Knitting Basics
Cast on, cast off, knit one, purl one - four easy The first step when beginning to knit is to cast on. There are several ways of doing this, but there are two cast ons - the thumb and the cable methods - that seem to be the most frequently used. The best one to choose is the one that you feel most comfortable with, or that produces the kind of edge you prefer. You may choose to use a different cast-on technique depending on where it occurs on the garment. The cable cast on, for example,...
Stranding On A Purl Row 1
1 On a right-side knit row, to change colours drop the colour you were using. Then pick up the new colour, take it over the top of the dropped colour and start knitting with it. 2 To change back to the old colour, drop the colour you were knitting with. Then pick up the old colour, take it under the dropped colour and knit to the next colour change, and so on. 1 On a wrong-side purl row. to change colours drop the colour you were using. Then pick up the new colour, take it over the top of the...
Yoke
1st row RS P4, C2F, p6 to last 6 sts, C2F, p4 2nd row K3, Cr2L, Cr2R, k4 to last 7 sts, Cr2L, Cr2R, k3. 3rd row P2, Cr2R, p2, Cr2L, p2 to end. 4th row K1, Cr2L, k4, Cr2R to last st. k1 5th row P1, k1, p6, C2B to last 8 sts, p6, k1, p1. 6th row K1, Cr2R, k4, Cr2L to last st, k1 7th row P2, Cr2L, p2, Cr2R. p2 to end 8th row K3, Cr2R, Cr2L, k4 to last 7 sts, Cr2R, Cr2L, k3. Work in yoke patt until back measures 39 43 48 cm 15'A 17 19 in from beg, ending with a RS row. Shape Neck and Shoulder...
Stranding yarns
The stranding technique is used when each colour is only used over a few - usually less than four - stitches. To practice stranding, try knitting a simple checkerboard pattern. First, cast on a multiple of stitches divisible by three, plus any stitches you wish to work as your border on either side. Before starting the colour pattern, work your lower border in a single colour. Then on the first colourwork row, work three stitches in your contrast colour and three stitches in your main colour...
Finding inspiration for embroidery
I can be inspired by embroidery details on old fabrics found in junk shops and car boot a garage sales. A recent trip to Chinatown resulted in me staggering back home with a treasure trove of goodies - embroidered slippers and bags, and a tiny pair of silk shoes for a baby. I am lucky enough to live in a multi-ethnic part of London, where I am often dazzled by the wonderful fabrics on display in the local sari shops. Embroidery on knitting can also be in the form of Swiss darning or duplicate...
Choosing colours for intarsia knitting
The floral motif would look equally good worked using rich colours agamst a dark background, or using tones of one colour, such as dark and light blues for the flower and leaves. There are fantastic colour ranges available from the spinners now. It can sometimes be as overwhelming as it is exciting when confronted in a yam store by all the possibilities that are available to you. I find it helpful to keep a file of favourite postcards, images torn from magazines and printed fabrics that all...
Rib Seam Joining Knit And Purlstitch Edges
Insert the needle unda a horizontal bar in the centre of a knit stitch at the edge of one piece of knitting and then at the edge of the other piece. Continue to do this, drawing up the thread to form one complete knit stitch along the seam. Skip the purl stitch at the edge of each piece of knitting and join the seam at the centre of knit stitches, as fa joining two knit-stitch edges. Skip the purl stitch at the edge of one piece of knitting and join the seam at the centre of knit stitches, as...
Eyelet Daisy Edging
3rd row K1. yf, k2, k2tog, ym twice, k2tog, k2, yf. k2tog, k1. 4th row K7. yf, k2tog, k4. 5th row K1. yf, k1. k2tog, ym twice, k2tog twice, ym twice, k2tog, yf, k2tog, k1. 6th row K5. yf, k2tog, k2, yf, k2tog, k3. 7th row K1, yf, k4, k2tog, ym twice, k2tog, k2, yf, k2tog, k1. 8th row K7, yf, k2tog, k6. 9th row K1, yf, k3tog, k2tog, ym twice, k2tog twice, ym twice, k2tog, yf, k2tog, k1. 10th row As 6th row. 11 th row K1, yf, k3tog, k1. k2tog, ym twice, k2tog, k2, yf, k2tog, k1.
Swiss darning or duplicate stitch
Bring the needle and thread through. Then work parallel stitches close together. The stitches can be made straight across or at an angle depending on the effect desired. Do not pull the thread too tightly or the knitting will become distorted. 1 Thread a blunt-ended needle with yam the same weight as the stitch you are darning over. Bring the needle out at the base of the first stitch you want to cover, then take it under the 2 Take the needle back through the base of the first stitch and out...
Joining A Castoff Edge And A Selvedge Edge
Bring the needle back to front through the centre of the first stitch on the cast-off edge. Then insert it under one or two horizontal strands between the first and second stitches on the selvedge and back through the centre of the same cast-off stitch. Continue in this way until the seam is completed. 1 With right sides placed side by side and using the long tail of yam from the cast-on edge, secure the seam by taking the needle twice around the outer edges from back to front. Then bring the...
Acknowledgements 1
This book would not have been possible without the invaluable contribution of the following people The knitters. Pat Church, Lynda Clarke. Penny Hill. Shirley Kennet, Maisie Lawrence. Beryl Salter and Frances Wallace. Jane Bunce and Jane Crowfoot, whose help in the shop and contribution to ideas have been invaluable. Penny Hill, fa pattern compiling, and Marilyn Wlson. for her thaough checking. Sally Harding, the dita, for her tremendous aganisational skills. Sandra Lane, fa the beautiful...
Shape Neck and Shoulders
Cast off 9 10 11 sts at beg of next 2 rows. Divide for neck shaping on next row as foil Next row RS Cast off 9 9 10 sts, k until there are 12 sts on right- hand needle, then turn, leaving rem sts on a spare needle. Working on this set of sts only fa first side of neck, work one row With RS facing, rejoin yam to rem sts and cast off 41 sts fa centre back neck, then k to end. Complete to match first side.
Sizes And Measurements
To fit ages 2 3 4 years 25 sts and 34 rows to 10cm 4in over st st using 3'Amm UK No 10 US size 3 needles. With 2 A mm No12 US 2 needles cast on 92 98 104 sts. Work 7 rows in garter st k every row to form garter st band. Change to 3'Amm No 10 US 3 needles and work back with Rep last 2 rows 3 times more, so ending with a WS row. Beg with a k row, work in st st only until back measures 38 41 44 cm 15 16'A 17'A in from cast-on edge, ending with a Divide for neck shaping on next row as foil Next row...
Yoke 1
1st row RS P4, C2F, p6 to last 9 13 9 sts, C2F, p3 6 3 , k0 1 0 , work 4 sts in moss St. 2nd row Work 4 sts in moss St. Cr2R 0 1 0 time, k2 4 2 , Cr2L, Cr2R, k4 to last 7 sts, Cr2L, Cr2R. k3. 3rd row P2, Cr2R, p2, Cr2L, p2 to last 11 7 11 sts, Cr2R, p2, Cr2L, pi 1 0 1 time, Cr2R, pi 0 1 0 time, work 4 sts in moss St. 4th row Work 4 sts in moss st, k2, Cr2R 0 1 0 time, Cr2L, k4. Cr2R to last st, k1. 5th row P1, k1. p6, C2B to last 11 7 11 sts, p6 3 6 , k1 0 1 . work 4 sts in moss st. 6th row...
Practising a vertical colour change
The intarsia technique is used when individual blocks of colour are worked. This can mean that on some motif knitting you may have to work with a lot of separate lengths of yam across a row. Do not be tempted to avoid this by using the stranding or weaving-in techniques - your motifs won't lie flat, and the main background colour may well show through. The best way to try out intarsia is to knit a swatch where two colours are divided vertically, using the techniques on page 69, which show how...
Jaeger Yarns
Jaeger Yams, Green Lane Mill, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire HD7 1RW, England. Tel 01484 681 881. Fax 01484 687 920. distributor Jaeger Yarns. 5 Northern Boulevard, Amherst. NH 03031. Tel 603 886-5041 5043. Email wfibers aol.com distrbutor L amp G Griffiths. PO Box 65, Kilsyth, Victoria 3137. Tel 03 972 86885. distributor Puppy Co Ltd, TOC Building, 7-22-17 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo. Tel 03 3494 2395. distributor Green Leave Co Ltd, 6F1 No 21 Juen Kong Road, Chung Ho City, Taipei Hsien. Tel...
Scalloped Bobble Edge
Worked over a multiple of 10 sts, plus 1 extra. 1 st row WS K to end. 2nd row K5, k1, p1, k1, p1. k1 all in next st, turn. k5, turn, p5 twice, then pass 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th sts over first st called make bobble or mb , k9, mb rep from to last 5 sts, k5. 3rd and 4th rows K to end. 5th row P1, 'ym, p3, p3tog tbl, p3, ym, p1 rep from to end. 6th row K2, yf. k2, si 1. k2tog, psso. k2, yf, k3 rep from to last 9 sts, yf, k2. si 1, k2tog, psso, k2, yf, k2. 7th row P3, 'ym, p1, p3tog tbl, p1, ym, p5...
Front Cross Cable 1
1 Slip the first three cable stitches purtwise off the left-hand needle and onto the cable needle. Leave the cable needle at the back of the work, then knit the next three stitches on the left-hand needle, keeping the yam tight to prevent a gap from forming in the knitting. 2 Next, knit the three stitches directly from the cable needle, a if preferred, slip the three stitches from the cable needle back onto the left-hand needle and then knit them. This completes the cable cross. 1 Slip the...
Bobble And Lace Edging
8th row Cast off 4 sts, k2, yf, k1, p1, k6. These 8 rows form the patt and are repeated throughout
Tension Before Washing
See basic information about denim yam on page 11. 20 sts and 28 rows to 10cm 4in over st st using 4mm UK No 8 US size 6 needles. C6F cable 6 front slip next 3 sts onto a cable needle and leave at front of work, k3, then k3 from cable needle. See also page 21. The following are the panel patts used on the Man's Denim Guernsey 3rd row P2. k3, p1, k1, p2, k1, p1, k3, p2 4th row K2. p2. k1, p2, k2, p2, k1, p2, k2. 5th row P2, k1, p1, k3. p2, k3, pi. k1. p2 These 6 rows form the patt and are...
SIZES AND MEASUREMENTS Byh
Sleeve length with cuff turned back 18 sts and 32 rows to 10cm 4in over moss st using 4' .mm UK No 7 US size 7 needles. 18 sts and 32 rows to 10cm 4in over moss st using 4' .mm UK No 7 US size 7 needles. With 3 'Amm No 9 US 5 needles, cast on 95 99 103 sts. Work 7 rows in garter st k every row to form garter st band. Change to 47. mm No 7 US 7 needles and beg moss st patt as foil 1 st moss st row RS K1, p1, k1 rep from to end. Mark this Rep last row to form moss st patt, cont in moss st until...
Collar
With 33Amm No 9 US 5 needles, cast on 83 87 91 sts. 1 st row RS K3. p1, k1. p1 rep from to last 3 sts, k3. 2nd row K1, p2, k2. p1, k1 rep from to last 4 sts, k1, p2. k1. 3rd row inc row K3, p1, ml, work in moss st to last 4 sts, ml, p1, k3. 4th row K1, p2, k1, work in moss st to last 4 sts, k1, p2. k1. 5th row K3, p1, work in moss st to last 4 sts, p1, k3. 6th row inc row K1, p2, kl, ml, work in moss st to last 4 sts, Rep 3rd-8th rows 3 times more, then 3rd and 4th rows agam. Cast off in patt....
Enhancing your knitwear
Embroidery is one of my favourite ways of enhancing my knitwear. A simple jacket can be transformed by using it on a collar a pocket. It can brighten up a dull garment or update a classic. I particularly love embroidery when it is used against a very contrasting yam, brights worked on a rustic tweedy yam a on the faded washed out blue of a denim see Embroidered Denim Jacket on page 95 . Embroidering your knitting can also be a good way of adding colour to a garment if you are a fairly novice...