My Introduction to Knitting Class teaches individuals the most basic stitches one needs to know to get started in knitting: a cast on, a bind off, one type of increase, and the basics of reading a pattern. I use this pattern for the class because all the techniques can be taught over twenty rows. This way, the class can be taught in about an hour and the new knitters can finish without a teacher's supervision. This is the hand out I give all the students who take this class.
Beginner's Round Dishcloth
Glossary
K – Knit
YO – Yarn Over
BO – Bind Off
Cast on 15 Stitches with a Knit Cast On
Knit One Row
Row 1: K3, YO, K to last stitch, Turn
Row 2 and all even rows: Knit
Row 3: K3, YO, K to last 2 stitches, Turn
Row 5: K3, YO, K to last 3 stitches, Turn
Row 7: BO3, K2, YO, K to last 4 stitches, Turn
Row 9: K3, YO, K to last 5 stitches, Turn
Row 11: K3, YO, K to last 6 stitches, Turn
Row 13: BO3, YO, K to last 7 stitches, Turn
Row 15: K3, YO, K to last 8 stitches, Turn
Row 17: K3, YO, K to last 9 stitches, Turn
Row 19: BO3, YO, K to end, Turn
Row 20: Knit
Repeat these twenty rows 8 times, bind off Row 20 in the last repeat instead of knitting it.
Sew the first row and the last row together. Weave in ends.
If you want to learn more, the next stitches I recommend you learn, in this order, are:
Purl Stitch, Knit 2 Together, Slip Slip Knit, Knit in the Front and Back of a Stitch, Make 1 Right, Make 1 Left, a Long Tail Cast on, and a Kitchener Stitch.