Tag Archives: knitting tutorial

Tutorial Series: K1tbl and P1tbl

Posted in K1tbl and P1tbl, Tutorial Series by

A knit (Tutorial Series: Knit or Tink) or a purl (Tutorial Series: Purl or Un-Purl) stitch is created through the front loop of the stitch. A variation of the the knit or purl stitch is created through the back loop of the stitch. Knitting or purling through the back loop (K1tbl/Ktbl or P1tbl/Ptbl) twists the stitches. It looks quite different from the knit and purl stitch. K1tbl and P1tbl makes the knitted fabric more dense and is sometimes used in ribbing or as a design element.


The video and written instructions below show how to K1tbl and P1tbl for right-hand knitting.

Knit 1 through the Back Loop (K1tbl):


Written Instructions for Knit 1 through the Back Loop (K1tbl):

  • Insert the right knitting needle front to back through the back loop of the stitch on the left knitting needle.
  • Take the working yarn around the top of the right needle and wrap it between the two needles on top of the first stitch
  • Catch and pick up the working yarn loop (the new stitch) with and onto the right needle
  • Slip the remaining stitch off the left needle

Purl 1 through the Back Loop (P1tbl):


Written Instructions for Purl 1 through the Back Loop (P1tbl):

  • Insert the right needle from back to front through the back loop of the stitch on the left knitting needle
  • Wrap the working yarn around the inserted right needle
  • Catch the loop made made by the working yarn (the new stitch) with the right needle
  • Slip the loop (the new stitch) onto the right needle and the old stitch off the left needle

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© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: Slip Slip Knit (SSK)

Posted in 2025, Slip Slip Knit, Tutorial Series by

Another way to decrease a stitch in knitting is to do a “Slip Slip Knit (SSK)”. In SSK, a stitch is decreased when two stitches are slipped and then knit together through the back loop. Decreasing stitches like increasing stitches are techniques in knitting used to give shape to knitted items. Unlike K2tog (Tutorial Series: K2tog and P2tog) technique which forms a right-leaning decrease, SSK technique forms a left-leaning decrease. The written instructions and video below show how to decrease one stitch for right handed knitting.

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Slip Slip Knit (SSK):

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The Steps for Slip Slip Knit (SSK):

  1. Slip the first two stitches knitwise (one at a time) on the left knitting needle to the right knitting needle
  2. Transfer the two slipped stitches (one at a time) now on the right knitting needle back to the left knitting needle
  3. Insert the right knitting needle through the back loop of those two slipped stitches on the left knitting needle
  4. Knit (Tutorial Series: Knit and Tink) the two stitches together through the back loop (one stitch decreased)
  5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 as needed for a knitting pattern

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© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: The Provisional Cast-On Method

Posted in January 2025, The Provisional Cast-On Method by

The provisional cast-on is a temporary cast on method. With this technique, the “live” stitches on the waste yarn are picked up later. They are then knit in the opposite direction. A common way to make a provisional cast on is to make a crochet chain from waste yarn first. Then, with the project yarn, make stitches using the purl bumps of the crochet chain. Later, remove the crochet chain waste yarn by picking up the “live” stitches and knitting them in the opposite direction. For example, I use provisional cast on to start a top down sweater. Once the body of the sweater is finished, I pick up the “live” stitches. Then, I knit the collar in the opposite direction. There are several different kinds of knitting projects that use the provisional cast on method. The written instructions and video on how to do the provisional cast on is shown below for right handed knitting.

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The Provisional Cast-On Method:

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The Provisional Cast-On Stitches:

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The Steps for the Provisional Cast-On Method:

  1. Using a waste yarn (or a yarn different from the knitting project yarn), make a crochet chain (Tutorial Series: How to Crochet Chain) with the number of stitches specific for a project
  2. [Tip: chain a few extra stitches than needed for the project]
  3. Turn the crochet chain so that the purl bumps are facing you (image below)
  4. Insert a knitting needle into the purl bump (image below)
  5. Make a loop with the project yarn and slide it onto the knitting needle
  6. Tighten and secure the project (working) yarn as needed
  7. Bring the project yarn loop through the purl bump and onto the needle
  8. Insert the knitting needle into the next purl bump
  9. Bring the project (working) yarn around the knitting needle (counterclockwise), catch and pull the yarn loop through the purl bump and onto the needle
  10. Repeat Steps 8 and 9 till you have all the stitches needed for a knitting project
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© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: The Thumb Method Cast-on

Posted in The Thumb Method Cast-on, Tutorial Series by

The Thumb method cast-on is a commonly used long tail cast-on technique. A long tail of yarn is set aside on one side of the slip knot. The working yarn is on the other side of the slip knot. The thumb is used to form the loop that is used to make a new stitch on the knitting needle. Another example of a long tail cast-on technique is the slingshot method. In this method, the thumb and the index finger create a new stitch. The thumb method is beginner-friendly and a quick cast-on method. I use the thumb method cast-on mostly for knitting projects with few stitches (dishcloths, etc.). The written instructions and video below on how to do the thumb method cast-on are shown for right-handed knitting.

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The Thumb Method Cast-On:

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The Steps for the Thumb Method Cast-On:

  1. Make a slip knot (Tutorial Series: How to Slip Knot) with a yarn tail that will be enough for the number of stitches for a specific knitting project
  2. Insert the slip knot onto a knitting needle
  3. Holding the yarn tail with some tension in the left fist, wrap the left thumb under and over the yarn tail to make a loop
  4. Insert the right hand needle into the front strand of the loop on the thumb
  5. Bring the working yarn around the top of the right needle and wrap it between the thumb and the right knitting needle
  6. Catch and pick up the working yarn loop (a new stitch) with the right needle
  7. Repeat Steps 3 – 6 to cast-on the required number of stitches needed for a knitting project

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© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: The Knotted K2tog Bind Off

Posted in The Knotted K2tog Bind Off, Tutorial Series by

A decorative bind – off method that I used in The Cozy Season Shrug is the Knotted K2tog bind – off. It gives a nicer looking finished edge for shawls, shrugs etc. that can be added to a garter stitch pattern border.

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The written instructions and video below on how to do the knotted K2tog bind – off is shown for right handed knitting.

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Abbreviations:

  • K: Knit
  • K2tog: Knit the two stitches on the left knitting needle together
  • wyif: with the working yarn in front

The Knotted K2tog Bind Off:

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Knotted K2tog Bind Off: (written intructions)

  1. To begin the bind off row/round: K2, wyif slip the 2 knitted stitches on the right knitting needle back onto the left knitting needle
  2. Wrap the working yarn in front of the 2 stitches on the left knitting needle
  3. Insert the right knitting needle into the wrapped stitches on the left knitting needle and knit those 2 stitches together.
  4. Knit the next stitch on the left knitting needle. There are two stitches on the right knitting needle
  5. Pass the second stitch on the right knitting needle over the first stitch on that needle
  6. K1, wyif slip the 2 knitted stitches on the right knitting needle back onto the left knitting needle
  7. Repeat steps 2 to 5
  8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 till one stitch left in the bind off row/round
  9. Cut and pull working yarn through the last remaining stitch and weave in the end
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© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: Pfb (Purl front and back)

Posted in Pfb (Purl front and back), Tutorial Series by

Purl front and back (Pfb) is the method to increase stitches on the purl side in a row or round. One stitch in a row or round is added when the first stitch on the left knitting needle is purled in the front loop as well as in the back loop before sliding that stitch off the left needle. The written instructions and video below show how to increase stitches by doing a Pfb for right handed knitting.

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Abbreviations:

  • P: purl
  • Pfb: purl front and back
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Pfb (Purl front and back) in slow motion:

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. Pfb (Purl front and back) written instructions:

  • With working yarn in front, insert the right knitting needle from front to back into the front loop of the first stitch on the left knitting needle
  • Bring the working yarn around and between the left and right knitting needles
  • With the right needle, catch and pull the loop made by the working yarn under the front loop of the stitch on the left needle
  • Turn the right needle towards the back loop of the same stitch on the left needle
  • Insert the right needle from back to front into the back loop of the same first stitch on the left needle
  • Bring the working yarn around and between the two needles
  • Catch and pull the new loop made by the working yarn with the right needle
  • Slide the first stitch off the left needle and secure the two new stitches on the right needle
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P1, Pfb, P1, Pfb:

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© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: (Kfb) Knit front and back

Posted in Kfb (Knit front and back), Tutorial Series by

One way to increase stitches in knitting is the Kfb (knit front and back) method. Increasing stitches in knitting is used to give shape to knitted items, for texture and for lace work. An extra stitch is added in a row or round when a stitch on the left knitting needle is knit both in the front loop as well as in the back loop. This tutorial includes written instructions and two videos (one in slow motion) on how to increase stitches by doing a Kfb for right handed knitting.

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Kfb in Slow Motion:

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Written Instructions for Kfb (Knit front and back):

  • Insert the right knitting needle into the front loop of the first stitch on the left knitting needle
  • Bring the working yarn around and between the left and right knitting needles
  • Catch and pull the loop made by the working yarn with the right needle
  • Turn the right needle towards the back loop of the same stitch on the left needle
  • Insert the right needle into the back loop of that stitch
  • Bring the working yarn around and between the two needles
  • Catch and pull the new loop made by the working yarn with the right needle
  • Slide the first stitch off the left needle and secure the two new stitches on the right needle
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The video below shows Knit 1, KFB, Knit 1, Kfb:

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© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: K2tog and P2tog

Posted in K2tog and P2tog, Tutorial Series by

One way to decrease a stitch in knitting is by doing a K2tog on the knit row/round or a P2tog on a purl row/round. K2tog stands for knit two stitches together and P2tog stands for purl two stitches together. The videos below show both ways of decreasing one stitch in right handed knitting.

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Written Steps for K2tog:

  • Insert the right needle into the front of the second stitch on the left knitting needle and then insert it into the first stitch on the left needle
  • Wrap the working yarn around the inserted right needle
  • Pull the right knitting needle and working yarn loop into and through the 2 stitches on the left needle
  • Keep the working yarn loop (the new stitch) on the right needle and slide the 2 stitches off the left needle
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Written Steps for P2tog:

  • Insert right needle front to back into the first two stitches on the left knitting needle
  • Wrap the working yarn around the right needle
  • Pull the working yarn loop on the right needle through the two stitches on the left needle and keep the loop (new stitch) on the right needle
  • Slide the first two stitches off the left needle
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~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.