This first lesson demonstrates how to start knitting. It is meant to give you a general idea on how to begin your work with a lengthy description of each step. The next few lessons will explain each step in detail: for example, there will be individual video tutorials on how to cast on the stitches, how to make a knit stitch, a purl stitch and so on. This first tutorial is an overview of the knitting process and is accompanied by detailed explanations for each step. So don’t worry if this first lesson seems too long or complicated – in the Lessons section of the website you will find shorter tutorials explaining each individual step.

1. Make a slipknot and slip it onto the knitting needle.
2. Use a double thread of yarn when you begin knitting sweaters to make the rib firmer.
3. Start casting on by looping the double thread around your thumb and the single thread over your index finger.
4. With the needle, go under and then over the yarn and pull the thread through the loop, as shown.
5. Front side.
6. Back side.
7. The double thread should be approximately twice the length of the stitches.
8. If you run out of double thread, add another length by slipping it through the end, as shown.
9. Now you are ready to start knitting. Don’t knit the first stitch of the row – just slip it onto the other needle in order to make a rib.
10. For the first row use purl stitches.
11. To make a purl stitch: insert the needle from the back, push it through the stitch to the front, loop the working yarn around it, pull through and transfer the stitch to your working needle, as shown.
12. Make the last stitch of each row a purl stitch.
13. Don’t knit the first stitch: just slip it onto the other needle, as shown.
14. For the next row use knit stitches. To make a knit stitch: Insert the needle from the front, push it through to the back, loop the working yarn around it, pull through and transfer the stitch to your working needle, as shown.
15. Make the last stitch of the row a purl stitch.
16. The last stitch should always be a purl stitch.