L E

R
N
T O
I T
N
K

learn to
KNIT
E S S E N TI A L C HE AT S H EE T S

WW W .S A R A H M A KE R . CO M
 R

N
G
I N
Introduction

T
T
I
K N

Welcome! Thank you for downloading the Learn to Knit: Essential Cheat Sheets. In the
pages that follow, you’ll find helpful charts, tables, and reference guides that will give
you the information you need as you learn to knit. Please feel free to print them out!

ABOUT SARAH MAKER

Hi, I’m Sarah. On my blog, sarahmaker.com, I design and

share approachable craft projects - like free knitting patterns,
tutorials, and so much more.

My goal is to teach you how to knit step-by-step, so even

complicated projects feel completely doable. Helping people
feel creative makes me so happy, and drives everything I do.

My craft tutorials have been featured in Scientific American, Vox, Good Housekeeping,
Yahoo, Apartment Therapy, and more. And each month, more than 500k people come to
sarahmaker.com to get inspired and find their next craft project.

W H AT W I L L Y O U M A K E N E X T ?

After you’ve read the cheat sheets, I hope you’ll check out all of the other free knitting
patterns and tutorials on my website.

For knitting beginners who want to learn the basic stitches:

• How to Knit: Complete Guide for Beginners
• How to Cast On
• How to Knit the Knit Stitch
• How to Knit the Purl Stitch
• How to Cast Off (Bind Off)

For knitters looking for their next pattern:

• 25 Free and Easy Knitting Patterns for Beginners

© SARAH MAKER WWW.SARAHMAKER.COM 2

 R

N
G
I N
T
T
basic Knitting stitches
I
K N

Need a quick reminder? Here are step-by-step instructions for basic knitting stitches.

Cast On 3. Use the right needle to draw the loop of

yarn back through the stitch.
There are many ways to cast on, including 4. Slide the new loop off the left needle.
the Knitted Cast On decribed below.

1. Measure out a 6-inch tail of yarn. Tie a slip

knot and place it on the needle. Bind Off (Cast Off)
2. Hold this needle in your left hand and the Binding Off is the process of getting the
second (empty) needle in your right hand.
stitches off your needles.
3. Insert the right needle into the stitch from
left to right, as if to knit. 1. Knit the first two stitches.
4. Wrap the working yarn around the needle 2. Insert the left needle into the first stitch,
counterclockwise. and lift it up and over the second stitch,
and off the needle.
5. Use the right needle to draw the yarn
forward through the stitch. 3. Knit another stitch; insert the left needle
into the first stitch, and let it up, over the
6. Do not slide the stitch off the needle.
second stitch, and off the needle.
Instead, transfer this loop back onto the
left-hand needle, from tip to tip. 4. Repeat Step 3 until all stitches are bound
off and one loop remains on the right
7. Repeat from Step 3. Each time, insert the
needle.
empty right-hand needle into the newly
cast on stitch, from left to right, as if to 5. Cut yarn and draw it through the last loop.
knit.

Stockinette Stitch (St st)

Knit Stitch (k)
Stockinette stitch is a basic knitting stitch
1. Insert the right needle into the first stitch
from left to right. pattern that creates a smooth, even fabric.
2. Wrap the yarn around the needle Row 1: Knit
counterclockwise.
Row 2: Purl
3. Use the right needle to draw the loop of
yarn forward through the stitch. Repeat Rows 1 and 2
4. Slide the new loop off the left needle.
Garter Stitch

Purl Stitch (p) Garter is made by knitting every row. It cre-

ates a stretchy, reversible fabric that lies flat.
1. Insert the right needle into the first stitch
from right to left. Row 1: Knit
2. Wrap the yarn around the needle
Repeat Row 1
counterclockwise.

© SARAH MAKER WWW.SARAHMAKER.COM 3

 R

N
G
I N
T
T
I
K N

yarn weights Yarn comes in a variety of types and thicknesses, or

weights. In this chart, you’ll find the recommended
knitting needle sizes for each weight category of yarn.

SYMBOL COMMON NAMES KNIT GAUGE* NEEDLE SIZES (US) NEEDLE SIZES (MM)

0: Lace
or
33–40 sts 000–1 1.5–2.25 mm
Thread, Cobweb,
Light Fingering

1: Super Fine
or 27–32 sts 1 to 3 2.25–3.25 mm
Fingering, Sock

2: Fine
or 23–26 sts 3 to 5 3.25–3.75 mm
Sport, Baby

3: Light
or
21–24 sts 5 to 7 3.75–4.5 mm
DK (Double Knit),
Light Worsted

4: Medium
or
Worsted, Aran, 16–20 sts 7 to 9 4.5–5.5 mm
Fisherman, Af-
ghan

5: Bulky
or 12–15 sts 9 to 11 5.5–8 mm
Chunky, Craft, Rug

6: Super Bulky
11
or 7–11 sts 8–12.75 mm
to 17
Roving

7: Jumbo
12.75 mm or
or 6 sts or fewer 17 or larger
larger
Roving

*Gauge range is given per 4-inch swatch knit in stockinette stitch.

© SARAH MAKER WWW.SARAHMAKER.COM 4

 R

N
G
I N
T
T
I
K N

how much yarn? Use this table to estimate how much yarn
you’ll need for your project. Refer to the
individual pattern for the exact yardage.

250-325 250-325 200-250 200-225 125-200 125-150 30-60

HAT
yards yards yards yards yards yards yards

525-825 450-625 375-500 375-500 250-375 250-375 125-200

SCARF
yards yards yards yards yards yards yards

350-500 300-450 275-400 275-375 250-350 200-250 175-200

SOCKS
yards yards yards yards yards yards yards

550-850 450-700 400-625 375-550 350-500 350-475 300-400

SHAWL
yards yards yards yards yards yards yards

ADULT 2500-3375 1750-2625 1500-2250 1125-1625 950-1125 825-1125 825-1125

SWEATER yards yards yards yards yards yards yards

BABY 1500-1625 1250-1500 1125-1250 1000-1125 875-1000 750-875 625-750

BLANKET yards yards yards yards yards yards yards

3750-4125 3500-3750 3000-3500 2250-3125 2000-2250 1625-2000 1375-1625

AFGHAN
yards yards yards yards yards yards yards

© SARAH MAKER WWW.SARAHMAKER.COM 5

 R

N
G
I N
T
T
I
K N

Needle sizes Knitting needle size labeling varies by country.

Use the knitting needle size chart below to compare
sizes, or convert one measurement system to another.

METRIC US

1.50 mm 000
1.75 mm 00
2 mm 0
2.25 mm 1
2.75 mm 2
3 mm
3.125 mm 3
3.25 mm 3
3.50 mm 4
3.75 mm 5
4 mm 6
4.25 mm 6
4.50 mm 7
5 mm 8
5.25 mm 9
5.50 mm 9
5.75 mm 10
6 mm 10
6.50 mm 10 ½
7 mm
8 mm 11
9 mm 13
10 mm 15
12.50 mm 17
12.75 mm 17
15 mm 19
19 mm 35
25 mm 50
35 mm 70

© SARAH MAKER WWW.SARAHMAKER.COM 6

 R

N
G
I N
T
T
Knitting chart symbols
I
K N

On this page you’ll find some of the most common symbols used in knitting charts. Be sure to refer
to your specific pattern for additional symbol definitions. (Symbols source: Craft Yarn Council)

SK2P on RS, SSSK on RS, SSSP

K on RS, p on WS
on WS

P on RS, k on WS SSSP on RS, SSSK on WS

Yarn over S2KP2 on RS, SSPP2 on WS

K2tog on RS, p2tog on WS K1 tbl on RS, p1 tbl on WS

P2tog on RS, k2tog on WS P1 tbl on RS, k1 tbl on WS

SSK on RS, SSP on WS Bobble

Sts do not exist in these

SSP on RS, SSK on WS
areas of chart

K1fb on RS, p1fb on WS Inc 1-to-3

Make 1 (M1) knitwise on RS,

Inc 1-to-4
make 1 (M1) purlwise on WS

Make 1 (M1) purlwise on RS,

Inc 1-to-5
make 1 (M1) knitwise on WS

Right-slanting make 1 Dec 4-to-1 (right slanting)

Left-slanting make 1 Dec 4-to-1 (left slanting)

Right-slanting lifted inc Dec 4-to-1 (centered)

Left-slanting lifted inc Dec 5-to-1

Sl 1 purlwise wyb on RS, sl 1 K1, wrapping yarn twice

purlwise wyf on WS around needle
Sl 1 purlwise wyf on RS, sl 1
Bind off
purlwise wyb on WS

St rem on right needle after

K3tog on RS, p3tog on WS
last BO st

P3tog on RS, k3tog on WS Cast on

© SARAH MAKER WWW.SARAHMAKER.COM 7

 R

N
G
I N
T
T
Knitting cable symbols
I
K N

Here are some of the most common cable symbols used in knitting charts. Be sure to refer to your
specific pattern for additional symbol definitions. (Symbols source: Craft Yarn Council)

SYMBOL VER. 1 SYMBOL VER. 2 CABLE STITCH DESCRIPTION

1/1 Right Cross (2-st RC): Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k1, k1 from cn

1/1 Left Cross (2-st LC): Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in front, k1, k1 from cn

1/1 Right Purl Cross (2-st RPC): Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k1, p1
from cn

1/1 Left Purl Cross (2-st LPC): Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in front, p1, k1 from
cn

2/1 RC (2-st RC): Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k2, k1 from cn

2/1 LC (2-st LC): Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in front, k1, k2 from cn

2/1 RPC (2-st RPC): Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k2, p1 from cn

2/1 LPC (2-st LPC): Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in front, p1, k2 from cn

2/2 RC (4-st RC): Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in back, k2, k2 from cn

2/2 LC (4-st LC): Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in front, k2, k2 from cn

2/2 RPC (4-st RPC): Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in back, k2, p2 from cn

2/2 LPC (4-st LPC): Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in front, p2, k2 from cn

2/1/2 RPC (5-st RPC): Sl 2 sts onto first cn and hold in back, sl 1 st onto
2nd cn and hold in back, k2, p1 from 2nd cn, k2 from first cn

2/1/2 LPC (5-st LPC): Sl 2 sts onto first cn and hold in front, sl 1 st onto
2nd cn and hold in back, k2, p1 from 2nd cn, k2 from first cn

© SARAH MAKER WWW.SARAHMAKER.COM 8

 R

N
G
terms & abbreviations

I N
T
T
I
K N

ABBREVIATION DESCRIPTION
alt alternate
approx. approximately
beg begin or beginning
bet between
BO bind off
byo backward yarn over
cc contrasting color
cn cable needle
CO cast on
cont continue
dec decrease
dpn double pointed needle
foll follow
inc increase
k knit
k1b knit 1 in row below
kfb knit front and back (single knit increase)
ksp knit, slip, pass (singe right-leaning decrease)
k2tog knit two together (sigle right-leaning decrease)
kwise knitwise
LC / LPC left cross / left purl cross
LH left hand
lp loop
m marker
M1 or M1K make one knitwise (single knit increase)
M1L make one left (single left-leaning purl increase)
M1R make one right (single left-leaning purl increase)
mc main color
p purl
pat or patt pattern
pfb purl front and back (single purl increase)
pm place marker
p2tog purl 2 together (single decrease)
prev previous
psso pass slipped stitch over
p2sso pass 2 slipped stitches over
pwise purlwise
RC / RPC right cross / right purl cross

© SARAH MAKER WWW.SARAHMAKER.COM 9

 R

N
G
terms & abbreviations

I N
T
T
I
K N

rem remaining
rep repeat
rev St st reverse stockinette stitch
RH right hand
rnd round
rs right side
skp slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (single left-leaning decrease)
sl slip
sl1k slip 1 knitwise
sl1p slip 1 purlwise
sl st or ss slip stitch
sm or sl m slip marker
ssk slip, slip, knit (single left-leaning decrease)
ssp slip, slip, purl (single left-leaning decrease)
st stitch
St st stockinette stitch
tbl through back loop
tfl through front loop
tog together
WS wrong side
w&t wrap and turn
wyib with yarn in back
wyif with yarn in front
yb yarn back
yf or yfwd yarn forward
yo yarn over

US TERMS UK TERMS
bind off cast off
gauge tension

SYMBOL DESCRIPTION
* Repeat the instructions following the asterisk as many times
as directed.
** Repeat the instructions between the asterisks as many times
as directed.
{ } or [ ] Work instructions within brackets as many times as directed.
() Work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed,
or work a group of stitches all in the same stitch or space.

© SARAH MAKER WWW.SARAHMAKER.COM 10