (7) 8 p.
4. Simultaneously with the first decrease for the shoulder bevel, close off the middle 32 stitches for the neckline, then knit both sides separately.
5. Along the inner edge for further rounding, close in every 2nd r. 3 x 1 p., then bind off the remaining 7 p.
6. Finish the other side in a mirror image.

Knitting before

1. Cast on 90 (96) 102 stitches on knitting needles and knit as follows: edge, 1 purl, 14 (15) 16 x 6 stitches each with the main pattern, 1 purl, edge. Next, knit like the back, but with a deeper neckline.
2. To do this, at an armhole height of 17 cm = 38 r. bind off the middle 26 sts, then knit both sides separately.
3. Close along the inner edge for rounding in every 2nd r. 6 x 1 p.
4. Start performing the shoulder bevel at the same height as on the back.
5. Finish the other side in a mirror image.

Knitting sleeves

1. Cast on 42 (48) 54 stitches on the knitting needles for each sleeve and knit as follows: edge stitch, purl 2, 6 (7) 8 x 6 stitches each with the main pattern, purl 2, edge stitch.
2. For bevels, add on both sides every 6th r. 5 x 1 p., in every 8th r. 5 x 1 p. = 62 (68) 74 p. Include increases on both sides in the pattern.
3. After 47 (48) 49 cm = 104 (106) 108 r. from the initial row, close the sleeves on both sides for piping 2 (3) 4 p., then in every 2nd p. 1 x 2 p., 4 x 1 p., 1 (2) 3 x 2 p., 2 x 3 p. and 2 x 4 p.
4. In the next row, bind off the remaining 14 sts.

Assembly and strapping

1. Moisten the parts, stretch them according to the dimensions indicated in the pattern, pin them onto the pattern and leave until completely dry.
2. Sew shoulder seams.
3. Using circular knitting needles, cast on 74 (80) 86 stitches along the edge of the neckline and knit with the main pattern 20 (21) 22 cm = 44 (46) 48 stitches, close the loops loosely.
4. Sew side seams and sleeve seams, sew in sleeves.

Share in the comments, did you manage to knit your first sweater following the recommendations from our article? Did you like the knitting patterns we have selected here? Or maybe you are interested in a specific sweater model, but you didn’t find it on our website? Then definitely leave your wishes in the comments, and we will try to find the right scheme for you.

Footnotes

1. https://raikovstudio.ru[]
2. https://mysekret.ru[]

Pick a microphone

Sound is the second thing (after lighting) that can greatly improve the quality of your videos. Many housewives like to listen to “handicraft” videos in the background while doing household chores, so your video should have high-quality sound. Here are some inexpensive devices that will help you with this.

Lavalier microphone - attached to clothing close to the mouth, which means it does not record extraneous sounds. A special foam windscreen will muffle plosive consonants like “b” and “p”, exhaled air and make the audio much softer and more pleasant. The main thing is to make sure that it does not rub against your clothes. There are both wired and wireless models.

On-camera microphone - gives a rich and juicy sound. It attaches directly to the camera or smartphone and records sound in front of you, and ignores all other sounds almost completely - keep this in mind when positioning the camera.

Take care of the background

If you remove the work surface, the table should be neat (without scratches or dents), the tablecloth or napkin on it should not reflect or glare. A convenient option is to buy a large laminated floor panel at a hardware store and place it on a regular table. It seems that in the next video the author did just that, and it turned out great.

If you are filming yourself, then you also need to choose the right location. Here are the basic rules:

• The background should not be distracting: make sure that there is no plant with branches sticking out to the sides or a working TV behind your head
• You should not take pictures of yourself against the backdrop of a window, because... During the day, it is a source of backlight and such photography may require additional lighting.
• If you're using a studio backdrop or filming yourself in front of a wall, move further away from them to separate yourself and add dimension to the image.
• You can also film yourself against the backdrop of an entire room. In this case, add some unique details to the interior that will tell a little more about you and your channel. Here's a good example.

Create content regularly

YouTube rewards bloggers who produce content regularly. Therefore, if you decide to get serious about your channel and attract an audience, release videos several times a week (preferably at the same time). Keep track of how much time it takes you to record one video, and create a thematic schedule that you will adhere to in the future.

If you don’t have the opportunity to create new creations as often, then make videos on other topics related to your hobby. Here are 11 topics that you can make a video on instead of another lesson or master class.

• Top 10 mistakes when knitting/sewing...
• Is it possible to make money from my hobby?
• The evolution of my works
• How I started knitting/sewing...
• 5 Best Soap Recipes/Crochet Patterns...
• Best embroidery/knitting tools…
• 6 Crochet/Embroidery Tricks...
• Where do I get inspiration
• Answers to subscribers' questions
• The most unusual works
• My failures