Knitting Info

I developed this pattern to teach beginning knitting to a friend’s Girl Scout troop. It’s straightforward and flexible enough for them to decide “I”m done!“ without having to knit forever.

Feel free to use this as a handout for beginning knitting class. Use the pattern as is for a coin purse, or if they want to keep going, use more yarn and turn it into a sunglass case!

Some class suggestions:

• Round chop sticks make good knitting needles. Find a bulk buy (I got mine on Ebay) so they’re nice and cheap. Sharpen them in a pencil sharpener. Dull the point a little with sandpaper and sand out any problems, bamboo splinters are NOT fun. Rub with waxed paper to smooth them even more.
• Before class cast on and knit the first couple of rows for each kit. If the class is long enough, or you have quick students, you can go back and teach them cast on later

Free pattern available at:

PDF copy

Free Ravelry pattern

Finished size is 2"x2". Uses 15-20 yards of size 1o crochet cotton and 73 size 8/0 seed beads.

Knit in Garter Stitch.

Free pattern available at:

PDF copy

Free Ravelry pattern

Pattern and Class Video

• Free pattern (PDF)
• Video: Knitting Beyond the Basics Slip Stitch Semi Plaid Knit Pattern w/ Debbie Coyle (YouTube) This class provides a gentle introduction to Color Stranding and Slip Stitches, with a pattern that is done in Stockinette Stitch (Knit odd number rows, Purl even number rows) using two color Stranded Stitches (Fair Isle) and Slip Stitches (Mosaic Knitting). It can be used for a border pattern or as an overall pattern.
  Students need: 3 colors of yarn (1 main color and 2 colors for the stranding and slip stitch), Knitting needles (size to match your yarn)

Useful Links

Slip Stitch and Mosaic Knitting

• Mosaic Knitting: The Art of Slip Stitch Knitting (Knitfarious)
• How to Knit the Slip Stitch (New Stitch a Day by Knitiversity)
• A Well-Kept Secret: Mosaic Knitting (Interweave)

Stranded Knitting

• Stranded Colorwork 101 (Brooklyn Tweed)
• Combining Plain Stockinette with Stranded Colorwork (Interweave)
• Improve Your Stranded Knitting (Interweave)

• My Tips for Knitting with Beads -- Webpage -- PDF