Become a Knitting Superstar™
Become a Knitting Superstar™
Become a Knitting Superstar™
Become a Knitting Superstar™
Become a Knitting Superstar™

Beginner Knitting

As a beginning knitter, you have a lot to learn. Find it all here. In our Fearless Knitter course, you will learn cast-ons, purling, stockinette stitch, increasing, decreasing, and recognizing and fixing many beginner mistakes. These foundations will enable you to quickly knit more complex projects with confidence.

Knitting Topics » Beginner Knitting
As a beginning knitter, you have a lot to learn. Find it all here. In our Fearless Knitter course, you will learn cast-ons, purling, stockinette stitch, increasing, decreasing, and recognizing and fixing many beginner mistakes. These foundations will enable you to quickly knit more complex projects with confidence.

Video Knitting Course: Easy Norwegian Felted Slippers

Shop Now! Felted Slippers

Felting and seaming are two techniques most beginning knitters avoid because they seem scary. Learn how easy they both are on an adorable, instant-gratification project you'll love.


Video Knitting Course: Fearless Knitter

Fearless Knitter Cover

New knitters often get stuck knitting only scarves. This course will help you break out of beginner knitting and get you ready to knit hats, mittens, and more complex projects with confidence.


Video Knitting Course: Fix Knitting Mistakes

If you can't fix mistakes in your knitting, you won't take risks. Correct 10 top knitting mistakes.


Video Knitting Course: Mosaic Knitting

Mosaic Knitting

While Mosaic knitting starts out simple, you'll need to know how to keep good tension and catch and fix beginner-to-advanced mistakes in order to knit any Mosaic project out there.


Live Knitalong: November 2020 Felted Slippers - FREE With Class Purchase

Starts: November 1, 2020   Ends: November 30, 2020   Signups Open: NO
Felted slipper with puzzle and plush dinosaur square crop sm

Knit with us as we create a very easy beginner pair of felted slippers. Knit flat in Garter stitch, the slippers are seamed up and felted.

Sign up here by Oct. 30, 2020 to join this FREE KAL.



Blog Post: Mistake Rib (or Man-Stitch): An Easy, Masculine Scarf, Plus Knitting for Men

Man with chunky mistake-rib scarf holding daughterBy Liat Gat – Founder / Beginner Knitting, Knitting for Men, New Patterns / September 7, 2012 / 93 Comments

In a chunky yarn this is a perfect stitch for a guy’s scarf or sweater, and it’s super-easy – but not boring – to knit. Mistake Rib is a great pattern for beginners to practice recognizing knit and purl stitches.

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Blog Post: What Is Mosaic Knitting? An Introduction to Color-Knitting’s Best Kept Secret

Welsh Blanket Boomerangby Susan AshcroftBy Liat Gat – Founder / Beginner Knitting, Mosaic Knitting / March 22, 2015 / 53 Comments

Mosaic knitting is a beginner technique that make advanced-looking color designs simple. To get you inspired, here are a range of Mosaic knitting projects from beginner to advanced. Invented by prolific designer Barbara Walker in the 1970’s.

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Blog Post: The Magic Of A Plain Garter-Stitch Scarf

By Liat Gat – Founder / Beginner Knitting, Knitting for Men, Learn to Knit / October 28, 2010 / 33 Comments

On the plane to New York City, the most gorgeous guy sat next to me. When he asked, “What are you knitting?” I explained that this was a beginner scarf and that anyone can learn to knit. It took him about five minutes to say, “Okay, so show me.”

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Blog Post: Tree of Techniques Beginner: A Step-by-Step Roadmap to Knitting Success

By Liat Gat – Founder / Beginner Knitting, Tree of Techniques / November 2, 2014 / 21 Comments

All beginning knitters should know 4 basic skills: How to knit and purl, recognize knit and purl stitches, read beginner knitting patterns, and fix beginner mistakes. Here are the videos and patterns you need to get started.

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Blog Post: Common Beginner Mistake: Forgetting to Move Your Yarn

Seed stitch mistake - funky stitchesBy Liat Gat – Founder / Beginner Knitting, Fix Knitting Mistakes / July 20, 2020 / 20 Comments

Recently, a beginning knitter wrote me asking about the confusing mess of yarn on her stitches. Simply put, she had forgotten to move the yarn to the front for purling and to the back for knitting.

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Blog Post: “30% Off Everything” Sale and Announcing the Brand-New E-Book “Intermediate Scarves and Stitches”

Intermediate Scarves and Stitches Video E-Book - gift-wrappedBy Liat Gat – Founder / Beginner Knitting, News / December 18, 2011 / 2 Comments

Now known as “Fearless Knitter,” this class was originally called “Intermediate Scarves and Stitches.” It is targeted towards beginning knitters who need foundational skills before moving on to knitting in the round and complex colorwork.

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Blog Post: FREE Learn to Knit Video Class

By Liat Gat – Founder / Beginner Knitting, Learn to Knit / October 2, 2010 / No Comments

Announcing our free Learn-to-Knit video class. This class is free for subscribers to KnitFreedom. It contains 10 easy-to-follow, close-up, high-quality videos showing you everything you need to know to knit your first scarf, plus avoid beginner knitting mistakes.

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Blog Post: The 7 key elements of knitting to master in order to knit whatever you want

By Liat Gat – Founder / Advanced Knitting, Beginner Knitting, Intermediate Knitting, Our Philosophy / May 31, 2021 / No Comments

Without mastery of the 7 key elements of knitting, you won’t be able to take on new projects with confidence. The 7 key areas are knit and purl (and slip stitch), increases and decreases, cast-ons and bind-offs, knitting in the round, knitting with color, fixing mistakes, and lace knitting.

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Blog Post: New Class: Learn to Knit a Basic Hat on Magic Loop

Bulky Adult Hat Back ViewBy Liat Gat – Founder / Beginner Knitting, Hats, Magic Loop / August 12, 2022 / No Comments

Knitting your first hat on your own can be confusing. In this class you’ll learn step-by-step the easiest way to knit your first hat. This knit a beginner hat class will teach you to knit a slouchy hat with optional stripes in chunky yarn.

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Beginner Knitting Illustration: Tree of Techniques

The “Tree of Techniques” is a way of visualizing your path as a knitter as you progress from beginner to intermediate to advanced. Starting with simple scarves and dishcloths, you’ll then knit hats and socks, before proceeding to custom sweaters, lace, moebius, color-knitting, and designing your own patterns.


Free Pattern: Basic Chunky Hat for Magic Loop – Adult Size

Bulky Adult Hat Back View


Free Pattern: Beginner Slip-Stitch Throw Pillow – Bulky Weight

Based on the Aubergine Dreams Neck Warmer by Laura Dianiska, this pattern is suitable for practicing many important beginner skills. The pattern of elongated stitches rising vertically up the work is caused slipped stitches. A good beginner pattern for those just learning how to slip stitches.


Free Pattern: Bulky Weight Beginner Garter-Stitch Scarf

The perfect scarf for learning how to knit. Soft, colorful, and scrumptious, this simple scarf is a luxury because of the Misti Alpaca “dyed-to-the-stitch” yarn. Watch videos every step of the way with our free Learn-to-Knit Class.


Free Pattern: Diamond Dishcloth/Potholder – Traditional – Worsted Weight

Almost every book and class teaches this dishcloth to its new knitters, and for good reason. It’s quick, cheap, and teaches you what you need to know so that you can move on to harder and more interesting projects.


Free Pattern: Easy Norwegian Felted Slippers by Midnattsol

Slippers Milo hands 1 sm square crop

A beginner knitting pattern for perfect and cute felted slippers, this is a re-write of Midnattsol’s famous 2008 Felted Slipper Pattern. Made from one long garter-stitch strip sewn up in an ingenious way, this pattern results in a perfect felted slipper. Sizes Baby – Adult.


Free Pattern: Elegant Ribbed Scarf for Beginners – Aran or Bulky Weight

This is a beginner scarf for knitters just learning to do 1×1 rib. Knit this scarf in aran- or bulky-weight yarn. Using bulky yarn will make the project go faster, and the scarf will be a more… well, bulky.

Use a kettle-dyed or variegated yarn to make a simple scarf completely elegant.


Free Pattern: Hand Towel – Rectangular – Worsted Weight

This beginner hand-towel pattern is so full and fluffy that it’s actually luscious. To get the rectangle effect, use alternating increase and decrease rows until the towel is as long as you want. Add an optional crocheted edging and loop to hang the towel from.


Free Pattern: Man Scarf – Mistake Rib Scarf in Three Weights for Men

It’s so rugged and burly, I actually just like to call it “man-stitch.” Why? In a chunky yarn this is a perfect stitch for a guy’s scarf or sweater, and it’s super-easy – but not boring – to knit.


Free Pattern: Stripes Brigade Mosaic Throw Pillow – Bulky Weight

An easy mosaic throw pillow pattern that is perfect for beginners learning the mosaic knitting technique. If you can knit and purl, you can make this pillow.


Free Pattern: Super-Bulky-Weight Garter-Stitch Scarf

Photo Scarf BasicGarterChunky 04 LiatHoldingUp V1 square

I designed this scarf when staying up all night before my first TV appearance. I needed an easy scarf that my local KUTV 2 News host, Mary, could wear. I created a scarf to be knit in 3 hours. Garter stitch is for beginners, but your hands will get a workout!


Free Pattern: Textured Stripes Ear Warmer/Headband – Bulky Weight

This unisex headband/ear warmer is great for skiers, joggers, or cyclists—anyone who is out in the elements on a crisp winter morning.
Good for knitters just learning to combine knit and purl stitches and read a simple chart. There are written directions for those who choose not to use a chart.


Free Pattern: Washcloth – Embellished Chenille – Worsted Weight

A super-soft washcloth with an optional crocheted embellishment or monogram.


Beginner Knitting Abbreviations

LYS – Local Yarn Store


Free and Premium Videos

Beginner Knitting: 5 Keys for Success

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Beginner Knitting: 5 Keys for Success
Beginner Knitting: 5 Keys for Success

As a beginning knitter seeking to knit beautiful projects, you will soon get stuck without the proper foundations. Learning to read knitting patterns, recognizing your stitches, and losing the fear of making mistakes are key to growing as a knitter and breaking out of beginner knitting.


Selecting Yarn for Beginner Projects

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Selecting Needles for Beginner Projects

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The Long-Tail Cast-On

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Estimating How Much Tail You’ll Need

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Refresher – A Quick Long-Tail Cast-On Video

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Long-Tail Cast-On


Preparation: 1 Row of Knitting

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How to Do the Purl Stitch

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Forgetting to Put the Yarn In Front – Purl Stitch Troubleshooting

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Wrapping the Yarn Around the Needles the Wrong Way – Purl Stitch Troubleshooting

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Examining Garter Stitch

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How to Do Ribbing

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Examining Ribbing

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Reading Your Work – Ribbing

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Removing Stitches One By One – Fix Ribbing Mistakes

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Forgot to Move the Yarn from Front to Back – Ribbing

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Knitted or Purled in the Wrong Spot

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Knitted Past a Wrong Stitch

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Accidentally Going the Wrong Way – Ribbing

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Count Stitches by Fives – Fearless Knitter

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Fixing a Dropped Stitch – Four Ways

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Fixing a Dropped Stitch Far Down

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Check Your Tension

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Bind Off in Pattern

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Beginner Knitting – Weave in Ends on 1×1 Rib

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Switching Colors and Carrying Yarn

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How to Increase (CO and First Rows) – Dishcloth

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Dishcloth – Examining First Rows

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Taking Out Rows in Knitting

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Put Stitches Back on the Needles the Right Way

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How to Decrease – K2TOG – Dishcloth

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How to Do Stockinette Stitch – St St

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How to Make a Gauge Swatch, Check Gauge, and Adjust Needle Size to Get Gauge

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How to check your gauge on flat knitting, tips for marking your gauge swatch with knots in the tail to remember what size needles you used, and how to know whether to increase or decrease needle size.


Frog Dishcloth – First Rows

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Frog Dishcloth – First Pattern Rows

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Frog Dishcloth – Recognize Where You Are in the Row

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Weaving in Ends on Stockinette Stitch

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How to Slip Stitches – Aubergine Dreams Scarf

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First Rows – Aubergine Dreams Scarf

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How to Fix Advanced Knit and Purl Mistakes

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First Rows of Mistake-Rib Scarf

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If You Get Lost in the Pattern – Mistake Rib

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If Stitches Don’t Line Up Right – Mistake Rib

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How to Do Seed Stitch

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Adding Seed Stitch into Your Dishcloth

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Decreasing on Seed Stitch

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Slip Edge Stitches – Prep Blanket Squares

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Zig-Zag Lace – Beginning Lace

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This is a beginner lace pattern that you can use to learn easy lace knitting. It makes a lovely zigzag pattern, just with yarnovers and knit-two-togethers.


Add a Border to Your Squares

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Seam Squares With a Crochet Hook

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Mattress Stitch

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Recommended Notion: Knit Chek Gauge-Checker by Susan Bates

Susan Bates Knit-Chek Gauge Checker

A gauge-checker is essential for ensuring your knit projects come out the right size. Make a small swatch (or a big one, if you’re a perfectionist), block it, and lay the gauge-checker over the stitches. Count how many stitches are in 2 inches and divide by two. That’s your gauge.

Buy Knit Chek Gauge-Checker online


Recommended Book: Harmony Guides: Knit & Purl by Erika Knight (editor)

Interweave Press has put together a gorgeous stitch-pattern book that you can use to add pattern and texture to anything you are knitting.

You’ll get really good at reading a pattern and recognizing what your stitches look like if you experiment with the stitch-patterns in this book.

Buy Harmony Guides: Knit & Purl online


Recommended Book: Stitch ‘n Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook by Debbie Stoller

I recommend this book to anyone just starting out knitting, because it contains a funny and thorough introduction to knitting. It also contains a variety of hip and fun beginner projects that you’ll actually want to knit, which is more than I can say for most beginner how-to books.

Buy Stitch ‘n Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook online


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