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Treehugger / Design by Amelia Manley

Knitting is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, thanks in part to the growth of online knitting classes that make it easier than ever to learn the craft. These online courses range from free video tutorials on knitting basics (that pair well with custom-made knitting kits) to more structured class schedules that allow knitters to complete a project from start to finish. We’ve sorted through the competition and selected the best online knitting classes.

Founded in 1975, Annie’s Craft Store has a long track record of providing excellent craft materials, customer service, and advice, and that same expertise carries over to its many online classes—with five to seven new episodes and topics added weekly. 

Some popular knitting classes include Knitting ER: How to Fix Your Mistakes, Circular Knitting Essentials, and Learn to Knit Socks. Lesson descriptions are clearly outlined and even include the length of time allotted for each subtopic, as well as background information about each instructor, required supplies, and answers to common questions.

Classes can be purchased à la carte (most run about $10 to $15), or a monthly membership is approximately $8 with access to more than 1,450 craft tutorials (however, not all are specific to knitting).

Why It’s a Good Fit for Treehugger: A trusted company, Annie’s Craft Store also partakes in a number of craft-themed charity projects and contributes to more than 15 charitable organizations like Warm Up America and Knit a Square.

We Are Knitters is a community consisting of more than 600,000 members worldwide that offer materials, knitting kits, and plenty of tutorials.

Its free video tutorials are broken down into easy categories with short clips, followed by step-by-step instructions and summaries of what materials you’ll need for each project. There’s also a community forum to ask any questions you may have, and the community hosts popular virtual knitting parties for a chance to mingle.  

We Are Knitters' sustainably-sourced kits have everything you need to get started: wool, knitting needles, sewing needles, and patterns. (However, you can also buy your own materials and follow the free videos).

Starter kits cost about $50 for a beanie or approximately $63 for a shawl, while more advanced projects like sweaters and tops run about $75 to $125. You can also build credits that can be used toward kits and materials through the WAK Friends referral program. When your friends make a purchase, you’ll receive credit. 

Why It’s a Good Fit for TreeHugger: We Are Knitters only sells environmentally-friendly yarn in recycled packaging. Its needles are made from beechwood (instead of plastic) and We Are Knitters also contributes to community development in Peru, where its organic wool is sourced from.

Created by a collective of New England knitters, Third Piece is a one-stop-shop for yarn, kits, clothing, and education. Get started with Third Piece’s online video tutorials on its YouTube Channel.

The scheduled classes are easily bookable online and typically run about 1.5 hours. A beginner class costs around $48 (with materials included) and teaches the basics of making a headband or mug cozy, with techniques like casting on, the knit stitch, binding off, basic sewing, and finishing. 

You can also sign up for more advanced classes to learn how to create larger clothing items, as well as specialty knitting classes, or contact them if you'd like to host a private Friends and Family class.

Why it’s a Good Fit for Treehugger: Third Piece’s mission is to have a positive impact on the community. The company also offers a podcast on sustainable fashion advice, promotes hand-made artisan brands, and provides vegan and recycled yarns. At the end of each season, Third Piece features special "zero waste" items made by local knitters that utilize scrap yarn from previous projects.

If you prefer to go at your own pace without the structure of a class schedule, Wool and the Gang has more than 150 free video knitting tutorials alongside step-by-step, written directions. From learning how to knit specific knots to diving right in with beginner projects like knitting a scarf, there’s a wealth of information for first-timers.

In addition, Wool and the Gang sell knitting kits, so you can match that Knitting a Scarf video tutorial with patterns, yarns, and needle sets. The kits can be easily searched based on skill level and customized to whatever colors you’d like.

Whether it’s eucalyptus tree fibers made using renewable energy or the brand's unique, New Wave yarn (made from discarded recycled plastic bottles), you can try a different material with each kit without wondering where it came from.

Kits range in cost, but expect around $33 for a beginner-level handbag to approximately $156 for a cardigan kit. 

Why It’s a Good Fit for Treehugger: We like that Wool and the Gang uses sustainable products in each kit, with its sourcing detailed in each product description.

If a more structured format will help you stick with knitting, consider the School of SweetGeorgia, an online, membership-based fiber arts school.

Founded by Felicia Lo Wong, the school specializes in color theories and dyes but covers just about every knitting topic you can imagine. Courses run anywhere from six to 23 lessons with a format that lets you go at your own pace.

Get started with more than 40 free knitting tutorials, or sign up for a risk-free, 30-day trial subscription. There’s also a handful of free sample classes to get a feel for what the membership is all about (without having to enter any payment information).

Membership pricing runs around $19 per month and includes access to the entire course library, plus forums, downloadable workbooks, and more. The school also features Knit Nights and live office hours through Zoom. 

Why it’s a Good Fit for Treehugger: The School of SweetGeorgia’s mission is to help people "discover the transformational power of colour and craft," which extends to helping communities in need as well. The School of SweetGeorgia hosted the "Wildfire Knit-Along and Fundraiser," with proceeds going towards those in need after the 2020 wildfires along the West Coast.

Skillshare is a space where individual artists and builders can teach others their craft through a series of video classes. The site features painters, photographers, animators, and yes, knitters. SkillShare lets you learn knitting techniques, how to hand-dye yarn, and various knit fashion styles from across the globe. 

Diane Dobson-Barton’s class can teach you how to make your first shawl, or how to recycle plastic bags into "plarn" (plastic yarn). Hannah Gilly’s “Knit with Hannah” classes are ideal for beginners with projects like small beanies, smartphone cases, and scarves. Davina Choy, the founder of the popular knitting blog, Sheep and Stitch, also offers SkillShare classes both for beginners and more advanced knitters. 

While there are a number of free classes on SkillShare, a paid premium membership unlocks even more and costs approximately $99 annually (with a 7-day free trial). 

Why It’s a Good Fit for Treehugger: In addition to their knitting classes, SkillShare has a wide variety of green building classes, lessons on using less plastic and reaching zero waste, and a host of other educational lectures to help spread the word about eco-conscious lifestyles.

In selecting the best online knitting classes, we considered the experience levels of instructors in addition to reviews and accolades. Davina Choy, for example, whose classes can be found on Skillshare, starting knitting as a teenager and has built a large following with her online instruction. 

Other factors in our selections included the variety of class options, availability, and involvement in the knitting community. We chose organizations like Wool and the Gang that prioritized environmental practices, like offering recycled materials in kits or sourcing sustainable wool and yarn. 

We also considered pricing, and several of our choices, like Third Piece, provide free options as well as paid classes to get a feel for knitting without a financial commitment. And all of the organizations we chose share a passion for teaching the art of knitting to the community.

No knitting background is needed. Most online courses are geared toward beginners, but there are plenty of advanced lessons as well. If a project you’re interested in doesn’t specify the skill level required, don’t hesitate to ask the instructor if it’s a good fit. 

Each project is different, so check with your instructor for specific materials or patterns, but generally speaking, you’ll need straight knitting needles (sizes 8 to 10 are best for beginners), stitch markers, and yarn (weight size five is best to start).

You can find the materials you need at your local craft store, but we recommend using eco-friendly yarns as much as possible. We Are Knitters, Wool, and the Gang, and Third Piece all sell yarn that’s made of recycled, sustainable, or vegan products. 

Pricing depends on the type of course you’re looking for. If you’re a self-starter or already have some basic experience in knitting, there are a variety of free online tutorials that you can get started with right away. A yearly membership to some organizations will end up saving you more in the long run (versus paying per class), with most memberships averaging around $100 to $200. Individual courses are priced from about $20 to $60 but vary depending on the length and the organization.

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