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.

May 17, 2025

Hands positioning knitting needles and blue yarn to pull through a loop during a knitted cast-on.

Easy Knitted Cast-On Tutorial for Beginners: Step-by-Step Guide

The knitted cast-on is hands down one of the easiest and most versatile ways to start a knitting project. When I first started knitting, I would’ve saved myself so much frustration. It’s especially great for beginners because it’s simple, forgiving, and creates a nice stretchy edge that works for all kinds of projects.

May 7, 2025

A comparison graphic showing two sides: 'Before' with colorful wooden needles and black yarn under dim lighting

Knitting with Black Yarn: Tips for Better Visibility

Today, I want to share some tried-and-true tips to make knitting with black yarn not only manageable but also enjoyable. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned knitter, these tricks will help you see your stitches clearly and keep your projects stress-free.

April 29, 2025

Two hands holding a piece of yellow stockinette knitting with a white row of grafted stitches created using the Kitchener stitch. The seamless join is visible in the center, blending with the surrounding fabric.

How to Work the Kitchener Stitch: Invisible Grafting Made Easy

The Kitchener stitch is a beloved technique in the knitting world, it allows you to create almost invisible, seamless joins between two sets of live stitches. In this blog post you’ll find everything you need to know about working the Kitchener stitch, including step-by-step instructions, tips and tricks, and a fascinating look at its historical origins. At the end of this blog post you can find a video tutorial as well.

April 16, 2025

Progress on the provisional cast-on technique. Multiple loops of white yarn are visible on the wooden needle, with the pink cable below capturing and holding the provisional stitches securely

How to Work a Provisional Cast-On (Open Cast-On) Over a Spare Cable

Not long ago, I shared a blog post about the Provisional cast-on with a crochet hook - but let me tell you, I’ve discovered a way easier method for working the provisional cast-on. No waste yarn, no frustration, and no hassle.

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.