While knitting may look complicated, in actuality it only uses two basic stitches - the knit and the purl. Once you've mastered these two basic stitches you really can knit just about anything. But don't be fooled, it can be fairly complex with lots of little variations in how to perform these two types of stitching. The first stitch in each new row is the Garter stitch. Here is how it is done:
1. Hold the needle with your cast on in your left hand, and the other needle in your right hand.
2. Pass the tip of the right needle through the first loop on the left needle in such a way that the right goes behind the left. Be sure to keep the yarn behind both needles.
3. With your right hand, pass the yarn around the tip of the right needle counterclockwise, keeping it nice and tight.
4. Begin bringing the tip of the right needle slowly back through the first loop toward you, bringing the yarn along for the ride.
5. gently pull the new loop on your right needle to the tip of the left needle. Let the first loop slide off. It is important to keep the yarn just tight enough that your loops stay close to the needle, but not so tight that you can't slide the needle between them.
6. The first stitch is now on the right needle, and you can just repeat steps 2 through 5 until all of the cast on stitches are on the right hand needle - which completes the first row.
7. Switch the needle with all the stitches to your left hand.
Using this technique row after row is the garter stitch. Once you get into a groove with the garter stitch it is very easy to do row after row. As you become more advanced in your knitting you will also learn the reverse garter stitch in which each stitch is purled instead of knit. You will typically not use a garter stitch for an edge, as it has a tendency to curl, but it is a great general purpose stitch that is used in many patterns.
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