Casting on, knitting, purling, and binding off—these are the building blocks of the craft.
Knitting is a two-handed craft. A needle is held in each hand, and the yarn is tensioned and manipulated with either the right or the left hand. The usual method of knitting is to work the stitches off the left needle onto the right needle. Some left-handers may prefer to reverse the direction of knitting; if you’re left-handed, you could try using a mirror to reverse the diagrams. But most lefties find that holding the yarn in their left hand, so that it does more of the work, will solve the problem.
Here’s how most knitters hold the yarn and needles. However, there is no one correct method, so experiment until you find the way that’s comfortable for you.
Yarn: right hand
The yarn leading to the work is on the left in this diagram, the yarn to the ball on the right. Catch the yarn around the little finger, then lace it over the third, under the middle, and over the first finger of the right hand.
Yarn: left hand
The yarn leading to the work is on the right, the yarn to the ball on the left. Catch the yarn around the little finger, then take it over the third and middle fingers.
Right needle: like a pen
Pick up a needle with your left hand, holding it lightly over the top. Take the other needle in your right hand, holding it like a pen, with thumb and first finger lightly gripping it close to the tip and the shaft of the needle resting in the crook of your thumb. When you knit, slide the right hand forward, still supporting the needle.
Right needle: like a knife
Pick up a needle in each hand, holding both needles lightly over the top. Tuck the end of the right needle under your arm. When you knit, let go of the needle and bring the right hand forward to manipulate the yarn, then return the fingers to the needle tip to move the stitches along.
