Course description

Always wanted to knit, or learned as a child and forgot? This course teaches you from the very first slip knot to your own jumper, one stitch at a time, with clear written steps you can follow at your own pace. No experience is needed.

It's a full course, not a quick tour. There are 10 sections and 50 written lessons. You follow a complete beginner through her first year of knitting with a friendly local group, including the mistakes along the way: stitches that multiplied, a scarf that turned into rib, a hat cast on with the wrong needles and a cable that crossed the wrong way. Every section has printable stitch diagrams, patterns, charts and a cheat sheet.

What you'll learn

• The basics: needles, yarn and ball bands, holding the needles, casting on, knit, purl and casting off.
• Stitch patterns: garter stitch, stocking stitch, rib, moss stitch and reading your knitting.
• Patterns: abbreviations, UK and US terms, needle sizes, charts and tension squares.
• Shaping: increases, decreases and yarn overs, and spacing them evenly.
• In the round and colour: circular and double-pointed needles, crown decreases, stripes and simple colourwork.
• Fixing and finishing: dropped stitches, ripping back, picking up stitches, mattress stitch, blocking and care.
• Cables and texture: crossing stitches with a cable needle and simple lace.

What you'll make

Garter stitch coasters, a moss stitch scarf, a corner-to-corner dishcloth, a ribbed beanie, a striped cushion cover, cabled fingerless mitts and, as your final project, a simple drop-shoulder jumper, with a project planner to help you choose your size.

Who this course is for

• Complete beginners who want to learn to knit properly.
• Anyone who learned the basics years ago and wants to follow patterns with confidence.
• Left-handed knitters: the course shows the continental style and has notes for left-handers throughout.

How the course works

Read each lesson, then pick up your needles for the practical task, using the printable diagrams and patterns in the practice pack. The course uses UK knitting terms, with the US terms alongside, so you can follow patterns from anywhere. Go at your own pace and keep lifetime access.

What will I learn?

• Hold the needles and yarn comfortably and cast on evenly
• Knit and purl, and make garter stitch, stocking stitch, rib and moss stitch
• Read written patterns and knitting charts in UK and US terms
• Make a tension square and choose the right needles and yarn
• Shape knitting with increases, decreases and yarn overs
• Knit in the round to make a hat, and knit stripes and simple colourwork
• Fix dropped stitches and other mistakes, sew seams and block your work
• Knit cables and plan, knit and make up a jumper that fits

Frequently asked questions