To make a knit stitch, put the right hand needle point through the stitch nearest to the point of the left hand needle, slipping it under the loop on the front of this needle.

Take the yarn anticlockwise round the right hand needle, and up between the right and left hand needles.

Now pull the right hand needle up through the loop on the left hand needle. This will create a new stitch. As you pull the yarn through, allow the original loop you just put the needle through to come off the left hand needle.

Continue these movements - yarn behind needle and up between the two needles, needle pulls yarn through stitch, original stitch pulled off left hand needle - with each stitch on the left hand needle. Eventually, all the stitches will be on the right hand needle and you will have knitted your first row!

When you have knitted this row, take the right hand needle with the stitches and put it in your left hand, and then continue to make stitches as described. Work several rows with every stitch knitted and look at your work. You will have a thick, soft fabric with a series of ridges on each side of the work. Each ridge consists of two rows of knit stitches. This stitch in knitting is known as Garter Stitch and is usually described in knitting patterns as every row knit.

This excellent reference book has masses of information about knitting techniques. It illustrates all the basic techniques and has a huge range of different ways to cast on and off and increase and decrease. A must for any knitter's bookcase!

This is another very good book which contains reference information on all the basics of how to knit and finish off a garment or item.