Step two: beginning knitting?
Learn how to knit plain stitch.

When you are beginning knitting, and once you have practiced casting on, it is an easy step to learn how to knit plain stitch. Using the double needle method, you are really doing most of the stitch already. Knitting row after row of knit (plain) stitch is called garter stitch and looks like the picture shown.

The secret to good knitting is making sure your knitting stitches are even. This is referred to as 'tension'. If your knitting is too loose, you will have large uneven holes throughout your piece. If it is too tight, you will struggle to get your needle into each stitch in the row and that is frustrating.

At first, it can seem awkward. You are trying to manage two needles, a ball of wool and your fingers! But as in everything you learn, it gets easier the more you do it. Keep trying. Knitting is wonderful.

To learn how to knit or plain stitch, follow these basic knitting instructions and watch the video below. The video demonstrates long tail casting on which is different to the method we have shown. We recommend you start with the double needle casting on method as it is easier for beginning knitting.

Start this video close to the two minute mark to get to the learn how to knit plain stitch section.

1. After you have cast on, hold your work in your left hand

2. Keeping the yarn at the back of your work, place the tip of the right hand needle through the front of the first stitch, so that it ends up behind the left hand needle

3. Bring the yarn from behind, in an anti clockwise direction, and wrap it around the top of the right hand needle, pulling it forward between both needles

4. Slip the top of the right hand needle down and then up towards you, to catch the yarn as you go, creating a loop on your right hand needle. If you were casting on at this point you would place the new stitch back onto the left hand needle, but as you are now knitting, you leave it on the right hand needle.

5. Then release the left hand needle, either by sliding it backwards to the left or by giving it a nudge with your right hand forefinger

6. Your yarn is now back to behind the right hand needle and you are ready to repeat steps 2-5 until you have knitted the entire row. Turn the knitting around to start again.

You are beginning knitting - well done!

Practise on an 8 x 8" square using these basic knitting instructions. You will know if your tension is right because the square will be the right size! Next, learn how to purl.

Knit your first square and then please send it to Africa to help make blankets for children and orphans affected by HIV AIDS.

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