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We're off!  Wait!  Before we dive head first into learning to knit, for those who are new to this series I really encourage you to check out Need a Break?  Learn to Knit and Start Relaxing...Now!  It takes a quick look at the benefits of knitting for the hard-working mom.  Here we go!  I trust that you have your US 10 needles and about 100-200 yards of a worsted (medium) weight yarn. 

Here we go!  Let's begin by first getting the yarn on the needles!  Step 1 is making a slip knot.  This is a very simple way of making aknot that doesn't feel like a knot when you're done with your project.  Simply follow the directions below to secure you yarn firmly to your needle.

Making a Slip Knot

I call this method of making a slip knot the pretzel method.  Measure out about 24 inches of your yarn and place on a flat surface in a small rainbow arc (Pic 1) with the tail hanging down to the right.  Bring the tail end up to the left then back down through the center making a pretzel shap with your yarn (Pic 2).  Now, feed the tail end under the bottom right of the pretzel (Pic 3).  You'll notice that at the top left of the pretzel, there is a bar of yarn that goes under the pretzel corner.  Slide your needle under this bar and pick it up (Pic 4).  Pull firmly on the tail end until the knot tightens up.  Tug on the strand attached to the ball to slide the knot snugly up against the needle Pic 5)!  Easy enough, right?  If you need to see it live, check out this video:  "Making a Slip Stitch."   If you try and try but just can't seem to get it, don't worry!  Just tie the yarn on using a simple knot so we can move onto the best parts about knitting!                                             

Picture 1                                                  Picture 2

Picture 3                                              Picture 4

Picture 5

Casting On

After we make a slip knot and attach the yarn to the needle, we need to cast on our stitches.  AKA CO, casting on always excites me because I know I'm about to begin a new adventure!  Place the needle that has your slip knot in your right hand and position the tail yarn closest to you and the ball yarn farthest from you.  Firmly grasp the two strands hanging down with the last three fingers of your left hand (Pic 1).  Taking your left thumb and forefinger, slide them between the two strands making sure that the tail strand is around your thumb.   Slowly separate your thumb and forefinger keeping a firm grip on the yarn ends so that the yarn remains taut (Pic 2).  You'll see 4 strands of yarn.  The 1st will be on the left of your thumb, two in the middle and the 4th will be on the right of your forefinger.  Taking your needle, bring it to the outside of the 1st strand and pick it up (Pic 3).  Now, keeping the yarn taut, move the needle to the outside of the 4th strand and pick that up (Pic 4).  You have two strands on your needle.  Move the needle tip towards you so that the 4th strand is brought under the 1st strand (Pic 5).  Let the 1st strand fall so you only have the 4th strand remaining on your needle.  Relax your thumb and forefinger and tighten up the stitch so it rests snugly against the needle (Pic 6).  Repeat these steps until you have 20 stitches on you needle.  Check out the video: "Casting On" for more support and a look at casting on in real life.

Picture 1                              Picture 2

Picture 3                             Picture 4

Picture 5                                Picture 6

The Knit Stitch

Here comes the fun part...actual knitting.  The knit stitch is easiest to remember by using this simple rhyme:  "Through the loop, around the back; Pull it through, off pops Jack!"  Four parts to the rhyme, four steps to the knit stitch.  Step 1: "Through the loop..."  Drape the yarn around your right ring finger and pick up your needles so that the needles are in front of your yarn.  The needle with the cast on stitches will be in your left hand.  Take the point of the right needle and insert it into the first loop from the front of the work (Pic 1).  Step 2: "...around the back"  Wrap the working yarn around the back of the right needle one time, pulling it snug (Pic 2). It's ok to hold onto the two needles with your left thumb and forefinger while you wrap the yarn.  Step 3:  "Pull it through..."  Pull the wrapped yarn through the loop towards your body (Pic 3).  Step 4:  "...off pops Jack!"  Slide the entire stitch off the left needle and onto the right (Pic 4).  It's ok if it's loose, we'll tighten it up on the next stitch!  Repeat steps 1-4 for the following 19 stitches!  Turn your work so that the needle with all 20 stitches is now in your left hand again and your free needle and working strand of yarn are in your right hand! If you need some extra support, the video "The Knit Stitch" will help you see the 4 steps in action and I'll guide you through while you watch!

Picture 1                            Picture 2

Picture 3                          Picture 4

Congratulations!  You've done a lot of work today and you should feel very proud!  I know I'm proud of you!   From here on out, you don't have to cast on anymore or make anymore slip knots!  You only do those at the beginning of a piece.  So, before we move on to purling and slipping stitches I encourage you to keep on knitting until you've gone 5-6 inches.  The more you knit, the more natural it feels!  Feel free to e-mail me any questions or visit Monday Morning Knits for more knitting techniques, videos and tips. 

I can't wait till next week's Learn to Knit: The Purl Stitch and Slipping Stitches."  I'll see you soon!

Happy knitting!