Course outline
Module 1
Module 1: Choosing Yarn and Needles
Choosing Yarn and Needles
Knowledge check
Q1. Which yarn weight is generally recommended for a beginner's first project because it is easy to see and handle?
- A. Lace weight
- B. Fingering weight
- C. Worsted weight ✓
- D. Thread weight
Why: Worsted weight (medium weight, category 4) yarn has thick enough strands that stitches are easy to see and manipulate, making it ideal for beginners.
Q2. What does the number printed on a knitting needle package or the needle itself usually indicate?
- A. The length of the needle in inches
- B. The price of the needle in dollars
- C. The diameter of the needle in millimeters ✓
- D. The number of stitches it can hold
Why: Needle sizes are most commonly listed by diameter in millimeters, and in the US system a number is also used, but the metric size tells you how thick the needle is.
Q3. Why do many beginners find bamboo or wooden needles easier to start with than metal ones?
- A. They are cheaper to replace
- B. They have more grip, so stitches are less likely to slip off ✓
- C. They are lighter and never bend
- D. They knit faster than other materials
Why: Wood and bamboo have a slightly textured surface that helps hold stitches in place, which reduces dropped or slipping stitches while a beginner is learning.
Q4. What is the purpose of checking a gauge swatch before starting a project?
- A. To test whether the yarn is colorfast
- B. To confirm that your stitches per inch match the pattern so the finished item will be the correct size ✓
- C. To practice reading the pattern symbols
- D. To determine how much yarn to buy for the whole project
Why: A gauge swatch measures how many stitches and rows fit into a set measurement, ensuring that your knitting tension matches the designer's so the garment fits as intended.
Q5. Which fiber is generally the most forgiving and elastic choice for a beginner learning to knit?
- A. 100% cotton
- B. Acrylic or a wool blend ✓
- C. Silk
- D. Linen
Why: Acrylic and wool blends have some stretch and bounce, which helps stitches recover from uneven tension, while cotton, silk, and linen are less elastic and show mistakes more readily.
Module 2
Module 2: Casting On Stitches
Casting On Stitches
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the purpose of casting on stitches when knitting?
- A. To bind off the finished edge of a project
- B. To create the first row of loops on the needle that the rest of the project is built from ✓
- C. To join two pieces of knitting together
- D. To count the number of rows completed so far
Why: Casting on creates the foundation row of loops on your needle. Every subsequent row is worked by knitting or purling into these initial stitches, so this step sets up the entire project.
Q2. Which cast-on method is most recommended for absolute beginners because it is simple and easy to learn?
- A. Long-tail cast on
- B. Knitted cast on ✓
- C. Cable cast on
- D. Provisional cast on
Why: The knitted cast on is often taught first because it only requires knitting a stitch and placing it on the left needle, repeated over and over. It is intuitive and helps beginners understand how stitches are formed.
Q3. In the long-tail cast on method, what should the tail of yarn be roughly, relative to the width of your project?
- A. Exactly the same length as the project
- B. About one inch for every stitch you plan to cast on ✓
- C. As short as possible to save yarn
- D. Ten times the length of the project
Why: A common guideline is to leave roughly one inch of tail per stitch, though this varies with yarn thickness. Leaving too little tail risks running out before finishing the cast on, while the extra can be trimmed later.
Q4. What is a common sign that your cast-on stitches are too tight?
- A. The stitches are easy to slide along the needle
- B. The edge puckers or curls, and the needle is hard to insert into the stitches ✓
- C. The yarn tail comes loose
- D. The stitches look too loose and floppy
Why: Stitches that are cast on too tightly make the edge pull in and pucker, and they become difficult to work into with the right needle. A good tip is to use a needle one or two sizes larger for the cast on to keep tension even.
Q5. Why is it important to keep your cast-on tension consistent with the rest of your knitting?
- A. Consistent tension makes the project look neat and avoids an uneven, wavy edge ✓
- B. It determines the color of the finished fabric
- C. It decides how many rows you can knit in an hour
- D. It prevents the yarn from ever needing to be replaced
Why: If the cast-on is much tighter or looser than the body of the project, the bottom edge will look uneven or wavy. Matching the tension of the cast-on to your regular knitting produces a smooth, professional-looking finish.
Module 3
Module 3: The Knit Stitch
The Knit Stitch
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the basic knit stitch created by inserting the right needle into the front of the loop from left to right?
- A. A purl stitch
- B. A knit stitch ✓
- C. A slip stitch
- D. A yarn over
Why: The knit stitch is formed by inserting the right needle through the front of the loop on the left needle from left to right, wrapping the yarn around, and pulling it through to create a new loop.
Q2. When working a knit stitch, which needle holds the stitch being worked on before it is completed?
- A. The right needle
- B. Both needles equally
- C. The left needle ✓
- D. A cable needle
Why: The left needle holds the stitches waiting to be worked. You work each stitch off the left needle and transfer the new stitch onto the right needle.
Q3. Which side of the knitted fabric is usually considered the right side when working stockinette stitch in the knit stitch?
- A. The side with purl bumps
- B. The side with smooth V-shaped knit stitches ✓
- C. The side with garter ridges
- D. The side with dropped stitches
Why: The right side of stockinette fabric shows smooth rows of V-shaped knit stitches, while the wrong side shows the bumpy purl stitches.
Q4. What is the result of knitting every row of a project in the knit stitch?
- A. Ribbing
- B. Stockinette stitch
- C. Garter stitch ✓
- D. Seed stitch
Why: Knitting every row creates garter stitch, which has ridges on both sides of the fabric and lies flat, making it a popular choice for beginners.
Q5. What should you do if you accidentally insert the right needle into the back of the loop instead of the front when knitting?
- A. Continue knitting, since it makes no difference
- B. Twist the stitch and it is fine
- C. Switch to purling for the rest of the row
- D. Undo the stitch and reinsert the needle into the front of the loop ✓
Why: Inserting the needle into the back of the loop twists the stitch, which changes its appearance and can make later stitches harder to work. Correcting it by reinserting into the front keeps the fabric even.
Module 4
Module 4: The Purl Stitch
The Purl Stitch
Knowledge check
Q1. In knitting, what is the basic visual difference between the knit stitch and the purl stitch?
- A. The knit stitch creates horizontal bumps while the purl stitch creates vertical columns
- B. The knit stitch shows smooth V-shaped columns on the front while the purl stitch shows bumps ✓
- C. Both stitches look identical on the front of the fabric
- D. The purl stitch creates a smooth face only when worked in the round
Why: On the right side of stockinette fabric, knit stitches appear as smooth V shapes, while purl stitches appear as bumps. Purl stitches are the reverse of knit stitches.
Q2. To work a basic purl stitch, where should the working yarn be held relative to the needles?
- A. Behind the work, toward you
- B. In front of the work, toward you ✓
- C. Wrapped twice around the right needle
- D. Hanging loose at the back of the left needle
Why: For a purl stitch, the yarn is held in front of the work, closest to you. This is the key position change from the knit stitch, where the yarn sits in back.
Q3. When inserting the right needle into a stitch to purl, which direction does the needle go?
- A. Front to back through the loop, from right to left ✓
- B. Back to front through the loop, from left to right
- C. Top to bottom through the middle of the stitch
- D. Right to left through the back of the loop only
Why: To purl, you insert the right needle from front to back, moving from right to left through the front of the stitch on the left needle, which is the reverse of the knit approach.
Q4. What is a common beginner mistake when learning to purl?
- A. Using needles that are too thick for the yarn
- B. Forgetting to move the yarn to the front before purling, which creates an extra or twisted stitch ✓
- C. Knitting too loosely so the fabric curls
- D. Working the stitches in the wrong order on the left needle
Why: Forgetting to bring the yarn forward before purling is very common. If the yarn stays in back, you end up wrapping the stitch incorrectly, causing extra stitches or a twisted look.
Q5. If you knit every row of a project, what fabric results, and how does it compare to alternating knit and purl rows?
- A. Garter stitch, which has bumps on every row and lies flat with a ridged texture ✓
- B. Stockinette stitch, which has a smooth face and curls at the edges
- C. Seed stitch, which has a bumpy checkerboard pattern
- D. Ribbing, which is very stretchy and has no curl
Why: Knitting every row creates garter stitch, which has ridges on both sides and lies flat. Stockinette, by contrast, alternates knit and purl rows (or knits on the right side and purls on the wrong side) and curls at the edges.
Module 5
Module 5: Reading Patterns and Gauge
Reading Patterns and Gauge
Knowledge check
Q1. What does 'gauge' refer to in knitting?
- A. The length of yarn needed for a project
- B. The number of stitches and rows per inch or centimeter in a knitted fabric ✓
- C. The thickness of the knitting needles
- D. The type of stitch pattern used
Why: Gauge measures how many stitches and rows fit into a set measurement, usually 4 inches (10 cm). It determines whether your finished garment will match the pattern's size.
Q2. In a knitting pattern, what does 'k' typically stand for?
- A. Keep
- B. Knit ✓
- C. Kink
- D. Knot
Why: 'K' is the standard abbreviation for knit, the most basic stitch in knitting. Patterns use abbreviations like k, p (purl), and st (stitch) to keep instructions concise.
Q3. If a pattern asks for 20 stitches over 4 inches and your swatch measures 22 stitches over 4 inches, what should you do?
- A. Ignore the difference, since it is minor
- B. Switch to slightly larger needles
- C. Switch to slightly smaller needles ✓
- D. Add more rows to the swatch
Why: Having more stitches per inch means your fabric is too tight. Switching to slightly smaller needles creates larger stitches, reducing the stitch count to match the pattern's gauge.
Q4. What does 'rep from *' mean in a knitting pattern?
- A. Repeat the instructions following the asterisk as directed ✓
- B. Replace the previous stitch
- C. Remove the stitches from the needle
- D. Repeat the entire pattern from the beginning
Why: The asterisk marks a section of instructions to be repeated, often until a specified point. 'Rep from *' tells you to go back to the asterisk and work the sequence again.
Q5. Why is it recommended to knit a gauge swatch before starting a project?
- A. To test the yarn's color fastness
- B. To check whether your tension matches the pattern so the finished size is correct ✓
- C. To practice new stitches only
- D. To determine how much yarn you have left
Why: Knitters vary in tension, so the same pattern can produce different sizes. A swatch lets you measure your stitches and rows and adjust needle size before investing time and yarn in the full project.
Module 6
Module 6: Binding Off and Finishing Edges
Binding Off and Finishing Edges
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the main purpose of binding off in knitting?
- A. To add a decorative pattern to the fabric
- B. To secure the last row of stitches so they don't unravel ✓
- C. To increase the number of stitches on the needle
- D. To prepare the yarn for dyeing
Why: Binding off locks the final row of stitches in place, preventing the knitted fabric from unraveling once it is removed from the needles.
Q2. Which tool is most commonly used to bind off stitches when working with a knitting needle?
- A. A crochet hook ✓
- B. A tapestry needle
- C. A stitch marker
- D. A cable needle
Why: A crochet hook is often used to bind off, especially in the crochet-style bind off, though the basic knit bind off uses only the knitting needles themselves. Among these options, the crochet hook is the most commonly used tool for this purpose.
Q3. When binding off knitwise, what do you do with the first stitch on the left needle?
- A. Slip it purlwise onto the right needle
- B. Knit it, then pass the previous stitch over it ✓
- C. Purl it and cut the yarn
- D. Remove it from the needle entirely
Why: In a standard knit bind off, you knit the first stitch, then lift the previously worked stitch over the newly made stitch and off the needle, leaving one stitch remaining.
Q4. What is a common way to finish the loose yarn tail after binding off?
- A. Tie it in a knot at the edge and leave it to dangle
- B. Thread it onto a tapestry needle and weave it into the nearby stitches ✓
- C. Cut it flush immediately after the last stitch
- D. Wrap it around the needle and pull tight
Why: Weaving the tail into nearby stitches with a tapestry needle secures it so it won't come loose, while keeping the finished edge neat and invisible.
Q5. Why should you avoid binding off too tightly?
- A. It causes the yarn to change color
- B. It can make the edge pucker or curl and reduce stretch ✓
- C. It makes the stitches invisible
- D. It removes the need for finishing
Why: A bind off that is too tight pulls the edge inward and reduces elasticity, causing puckering or curling. Using a larger needle or a looser tension helps keep the edge flexible.
Module 7
Module 7: Fixing Mistakes and Your First Project
Fixing Mistakes and Your First Project
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the safest first step when you discover a mistake several rows back in your knitting?
- A. Cut the yarn and start the entire project over
- B. Use a lifeline or count your stitches to identify where the error began, then carefully unravel back to that point
- C. Ignore the mistake and continue knitting, since it will be hidden in the finished piece
- D. Pull the entire project off the needles immediately
Why: Identifying the row where the error started and unraveling only to that point saves work. A lifeline (a strand of contrasting yarn threaded through live stitches) provides a safe place to stop unraveling.
Q2. What is a lifeline in knitting?
- A. A special needle used to hold dropped stitches
- B. A strand of contrasting yarn threaded through a row of live stitches as a safety net for fixing mistakes
- C. A type of cast-on method used at the beginning of a project
- D. A tool that measures gauge automatically
Why: A lifeline is a smooth strand of waste or contrasting yarn threaded through live stitches. If you need to rip back, you can unravel to the lifeline without losing stitches beyond it.
Q3. You have dropped a stitch and it has run down two rows. What tool is most helpful for picking it up?
- A. A tapestry needle
- B. A stitch marker
- C. A crochet hook
- D. A cable needle
Why: A crochet hook is the standard tool for picking up dropped stitches, letting you catch the loop and pull it back through the ladder of strands row by row.
Q4. What does it mean to 'block' a finished knitted piece?
- A. To cut out sections that contain errors
- B. To wet or steam the piece and shape it to the correct measurements so stitches even out and the fabric relaxes
- C. To sew two pieces together along a seam
- D. To add a border around the outer edge
Why: Blocking relaxes the fibers, evens out stitch irregularities, and shapes the piece to its finished dimensions. It is often the step that makes a beginner project look polished.
Q5. Which practice is recommended for a first beginner project?
- A. Choosing a complex lace pattern in fine yarn
- B. Choosing a simple pattern such as a basic scarf or dishcloth in a smooth, light-colored worsted-weight yarn
- C. Knitting a fitted sweater with multiple sizes
- D. Using dark, fuzzy yarn with a textured stitch pattern
Why: Simple garter or stockinette patterns in smooth, light-colored yarn let beginners see their stitches clearly, making mistakes easier to spot and fix while building confidence.