Shaping the shoulders
Often the shoulder shaping begins while the neckline is still being worked your pattern says at the same time if this is the case . At this point, get out the graph paper again. It's helpful to chart the neckline shaping stitch by stitch, especially if the shoulders are shaped as well, because the chart makes clear what you should be doing and when. Here's a set of example instructions for front neck and shoulder shaping Next row RS Work 27 sts, join second ball of yarn and bind off center 15...
Rescuing a dropped stitch from several rows below
Rescuing a dropped stitch that's several rows down is actually pretty easy. All you need is a crochet hook and to know whether to draw the unworked strand through the dropped stitch from the front or the back and that depends on whether you're working with a stockinette stitch or a garter stitch. To rescue a dropped stitch from the knit side of stockinette stitch if the purl side is facing, turn it around , reach through the dropped stitch with a crochet hook and pick up the bottommost strand...
Horizontal pickedup bands
The key to knitting attractive horizontal picked-up bands is to find the right number of stitches to pick up along the front edge of your sweater. Too many and you have a droopy band that stretches the sweater front too few and the band draws up the sweater at the center front. Sweater patterns tell you how many stitches to pick up along a cardigan edge in one of two ways They give you a pick-up rhythm, something like, Pick up 3 out of every 4 stitches, or they give you a total number of...
Twisting Stitches Knitting through the Back Loop
When stitches are lined up in the ready-to-work position, they have a front and a back. The front of the stitch is the part of the loop on your side of the needle. The back of the stitch is, well, on the side of the needle facing away from you. When you knit in the usual fashion, you work into the front of the loop you insert your RH needle into the stitch from left to right, lifting and spreading the front of the loop the side of the loop on your side of the needle when you insert your needle...
Sewing on buttons
If you used a plied yarn for your sweater or project, you can unply a single strand and use it to sew on your buttons. You also can use embroidery thread or simple sewing thread. As you sew your buttons on, don't be afraid to go into the yarn strands of the sweater. If you try to secure a button by going around the strands and only in and out of the holes between stitches, your button will be unstable and will pull the stitch out of shape. Most knitted fabric is dense enough to require a button...
Making Twists
Twists are diminutive cousins of the cable. A twist consists of 2 stitches 1 stitch crossing over its neighbor. You can twist in either direction left over right or right over left. To make a 2-stitch twist, you can use a cable needle to take 1 stitch to the front or back while you knit the other stitch. But there's another way to accomplish the crossing that doesn't require a cable needle, saves time, and is easier to do. The stubborn stitch on the left edge Often, the left-end knit stitch on...
Simple Vertical buttonhole
A vertical buttonhole see Figure 17-7 is stretchier than a cast-off horizontal buttonhole. You work each side of the buttonhole with a separate ball of yarn. Test it with your buttons to know how many rows to work to achieve the right size hole. The instructions that follow are for working this buttonhole in 1 x 1 ribbing, where you can place the buttonhole in the purl trough to camouflage it.
Deciphering Knitterese Common abbreviations and shorthand
In order to save space, patterns are written in a condensed form with many abbreviations and a lot of shorthand. As you work with patterns, you'll become familiar with the most common abbreviations for example, RS right side , WS wrong side , beg beginning , and rep repeat . Pattern instructions explain any unusual abbreviations or ones that may vary from pattern to pattern. Table 3-1 presents some of the most common pattern abbreviations. Table 3-1 Common Knitting Abbreviations Table 3-1...
Knitting Fair Isle
When you work color patterns using more than one color in a row, you can work with two strands of yarn, carrying them along the back of your work and picking up and dropping them as you need them. This is Fair Isle knitting, or stranding, and it's the technique you use for working small repeating color patterns. For designs involving large areas of color or picture knitting with several colors, it's best to use a different strand of yarn for each color group a technique called intarsia. You can...
Braided Novelty Yarn Scarf
Do you have lots of leftover novelty yarn from various projects Need a quickie scarf If so, this project is for you. I Yarn Novelty yarn at least 3 to 5 different kinds looks best smooth yarn we like Cascade 220 , neutral color white, black, gray, or beige , 1 skein i Other materials Masking tape scissors table or ironing board or any surface approximately 5-6 feet long 1. With a small piece of masking tape, tape the beginning of one strand of yarn to the table. 2. Wrap the yarn around the...
Grafting head to side
Grafting head to side makes a smooth and weightless seam. As in head-to-head grafting, you make a mock knit stitch, but instead of going in and out of stitches lined up head to head, you graft the heads of stitches on one piece to the sides of stitches on the other piece. Actually, as in the mattress stitch, you pick up running threads when you're joining to the sides of the stitches the next section covers the mattress stitch. It's a great method for joining a sleeve top to a sweater body on a...
Make Your Own Knit Journal
Every knitter needs a way to keep track of patterns, ball bands, swatches, notes, and all the other ephemera accumulated at the bottom of one's knitting basket. A knit journal is the solution. Sure, you could buy one ready-made, but making one is so much more fun i One three-ring binder or notebook with a cardboard or hard cover i Hot glue gun or sewing machine with coordinating thread see directions for options i Swatches, knitted fabric, an old sweater, or other knitted piece sufficient in...
Teaching Yourself to Knit from a Book
Everyone learns a new skill in a different way. If you're not confident that you can teach yourself to knit from a book, you can do the following things to make the process easier and help to ensure success i Study the illustrations carefully and compare them with what your own hands, needles, and yarn are doing. l Use your right hand not your left if a right hand is pictured. l Notice the path of the yarn in the illustration and see whether yours is doing the same thing. For example, does the...
Table of Contents
1 About This Conventions Used in This What You're Not to Foolish How This Book Is Part I Getting Ready to Part II Knitting Part III Techniques for the More Experienced Knitter 4 Part IV Making Part V The Part of Part VI Icons Used in This Where to Go from Part I Getting Ready to Chapter 1 Two Needles, a Ball of Yarn, and a Little Know-how 9 Why Knitting up good A feeling of Keeping your mind and hands Creating a one-of-a-kind What Knitter's The An understanding of the An understanding of...
Catching floats
The strands of yarn carried on along the back of your knitting are called floats. If your pattern has too many stitches between one color change and the next, your floats will be long and sloppy and easily catch on rings and fingers when you take your sweater on and off. You can carry yarn for stretches longer than 5 or 7 stitches, but pushing the traditional limits requires another step catching the float. If you're knitting with one rather than two hands, you secure the float in the...
Toggle Jacket
This Toggle Jacket, which you can see featured in the color insert, is cozy on autumn walks or when the thermostat doesn't kick in. You can forget the pockets if you don't want to bother with them. We provide the instructions for this pattern in the standard way, with lengths measured in inches. But we also tell you the number of rows to knit for each 1 piece because if you knit by the row method, you don't have to figure out where to put the buttonholes we've already done that for you. Of...
Wristlets
These simple but fun wristlets look amazing in multicolored or novelty yarns and are a great way to use up all the yarn bits you accumulate at the bottom of your knitting basket for quick gifts. Pull out all your leftover colored yarn to make these funky striped accessories Materials and vital statistics I Measurements 3 gt 2 inches x 8 inches before seaming for the smallest size I Yarn Heavy worsted-weight wool approximately 50-60 yards per wristlet various colors as desired I Needles One pair...
Twostrand or longtail caston
The two-strand method sometimes called the long-tail method is a great all-around cast-on for your starting repertoire. It's elastic, attractive, and easy to knit from. For this cast on method, you need only one needle the RH needle. To cast on using the two-strand method, follow these steps 1. Measure off enough yarn for the bottom part of your piece and make a slip knot on your needle. To figure how long the tail should be, you need approximately 1 inch for every stitch you cast on plus a...
Yarnover increase and decrease symbols
Like other charts for knitted stitch patterns, charts for knitted lace picture the patterns they represent. As you may expect, the two symbols you find most often in lace charts are the one for a yarn-over increase usually presented as an O and some kind of slanted line to mimic the direction of a decrease. Take a look at Figure 12-1 for an example. It shows the chart for the cloverleaf lace pattern you can find instructions for this pattern in the later section, Knitting Different Kinds of...
Lace insertions
The simplest way to incorporate lace into a knitted project is to work a vertical lace panel or eyelet motif otherwise known as a lace insertion into a plain stockinette or simple stitch sweater. Place the panel or motif anywhere in your sweater body, far enough away from a shaped edge so that the panel won't be involved in any increases or decreases. This way, you can concentrate on the lace stitches and avoid having to work any garment shaping around the yarn overs and decreases of your lace...
Fancy Ribs
Cast on a multiple of 4 sts, plus 3 sts. Work every row K2, p2 rep from to last 3 sts, k2, p1. The interrupted rib pattern looks different from each side, but both sides are handsome, making this a nice pattern for projects like scarves and afghans because both the front and back are visible. Figure A-13 gives you an idea of what it looks like. Rows 1-3 K1, p1 rep from to end of row. The ribs in this fabric slant in one direction when viewed from one side and slant in the other direction when...
Attaching a sleeve to a sweater body
How you attach the sleeves to your sweater body depends on the design of your sleeve cap and armhole. If you're making a dropped-shoulder sweater or one with an angled armhole and straight cap, you can use the head-to-side grafting technique explained in the Grafting head to side section earlier in this chapter. If you're making a sweater with a set-in sleeve, you need to use the backstitch for seaming see the earlier section, Sewing seams with backstitch, for instructions. To attach a set-in...
Garter Ridge Scarf
This scarf is quick to knit up and cozy when finished and you don't have to worry about sewing any seams Make it in a soft yarn in a color of your choice, and you'll end up with a subtly textured striped scarf. Materials and vital statistics I Measurements 12 inches x 60 inches I Yarn Heavy worsted-weight yarn approximately 300 yards I Needles One pair of size US 10 6 mm needles tapestry needle for weaving in the ends I Gauge Gauge isn't crucial to this project. Note Because this scarf takes...
Double cable
Also known as a horseshoe cable, a double cable see Figure 11-4 consists of a panel of 18 stitches the cable is 12 stitches wide with 3 set-up stitches on either side of it . The Horseshoe Cable Hand Warmers pattern later in this chapter is basically a larger version of the swatch, so if you're feeling ambitious, knit them up to try out this cable Follow these instructions to work this double cable pattern Cast on 18 sts. Rows 1 and 3 RS P3, k12, p3. Rows 2, 4, and 6 K3, p12, k3. Row 5 P3, sl...
Picking up stitches on a diagonal or curved edge
Most curved edges are made by a series of stepped bind-offs followed by decreases that give a far-from-smooth curved line. Not to worry. The picked-up band saves the day with an attractive continuous curve. MJEfl When you pick up stitches along a curved edge, avoid working in the very edge stitch. Instead, work into a stitch or between stitches at least 1 full stitch in from the edge. Your aim is to make a nice-looking line for your border to begin on, not to see how close you can work to the...
Nostitch symbol
A lace chart sometimes has to show a changing number of stitches from one row to the next. To keep the stitches lined up on the chart the way they are in the fabric, the chart indicates that a stitch has been eliminated temporarily from the pattern by using the no-stitch symbol in the square that represents the decreased stitch. This symbol repeats in a vertical row until an increase is made and the stitch is back in play, as shown in Figure 12-2. The chart in Figure 12-2 shows a pattern in...
Log Cabin Swatch Pot Holder
Who doesn't need pot holders Wool's natural ability to insulate makes it a great choice for this gift . . . just don't choose acrylic or other fiber blends that may melt. The pot holder is fast and easy to make you can even make it from existing swatches. The charming edges in the style of a log cabin quilt pattern tie the whole thing together. I Yarn 100 wool enough yarn to knit two pattern swatches from elsewhere in the book cables and other dense patterns are best no lace, please , or two...
Charting the Fair Istes
Fair Isle charts read like stitch pattern charts. Each square represents a stitch, and the symbol or color given in each square represents the color in which to work the stitch. The pattern chart includes a key listing the symbols used and the colors they represent for more information on reading charts, refer to Chapter 3 . Beyond these basic rules, here are some points specific to Fair Isle charts The first row of the chart shows the first right-side row of your knitting and is worked from...
Seed stitch
Seed stitch, shown in Figure 5-5, consists of single knits and purls alternating horizontally and vertically. Its name refers to the way the knitted fabric looks The little purl bumps look like scattered seeds. Like garter stitch, seed stitch lies flat, making it a good edging for a sweater border and cuffs. It also looks the same from both sides, making it a nice choice for scarves and other pieces of which both sides are visible. Cast on an even number of sts. Row 1 K1, p1 rep from to end of...
Crocheting a steek
To make a steek with yarn, crochet two vertical columns of stitches an inch or more apart using a slip stitch see Figure 8-5 . Fold the sweater at the line you plan to stitch so the vertical column of stitches looks like the top of a crochet chain, then insert your hook into the first V, yarn over the hook, pull the new loop through the V, and move to the next stitch on your left, repeating as you go. Be sure to work only your crocheted stitches on the same column of knit stitches if you veer...
Software
Depending on your needs, there's knitting-related software just for you. Some are available for free online, and others range in price up to several hundred dollars. Check out some of these options i To print your own knitter's graph paper to the exact gauge of your chosen yarn, use the form at www.tata-tatao.to knit matrix e-index.html. This graph paper is great for making your own charts. i To design your own socks or sweaters, use programs such as Sock Wizard and Sweater Wizard. You can find...
Picking up stitches on a vertical edge
To pick up stitches along a vertical edge, such as a cardigan front, use the same pull-through-a-stitch procedure covered in the previous section for a horizontal edge. This time, however, bring the loop up between the running threads connecting the first 2 stitches along the edge, as shown in Figure 17-2. Here's how to do it 1. With the RS facing, starting at the right end of the work, insert your needle between the running threads of the first 2 stitches from front to back. 2. Wrap the yarn...
Open lace patterns
I I Knit on right side, Purl on left side Cast on a multiple of 6 sts, plus 1 st. Rows 1 and 3 WS Purl. Row 2 K1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1 rep from to end of row. Row 4 K2, yo, sl 2 kwise, k1, p2sso, yo, k3 rep from to last 5 sts, yo, sl 2 kwise, k1, p2sso, yo, k2.
Knitting Different Kinds of Lace
Knitted lace is varied enough that different categories have been created to describe loosely the different types, such as eyelet lace, open lace, and faggot lace. The divisions between one kind of lace and another are porous. Better to think of lace patterns as belonging on a continuum the more solid fabrics with scattered openings eyelet at one end, the lacy and open fabrics allover and faggot patterns at the other. The lace patterns in this section provide a good introduction to lacework for...
Open cable
Not all cables are worked on the same stitches over and over. Using basic cabling techniques, you can cross stitches over the background as well to make open cables sometimes called traveling cables . Picture the strands of a basic rope cable separating and moving away from each other and then returning and twisting around each other again, as in Figure 11-3. Get used to counting the rows between cable crossings and you won't have to rely on your memory. It's always good to have an alternative...
Swatch Scarf
The Swatch Scarf is a great way to use up the swatches including lace you made in testing stitch patterns throughout the book For simple assembly, just seam the swatches together end to end. But what if your swatches are all different sizes Use the log cabin technique from the pot holder in the preceding section to add length or width to the sides of each swatch until they're all the same size. Then seam them together The Swatch Scarf looks especially pretty if all the swatches are a plain...
Natasha Scarf
Are you impatient Then this is the scarf pattern for you. Using super-ultra-chunky yarn and large needles, you can make one of these scarves in less than an hour if you concentrate. If you make this scarf a little on the tight side, it makes a great ski headband. Materials and vital statistics I Measurements 18 inches in diameter x 6 inches I Yarn Ultra-chunky yarn 50 yards Brown Sheep Burly Spun is a good choice of yarn, or if your local yarn store stocks spinning supplies, you can also knit...
Practicing onehanded Fair Isle knitting
To practice one-handed Fair Isle knitting, choose two colors of yarn MC and CC. With the MC, cast on 21 stitches and use the charted design in Figure 13-1. You can repeat the two colors throughout, or reverse or change them after every four rows. It's worth trying out the chart both ways to see how a simple color sequence change can completely alter the effect of an easy two-color pattern. Start your row with the MC and knit the number of stitches called for. If you're following the chart in...
Pass slipped stitch over
Psso refers to pass slipped stitch over, a less attractive version of the left-slanting ssk decrease but one that's still used in certain stitch patterns and in double decreases decreasing 2 stitches at once . Essentially, psso makes a bound-off stitch in the middle of a row. You can work it from the knit or purl side of your work. Here's how to work a psso on the knit side 1. Slip 1 stitch knitwise from the LH needle to the RH needle. 2. Knit the next stitch on the LH needle. 3. Insert the tip...
Knitted Flower Pin
Flower pins are hot embellishments, useful for everything from bags to jackets to hats. You can knit one or two, or an entire garden's worth up lickety-split with this simple pattern. I Yarn Worsted-weight yarn for flower, 50 yards, any color worsted-weight yarn for leaf, 25 yards, contrasting color I Needles One pair of US size 8 5 mm needles or size appropriate for yarn sharp yarn needle for assembly I Other materials Pin back available from craft stores, or cannibalize your jewelry drawer...
Materials and vital statistics Uwt
I Yarn Heavy worsted-weight yarn our favorites are Malabrigo and Brown Sheep Bulky 800-1200 yards I Needles 16-inch and 24-inch size US 10 6 mm circular needles tapestry or yarn needle for weaving in ends I Gauge Not important. The key is to get the sweater to fit around your chest. Basically, you increase until it's big enough to fit around your chest. From there, it's straight knitting. Measure yourself around the chest under your arms armpit level , or measure a favorite sweater that fits...
Practicing twohanded Fair Isle knitting
When you use both hands to knit Fair Isle, you carry one yarn in your right hand and the other yarn in your left hand, alternating between them as the color pattern dictates. Carry the dominant color in your dominant hand. If you normally knit English style, for example, carry the main color MC in your right hand and the contrasting color CC in your left hand. You always use English style to knit the yarn off your right hand, and you use Continental style to knit the yarn off your left hand....
Mattress stitch
Mattress stitch makes a practically invisible and nicely flexible seam for joining pieces side to side. You can't use it successfully, however, on pieces that don't have the same number of rows or a difference of only 1 or 2 rows. It's worth keeping track of your rows when working backs and fronts to be able to join them at the sides using this wonderful technique. To join knitted pieces with the mattress stitch, lay out your pieces next to each other, right sides facing up, bottom edges toward...
Tidying up the first and last stitches
Whether you're working on a circular needle or double-pointed needles, the first and last cast-on stitches rarely make a neat join. To tighten up the connection, you can do one of the following i Cast on an extra stitch at the end, transfer it to the LH needle, and make your first stitch a k2tog, working the increased stitch with the first stitch on the LH needle. 1 Before working the first stitch, wrap the yarn around the first and last cast-on stitches as follows 1. Transfer the first stitch...
Felted Checkbook Cover
Writing checks isn't fun, but you can make the dreaded task more pleasant with a gorgeous felted checkbook cover. It's as easy as 1-2-3 1. Cut a piece of felted knitted fabric to the outer dimensions of the boring plastic checkbook cover your bank gave you. 2. Lightly coat the outside of the cover with hot glue use a popsicle stick to spread it around if necessary remove your checks first in case of a glue disaster. 3. Apply the knitted piece to the cover and trim to size if needed.
Ten Plus One Unkinking Exercises for Knitters
Loosening up tight neck muscles Soothing sore shoulders and arms Letting go of tension in your hands and wrists itting in one position and concentrating on your knitting for long or even short periods of time can make you stiff in your shoulders and neck. Not to mention that holding needles and making small movements with your hands can cramp fingers and wrists. The exercises in this chapter they're so helpful that we couldn't stop at just ten will keep your body's knitting parts loose,...
Reverse stockinette stitch stripes
Reverse stockinette stitch rev St st is just one example of how to make textured stripes see Figure 10-1 . This stitch pattern uses rows of reverse stockinette on a plain stockinette background. Try the following pattern for a basic reverse stockinette stitch stripe Cast on any number of stitches. Rows 1, 3, and 6 Knit. Rows 2, 4, and 5 Purl. Here's what's happening As you work Rows 1, 2, 3, and 4, you create your stockinette stitch the smooth background . Then at Row 5, because you purl again...
Basic Techniques for Joining Pieces
After you block your sweater or project pieces, it's time to put them together. You can choose between techniques that mimic and work with knitted stitches or traditional sewing methods. i If you choose the more knitterly techniques, the ones you use will be determined by how the stitches are coming together head to head, side to side, or head to side, all of which are shown in Figure 16-8. i If you opt for the sewing method, the section, Sewing seams with backstitch, later in this chapter...
Joining back to front at the shoulder
The first pieces to join after blocking are the front and back at the shoulder stitches head to head . You have three choices for this seam Use the three-needle bind-off, which makes it possible to bind off the edges of two pieces and seam them together at the same time. Graft the shoulder stitches together. Use the backstitch to seam the pieces together. Because most knitters would rather knit than sew, the first option is a good one to learn as you develop your finishing repertoire. Refer to...
Counting rows
When you knit stripes, you count rows or if you're knitting in the round, you count rounds . Why Because it's an easy way to keep track of the stripe's width. For example, knowing that a stripe spans 7 rows and counting as you go is easier and more accurate than getting out the tape measure. Here's the thing you need to know about counting rows, especially if you're using only two colors Odd and even rows affect where the yarn ends up whether it's right there where you want it or at the...