How to knit: Knit stitch

Knit stitch tends to be one of the first stitches beginners are taught when they are learning the basics.

Along with purl stitch - which we cover here with a helpful video demonstration - it will become a foundation for you to build other more adventurous stitch variations upon.

Although there's a chance you might find knit stitch confusing at first, with a little perseverance you'll soon find yourself fall into a steady rhythm.

Another reason not to give up? Once you've tackled knit stitch you'll be well on the way to knowing how to make wonderful woollen things for yourself and others.

Just remember that the yarn is always held at the back in knit stitch and it is worked from the cast on row.

The Knitting Network's Freddie Patmore breaks down the stitch - universally referred to as k in knitting patterns - in a few simple stages for our video tutorial.

Keeping the yarn at the back of your work, and working from left to right, insert your right-hand needle into the front of the stitch, moving underneath the left hand needle and away from you.

Take the yarn from behind to bring it under, up and over the right-hand needle and carefully bring the loop through, dropping the stitch off the tip of the left hand needle.

When you have worked all the stitches along your left-hand needle and none remain, you have completed a ‘row’.

Just turn your work over when you are ready to start the next one.

By knitting every row you create a textured garter stitch fabric which is vertically elasticated. Knit a long narrow length of garter stitch and you'll create a very stretchy strip that could even be worn as a garter.