1) Learn to Knit Garter Stitch

Pre-requisite Skills: none

New Skills:

cast on (CO)

knit stitch (k)

bind off (BO)

weave in ends

Introduction:

There are many different ways of holding the needles and the yarn that originated in different parts of the world. No matter which way you hold the needles and the yarn, you end up with the same fabric.

If you have a guide, follow whatever style they do. This will make learning significantly easier.

If you are the guide, teach them your style. This will make teaching significantly easier.

If you are learning on your own, follow the link below to see a visual of the different styles. The two most common styles I see used are English knitting and Continental knitting and these are the styles for which I will provide links throughout the series.

Knitting Help - What’s Your Knitting Style? by VeryPink Knits

In the English style the working yarn is held in the right hand. This style is more common in the United Kingdom and Ireland, USA, and the Commonwealth. It can be easier to find YouTube tutorials in English that use this style. For continental knitting the working yarn is held in the left hand. It can be easier for people who are left-handed, and is on average faster than English knitting once you’ve mastered the style. While there are fewer YouTube tutorials in English that use this style you can simply add “continental” to your search terms to find resources.

In this pattern, you will learn to knit garter stitch, which is a texture made by knitting every row. Garter stitch creates a very textured, squishy fabric that wants to lie flat. It is the most basic of knitting textures and is used frequently in projects.

Skills:

Knitted Cast On: Casting on is what we call all the methods used for getting the first stitches on the needles. There are many different kinds. A knitted cast on is great for beginners because it is very similar to the knit stitch and creates a sturdy starting edge for your project

Knit Stitch: The most fundamental stitch in knitting. It creates “v” shapes that nestle inside each other in columns and bump against each other in rows. If you look at a t-shirt you will see very tiny little v’s because t-shirts are made from a knitted fabric.

Bind Off: Binding off is what we call the process of getting the stitches off the needles so that the project doesn’t unravel and can be used. There are many methods of binding off, but for this project the standard bind off works.

Counting stitches: This is a very good habit to get into. After finishing every row (or every couple rows once you get comfortable), count the number of stitches (i.e. loops) on your needle. For these cloths, you should always have the same number of stitches that you cast on. If you have too many or too few, you’ve made a mistake! If you can, go to your local knitting shop for help or call up your guide to help you troubleshoot the problem.

How to fix knitting mistakes - 8 essential techniques every knitter needs to know by NimbleNeedles, specifically Part 1 from 0:00 to 19:39

How to fix a dropped stitch in garter stitch for knitting beginners by NimbleNeedles - Two

Weave in Ends: When you finish your cloth, there will be two tails dangling off the square: one from when you cast on and one from when you cast off. Weaving in those tails creates a nice, neat finished product and helps prevent the project from unravelling.

How to Knit - Weaving in Ends in Garter Stitch by Knitting with Suzanne Bryan