Lesson 4

Knitting Techniques


Knit Stitch


A basic stitch in knitting, created by pulling a loop of yarn from the back of the fabric to the front through a previous stitch.


Left Hand Knit Stitch
Right Hand Knit Stich

View the video above and/or click on the + sign below to read and see pictures of how to knit stitch left handed.


  1. In the right hand, hold the needle with the stitches just cast on. The first stitch is held lightly by the index finger near the tip of the needle.



  2. With the left hand, hold the needle between the thumb and index finger, as if holding a pencil.



  3. Bring your hands close together. Adjust the yarn. Insert the needle into the front of the first stitch on the right needle from the right side.



  4. Steady the left needle against the forefinger of the right hand. Keep your yarn to the back of your work.



  5. Draw the yarn through the stitch.



  6. Slip the old stitch off the right needle, thus completing the first stitch. A new row is being formed on the left needle.



  7. Repeat steps 1 to 6 until all the stitches have been knitted off the left needle. Now you have knitted one row.

  8. Transfer the needle with the stitches into the right hand.

  9. The empty needle is in the left hand. The yarn is over the first finger, under the second, over the third, and under the fourth above the middle joint.



In the plain knitting the yarn is at the back of the work and the needle is inserted in the front of the stitch from the right side.

View the video above and/or click on the + sign below to read and see pictures of how to knit stitch right handed.


  1. In the left hand, hold the needle with the stitches just cast on. The first stitch is held lightly by the index finger near the tip of the needle.



  2. With the right hand, hold the needle between the thumb and index finger, as if holding a pencil.



  3. Bring your hands close together. Adjust the yarn. Insert the needle into the front of the first stitch on the left needle from the left side.



  4. Steady the right needle against the forefinger of the left hand. Keep your yarn to the back of your work.



  5. Draw the yarn through the stitch.



  6. Slip the old stitch off the left needle, thus completing the first stitch. A new row is being formed on the right needle.



  7. Repeat steps 1 to 6 until all the stitches have been knitted off the left needle. Now you have knitted one row.

  8. Transfer the needle with the stitches into the left hand.

  9. The empty needle is in the right hand. The yarn is over the first finger, under the second, over the third, and under the fourth above the middle joint.



In the plain knitting the yarn is at the back of the work and the needle is inserted in the front of the stitch from the left side.