Knitting and crochet, explained
Short guides for the things beginners ask, and the things the rest of us forget. Pick a craft, pick a topic, and get back to your project.
Knitting
From the first cast-on to fixing a dropped stitch.
What you need to start knitting
A short, honest shopping list for your first project: one pair of needles, one ball of yarn and a few small tools. Nothing else is needed on day one.
Casting on
Casting on puts your first row of stitches on the needle. Learn the long-tail cast-on step by step, plus two simple alternatives.
Knit and purl
The knit stitch and the purl stitch are the two building blocks of almost everything you will knit. Learn both, see how they combine, and finish with a bind off.
Reading a knitting pattern
Patterns are written in a compact shorthand. Learn the abbreviations, the way sizes and repeats are written, and how to pick the right size before you cast on.
Gauge and swatching
Gauge is how many stitches and rows fit in a set measurement. A small swatch tells you whether your project will come out the size the pattern promises.
Yarn weights and substitution
Yarn comes in standard weights, from lace to super bulky. Learn the names, how fibres behave, and how to swap one yarn for another and work out how much to buy.
Fixing knitting mistakes
Every knitter makes mistakes. Learn how to spot them, rescue a dropped stitch, undo stitch by stitch, rip back safely and add lifelines that save your work.
Crochet
Chains, stitches, terms and working in the round.
What you need to start crocheting
Crochet needs one hook and a ball of yarn. Learn how hook sizes are written, which yarn is easiest to learn on, how to hold everything and how to make a slip knot.
Chain and single crochet
The chain stitch is the foundation of crochet, and single crochet is the first stitch most people learn. Make a foundation chain, work a first row and learn to count as you go.
Crochet in the round
Hats, bags and toys start with a circle. Learn the magic ring, the chain ring alternative, how rounds grow with increases, and the difference between joined rounds and a spiral.
US and UK crochet terms
US and UK crochet patterns use the same stitch names for different stitches. Learn the table, how to tell which a pattern uses and how to read the shorthand.