Cast-on stitches sit on your needle, and now you begin the actual knitting
Starting a knitting row means pulling yarn through the loops already on your needle to create the first line of stitches. You hold the needle with cast-on stitches in your left hand, insert your working needle from left to right through the first stitch, wrap yarn around the working needle, and pull it back through to form a new loop. That new loop becomes your first stitch of the row. You repeat this motion across the needle until every cast-on stitch has been worked into a new stitch on the right needle.
The motion is the same whether you are knitting flat (back and forth on two needles) or in the round (using circular or double-pointed needles). The difference is only what you do when you reach the end of the row—on flat knitting, you turn the work and start again; on circular needles, you straightforward keep going around.
Key Takeaways
- Insert your working needle through the first stitch on the left needle from front to back, wrap yarn around it, and pull through to create a new stitch.
- Keep your tension consistent by holding the working yarn at the same distance from the needle throughout the row.
- The first stitch of every row is often loose—this is normal and tightens as you work the next few stitches.
- Slip the first stitch of a new row rather than knitting it if your pattern calls for a chain edge, which creates a neater border.
Hold the needles correctly before you begin
Your left hand holds the needle with all the cast-on stitches. Your right hand holds the empty working needle. The working yarn (the yarn attached to the ball) hangs from the last cast-on stitch and stays in your right hand as you work. Most knitters hold the yarn either in their right hand (English style) or their left hand (Continental style)—either works, and the choice is personal preference.
Position the needle tips so they point slightly downward and away from your body. This angle makes it easier to see the stitches and control the needle. Rest the needle shaft against your hand or arm for stability, especially when you are learning. You do not need to grip tightly; a relaxed hold gives you better control and prevents hand fatigue.
Insert the needle through the first stitch
Look at the first stitch on your left needle—it is a loop of yarn. From the front of your work, push the tip of your right needle through that loop from left to right, going under the left needle. The right needle should pass through the stitch cleanly without splitting the yarn or catching on it. If you feel resistance, you may have caught the yarn; gently back out and try again.
The right needle now sits inside the loop, with the left needle on top. This is the position for every knit stitch, whether you are starting a row or working in the middle of one. The stitch itself stays on the left needle until you complete the motion and slip it off.
Wrap the yarn and pull through
With the right needle inside the stitch, take your working yarn and wrap it around the right needle. If you hold yarn in your right hand (English style), bring the yarn from right to left around the needle tip. If you hold yarn in your left hand (Continental style), use your left index finger to bring the yarn around the right needle from left to right. Either way, the yarn makes a loop around the right needle.
Now pull the right needle backward and downward, drawing the wrapped yarn back through the original stitch on the left needle. You are creating a new loop on the right needle while the old loop is still on the left needle. This is the moment the new stitch forms. Pull gently—you want the yarn snug enough to hold its shape but not so tight that it becomes hard to work into on the next row.
Slip the old stitch off and repeat
Once the new loop is on your right needle, use the tip of the right needle to push the old stitch off the left needle. The old stitch slides off and disappears; the new stitch stays on the right needle. You have completed one knit stitch. The first stitch of your row is now done.
Move to the next stitch on the left needle and repeat: insert the right needle, wrap yarn, pull through, slip off. Continue this pattern until every stitch from the left needle has been worked and moved to the right needle. When you finish the row, all stitches will be on the right needle, and you will turn the work to begin the next row.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The first stitch is too loose. This happens to almost every knitter and is not a mistake—it is normal. The first stitch of a row has less tension because you are starting fresh. It tightens as you work the next few stitches. If it bothers you, you can slip the first stitch instead of knitting it, which creates a chain edge and uses less yarn at the edge.
You are splitting the yarn. This means your needle is going through the yarn of the stitch rather than through the loop itself. Look at where the needle enters the stitch—it should go through the center of the loop, not through the strand of yarn. Slow down and aim more carefully. Splitting makes the stitch weak and the fabric look messy.
Your tension is uneven. If some stitches are tight and others are loose, you are changing how far the yarn sits from the needle as you work. Keep the working yarn at the same distance from the needle throughout the row. This takes practice, but consistency comes naturally after a few rows.
You are accidentally knitting through two stitches at once. This happens when the needle enters a stitch but also catches the stitch next to it. Look at your needle tip before you wrap the yarn—only one stitch should be on the needle. If two are there, back out and reposition.
When to slip the first stitch instead
Many patterns ask you to slip the first stitch of a row rather than knit it. This means you insert the needle through the first stitch as if to knit, but instead of wrapping yarn and pulling through, you straightforward slide the stitch from the left needle to the right needle without working it. The stitch itself does not change—it just moves over.
Slipping the first stitch creates a chain edge, which looks neat and is easier to pick up stitches from later. It also uses slightly less yarn and can make edge stitches sit more evenly. If your pattern does not mention it, you can knit the first stitch normally. Once you are comfortable with the basic motion, experimenting with a slipped edge is worth trying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my first stitch always loose?
The first stitch of a row has less tension because you are starting fresh with no previous stitch to anchor it. This is normal and tightens as you work the next few stitches. If you want to minimize it, slip the first stitch instead of knitting it—this uses less yarn and creates a neater edge.
What does it mean to knit through the back loop?
Normally you insert the needle through the front of the stitch. Knitting through the back loop means you insert the needle from the opposite direction, going through the back of the loop instead. This twists the stitch and is used in some patterns for texture or to fix a twisted stitch.
Do I need to knit the first stitch differently if I am using circular needles?
No. The motion is identical whether you use straight needles, circular needles, or double-pointed needles. The only difference is that on circular needles you keep going around instead of turning the work at the end of the row.
How tight should the yarn be when I pull it through?
Pull snug enough that the stitch holds its shape and does not slide around on the needle, but not so tight that you strain to insert the needle into it on the next row. If you have to force the needle through, the yarn is too tight. This comes with practice—most knitters find their natural tension within a few rows.
What if I accidentally knit into the same stitch twice?
You will end up with an extra stitch on your needle and a hole in your fabric. If you notice it right away, you can drop the extra stitch off the needle and tighten the working yarn to close the hole. If you do not notice until later, you can use a crochet hook to fix it, or you can straightforward continue—one extra stitch usually does not ruin a project.