Reading your knitting

What does a knit stitch look like? 

A knit stitch by itself is a loop. When you have completed several rows, these loops are not just connected to the loops on the left and right sides, but also with the loops above and below.  

In this drawing, each row is in a different color. Row 1 is in light gray, Row 2 is in dark gray.  Note how you can’t see the top of the dark gray loop because the stitch of the light blue row (Row 3) is coming out of it. 

Each knit stitch resembles a “V” that is connected to other stitches or V’s on either side.

This view of several rows of knitting show that the stitches form “V’s” all stacked together and on top of each other.

Note that in this photo you can’t see the top of the loops because the stitch from above is coming out of that loop to form the stitch in the row above.  

Counting Rows / Rounds

To count rows, count the number of V’s and add one for the stitch that is on the needle.  For example, in the image above, look for the small hole at the base of the V. Then count up the number of V’s. To help you keep track, you can put a stitch marker around the bottom of both legs of V’s. 

How do you put a stitch back on the needle?

When the stitches are on your needle, the right leg of the V sits on the front of the needle.  When you knit the stitch, you poke the right needle through the stitch on the left needle from the from the front to the back of the stitch, wrap the working yarn around the needle counter clockwise and draw it through so the new stitch is on the right needle and slip the the original stitch off the left needle.