Knitting Stitch Tutorials

You’ve discovered the most sacred place for any student of craft: the library. Bookmark this page for the next time you need to remember how to graft stitches (why is Kitchener Stitch so tricky to remember?), do a Sewn Ribbed Bind Off, or even just brush up on the basics.

Welcome to the Archive, Knitting Wizard.

P.S. If you’re looking for a technique you don’t see listed here, contact us to request a tutorial about it.

Categories

Cast Ons and Related Techniques

How to Make a Slip Knot - The first step in many knitting cast ons. Image: Completed slip knot on a bamboo needle. Read more.
How to Work Backward Loop Cast On - Just a series of twisted loops. Image: a needle with several cast-on stitches extending from an existing row on a project. Read more.
How to Work a Knit Cast On - Great cast on for beginners! Image: A bamboo needle with a dozen or so knit cast on stitches. Read more.
How to Work a Long Tail Cast On - A firm but stretchy edge suitable for most projects. Image: A bamboo knitting needles with several stitches made with long tail cast on. Read more.
Two-Colour Long Tail Cast On - A firm but stretchy edge that work for two-colour brioche knitting. Image: A bamboo needle with red and black alternating cast on stiches. Read more.
How to Work Magic Cast On - A provisional cast on for tubular knitting. Image: The right side and wrong side of a cast on showing staggered stitches wrapped around two needles next to each other. Read more.
How to Work a Provisional Cast On - For when you want to knit both directions. Image: A small swatch with double-pointed needles through live stitches on the top and bottom. Read more.
Super-Stretchy Cast On - Ideal for ribbed edges. Image: A double-pointed needle with a short row of successive slip knot stitches. Read more.
Learn to Join Yarn in the Round - The simple first step to start knitting in the round. Image: Three dozen stitches distributed over three double-pointed needles connected in a triangle. Read more.
How to Pick Up Stitches - Start working in a different direction. Image: A cabled wristband with stitches picked up onto double-pointed needles all along one edge. Read more.

Bind Offs and Related Techniques

How to Work a Basic Bind Off - The go-to bind off for firm edges. Image: A hand holding a small swatch bound off with a chain of stitches. Read more.
How to Work Edging Bind Off - Create a perpendicular border while binding off. Image: Finger edge of fingerless mittens with a twisted cable border travelling horizontally. Read more.
How to Work Kitchener Stitch. Graft two sets of live stitches together for a seamless join. Image: Two needles held together with live stitches, and some that have already been bound off to connect to each other as though knit that way. Read More
How to Work Sewn Rib Bind Off - A clean finish for one by one ribbed edges. Image: The top of a worsted-weight sock with a k1, p1 cuff and a beautiful edge finished in pattern. Read more.
Super-Stretchy Bind Off - A very stretchy finish for one by one ribbed edges. Image: A bound-off ribbed swatch being stretched to thirty percent more than unstretched. The edges look like stretched chain stitch. Read more.
Three-Needle Bind Off - Merge two sets of stitches into one. Image: Two needles holding live stitches being worked onto a single needle with live stitches. Read more.
Four-Needle Bind Off - Merge three sets of stitches into one. Image: A double-pointed needle holding a single set of stitches joining two different knit tubes. Read more.

Knit and Purl

Text: How to Hold Your Yarn - Learn how to hold your yarn when knitting in Continental or American style. Image: A woman's left hand wrapped in yarn to work in Continental style. Logo: My Secret Wish Knitting
Text: How to Work a Knit Stitch - The most basic stitch in knitting in Continental or American style. Image: A woman holds a knitting project with the working yarn behind the needle. My Secret Wish Knitting
Text: How to Work a Purl Stitch - The "other knitting stitch" in Continental or American style. Image: A woman's hands holds a knitting project with horizontal ridges and the working yarn in front of the needle while knitting Continental style. My Se

Increases and Decreases

Text: Left-Leaning Bar Increase - This simple increase is also called KFB or K1FB increase. Image: Swatch showing increased stitches with a bar around the base of the left-side stitch. My Secret Wish Knitting
Text: Right-Leaning Bar Increase - This is the mirror image of the KFB or K1FB (Left-Leaning Bar Increase). Image: A swatch where the increases go up on the right of the column being worked into with small bars around the base of the stitch.
Text: Reverse Left-Leaning Bar Increase - Create the look of the kfb/k1fb while working on the purl side. Image: A swatch showing the knit side with increases. My Secret Wish Knitting

Working in the Round

Text: Work in the Round: Double-Pointed Needles - The classic method of knitting in the round. Image: A textured sleeve cuff started on four double-pointed needles laid flat in a square. My Secret Wish Knitting
Text: Work in the Round: Magic Loop - Knit small items in the round on only one circular needle. Image: A partially completed lace sock on a circular knitting needle that's too long for the circumference. My Secret Wish Knitting
Work in the Round with Two Circular Needles: An alternative way to work in the round. Image shows a project with circular needle ends made of two different materials.
Text: Learn to Join Yarn in the Round - The simple first step to start knitting in the round. Image: Cast-on stitches distributed over three double-pointed needles connected in a triangle with a stitch marker at the beginning of the round. My Secret
Text: Swatching in the Round - Get perfect gauge for projects knit in the round. Image: Hand holding a grey swatch with ribbed bottom and stockinette for most of it with obvious carried floats drooping behind it. My Secret Wish Knitting

Brioche Knitting

Two-Colour Brioche in the round: Create vertical stripes and other patterns with this lush stitch. Image shows a brioche ribbing project in green and black on the needles. Read More.

Crochet

Even knitters need to crochet sometimes.

How to Work a Crochet Chain - The foundation for all other crochet stitches. Image: A long crochet chain lays next to a crochet hook and ball of yarn on a weathered wooden surface.
How to Work a Crochet Slip Stitch - For when you need to keep it small. Image: Three crochet dishcloths hanging by crochet chain loops from clear tacks. Read more.
How to Work Single Crochet Stitch - The smallest crochet stitch. Image: A bright pink metal crochet hook lays on a soft pink fabric made of single crochet. Read more.
How to work Double Crochet Stitch: a popular and useful stitch. Read More.
How to Work Triple Crochet Stitch: For when you need a VERY tall crochet stitch. Read More.

Other Techniques

How to Eliminate Thumb Gaps - Use this technique around fingers and thumbs for a lovely gap-free finish. Image: The top side of a mitten thumb with a column of stitches up the centre and solid fabric joining it with the hand.
How to Substitute Yarn: Find the perfect yarn, even when it's not what the pattern calls for. Image: A pile of various types and shades of green yarn in tangled masses. Read More.

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