Learn how to knit

Casting off

1. To cast off, knit the first two stitches so that they are now both on the right-hand needle. Put the tip of the left-hand needle into the first stitch you knitted.

   

2. Lift it over the top of the second stitch you knitted and let it come off the tip of the needle. It will now be around the neck of your second knitted stitch. Knit the next stitch and repeat.

You will always lift the stitch farthest away from the tip of the right-hand needle over the last stitch that you knitted. Repeat all the way along the row until one stitch remains. Break off the yarn and pull the stitch loop until the end comes through, fastening off the last stitch securely.

Too tight or too close?
Knitters work at their own tensions, knitting tighter or looser depending on their style. This is something that is independent of experience. To remedy this, when you knit from a pattern and the tension is stated (as it almost always is) choose a needle size up or down from the size suggested in the pattern to achieve the correct tension; larger needles make looser stitches. However at this stage be kind to yourself and consider getting from one end of the row to the other a great achievement.

Words of wisdom
The easiest mistake for beginners to make is to give up before they have really got a knitting rhythm. This comes with practice and once you have it, it's yours forever. The most common mistake is casting on too tightly, which makes it really difficult to add new stitches or make the next row!