Knitting Basics Archives - Page 4 of 6 - Yarn Enchantment

Tutorials and Tips for All Skill Levels

Browse through our comprehensive collection of knitting tutorials, from beginner guides to advanced techniques. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your skills, find everything you need here.

March 27, 2025

Two pink yarn skeins and wooden knitting needles on a wooden surface, ready for a knitting project.

Quick Tip: Never Run Out of Yarn While Casting On

We’ve all felt the frustration of running out of yarn while casting on stitches, haven’t we? It’s especially tricky when using a long-tail cast-on, as estimating the right amount of yarn can be challenging. In this blog post, I’ll share a simple and effective trick to ensure you never run out of yarn in the middle of your cast-on again!

March 24, 2025

Close-up of hands demonstrating the long tail cast-on technique in knitting. The left hand forms a slingshot shape with the yarn looped around the thumb and index finger, while the right hand holds a knitting needle positioned under the yarn loop on the thumb. A ball of light purple yarn is visible in the background on a wooden surface.

How to Work the Long Tail Cast On: A Step-by-Step Guide for Knitters

I’m so excited to share this method with you today. It’s a foolproof way to cast on your stitches without twisting them, so you can start your project smoothly and avoid all those beginner frustrations I went through.

March 15, 2025

A pink stockinette stitch swatch on colorful wooden knitting needles, resting on a wooden surface.

Slip Slip Purl (SSP) and Purl 2 Together Through Back Loop (P2tog tbl) + Easy Alternative

Not all left-leaning purl decreases are created the same way, but in the end, they will look identical, no matter how you knit them. While the SSP (Slip, Slip, Purl) is slightly cleaner than the p2tbl (purl 2 together through the back loop), both create a left-leaning decrease that mirrors the right-leaning p2tog (purl 2 together).

March 8, 2025

Close-up of hands holding a knitted piece with a completed Latvian Twist edge in yellow yarn. The twist creates a decorative, braided effect at the top of the ribbed section of the knitting.

Latvian Twist: A Beautiful and Stretchy Knitting Cast On

I recently discovered the Latvian Twist, and this cast on isn't only really beautiful, but also very stretchy. This gorgeous technique creates a decorative rope or ruffle-like edge that’s perfect for socks, mittens, hats, and even sweaters.

March 3, 2025

A triangular knitted swatch in light pink yarn, featuring the wrong side with shaping achieved through "purl 2 together" decreases. The piece is on wooden knitting needles with a colorful gradient design, laid on a rustic wooden surface.

Purl 2 Together (p2tog)

When it comes to knitting, decreases are found in almost every pattern. While knit decreases like k2tog and SSK are probably more used, purl decreases are just as important. Among the purl decreases, p2tog (Purl 2 Together) is the simplest and most commonly used.

February 17, 2025