5 types of knitting stitches that every beginner needs to know

Make your knitting adventure thrilling! The basic knit and purl stitches are used to create your project creatively, from sweaters to scarves, with knitting needles. It's crucial that you are proficient in them before starting any intricate patterns. Knowing simple stitches will help in your creative journey. In this blog, we will walk through five essential stitches that make beginners confident enough to start their knitting adventure solo.

Explore 5 types of Knitting Stitches

Uncover the potential of these knitting stitches that beginners can explore in making creative patterns:

1. Garter Stitch

This is the fundamental stitch in which you simply knit all the stitches, producing a bumpy and textured fabric. It is the easiest stitch to learn on straight or Destiny circular needles.

How to knit garter stitch:

1. Cast-on stitches with any popular methods in knitting.
2. Place the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle while holding your yarn in your right hand. Continue knitting all stitches in the row.
3. Next, slide the old stitch off the needle and continue knitting, after pulling the yarn.

Creative projects: Dishcloths, washcloths, or blankets.

For Beginners

1. Keep your stitches loose to avoid the fabric being too tight.
2. To make your project perfect with a professional look, it's important to practice it.
3. Make sure the needle is inserted correctly to prevent yarn splitting.

2. Stockinette Stitch

Stockinette stitches are used in most types of patterns. For beginners, knowing this stitch is essential. The purl stitch works back and forth and is the reverse of the knit stitch. In this, you alternate knit and purl rows that produce a smooth and stretchy fabric. In the round project, when working with double-pointed needles, you don't have to change the direction of your knitting. In this way, your project turns up faster.

How to knit stockinette stitch:

1. Hold your yarn in front of your work.
2. From right to left, insert the right needle into the stitch.
3. Wrap the yarn over if you are working with DPNs.
4. Slip the stitch off the left needle after pulling the yarn through.
5. Then, continue knitting and purling across the row.

Experiment: Sweaters, hats, or socks.

For Beginners

1. If your pattern curl adds a garter stitch.
2. Prevent uneven stitches in your project by focusing on consistent yarn tension.
3. You might face the issue of dropped stitches; use a crochet hook.

3. Rib Stitch

Work with a repeating pattern of knit and purl stitches, such as knit (K1), purl (P1), or K2, P2, is called rib stitch. It produces a stretchy fabric. There is a wide range of rib stitches, such as 1x1 rib stitch, 2x2, seed, cable, and fisherman's rib stitch.

How to Knit Rib Stitch:

1. Purl the next stitch after knitting the first one.
2. Continue all the way across the row.
3. In this, you need to purl the purl and knit the knit stitches on the following row.

Try these: Sweaters, sleeves, scarves, necklines, hems, or cuffs.

For Beginners

1. Use Tassel or Meadow stitch markers from Lantern Moon to track row ending and stitch count.
2. To get a neat design, maintain consistent tension.
3. To make your project more creative, try out different yarn weights and textures.
4. To get a polished finish, block the fabric.

4. Seed Stitch

For textured knitting, a seed stitch is the ideal option. In this, knit and purl stitches are alternated within and between rows to create a seed stitch. It produces a reversible fabric, and both sides look textured.

How to knit seed stitch:

1. Cast on an even or odd number of stitches. If you are knitting round, we recommend using circular or double-pointed knitting needles; the instructions are the same.
2. Row 1: K1  P1, across the row.
3. Row 2: P1, K1, across the row.
4. Continue the same pattern to reach the desired length in your project.

Experiment: Dishcloths, blankets, scarves, hats.

For Beginners

1. To keep track of pattern changes, use stitch markers.
2. To highlight the texture, experiment with different yarn types.
3. Start with a simple swatch and then try and combine different stitches, such as rib.

5. Basketweave Stitch

Simply knit this gorgeous stitch with your DPNs; it looks complex in the start, but it's perfect for beginners. This technique uses an even number of knit and purl stitches. By alternating between these stitches, forming an area of stockinette stitch with a reverse stockinette, the resultant knitted fabric is a basketweave. It is similar to the checkerboard pattern.

How to knit basketweave stitch:

1. R 1-4: K 4, P 4 stitches, and repeat till the end of the row.
2. In R 5-8: P 4, K 4 stitches, and repeat till you reach the end of the row and form a basketweave pattern.

Try these: Table runners, blankets, scarves, and many more.

For Beginners

1. Consistent tension throughout the pattern is essential to make your project professional.
2. Use stitch markers to track the stitch count.

Learning these five stitches will add creativity to your project. Explore the Lantern Moon knitting accessories, including Meadow or Tassel stitch markers, and wool needles, which will help to create your project quickly.