How to Knit

Leslie Ann Bestor makes learning to knit fun and easy. Bestor's simple, fully illustrated instructions lead you through the basics of knitting, from choosing the right needles and yarn to reading a knitting pattern. You'll quickly learn techniques for expertly casting on, executing knit and purl stitches, binding off, blocking finished projects, and much more. Even if you've never held a pair of knitting needles before, this easy-to-follow guide will have you knitting in no time!

An Invitation to Knit: Shortcut to Getting Started
Chapter 1: When You're Ready to Cast On

Chapter 2: The Basic Stitches: Knit, Purl, and ... Slip
Knit Stitch Know-How - Purl Stitch Power - Slipped Stitch Savvy - Reading Your Stitches - Name That Fabric! - Changing to a New Ball of Yarn - It's Over: Binding Off - Weaving in the Ends - Blocking for the Perfect Finish

Chapter 3: Shaping Up Your Knitting: Increases & Decreases
Exploring Increases - Mastering Decreases

Chapter 4: We All Make Mistakes
Rescuing Dropped and Runaway Stitches - When Ripping Back Is the Only Option - What the Heck Is Gauge?

Chapter 5: Getting Down to the Tools and Materials
Needles Are Not All Alike - Accessories Add to the Fun - The Real Magnet of the Knitting World: Yarn

Chapter 6: Learning to Decipher Patterns
Sizes and Measurements - Data about the Yarn - Translating Knitting Shorthand - Working with Pattern Stitches - Learning to Read Knitting Charts - Staying on Track - Multiples and Total Stitch Counts - A Set of Simple "Recipes" for Scarves - Next Steps - Three Things That Make a Good Knitter

Appendix
Yardage Guidelines for Items You Might Like to Knit - Knitting Needle Sizes - Standard Yarn Weight System - Reading List - Online Resources

Acknowledgments

Index