Knitting Ideas and Help
Knitting Stitches
These simple knitting procedures can help a beginner practice with plastic knitting needles and a medium weight yarn until evenness and an accuracy arc are obtained. Knitting is actually a simple system of loops and stitches interlocking to create a piece of useable cloth (sweater, socks, hood, mittens, etc). Two knitting needles are required for the flat work, and three or more for more circular patterns, where you can use a circular needle for this type of process.
To cast on.
First, make a slip loop over the left needle, then pass the right needle through the loop from "left to right," bring the yarn under and then over the right needle, and draw the yarn thread through the loop and transfer the loop to your left needle by inserting the left needle in the loop from right to left. This is a basic knitting process, called "Cast On". All you need to do from this point is repeat the procedure until the desired number of stitches are on the left hand needle.
There is another way to "cast on". Make a slip loop about 30" from the end of your yarn or or determine the desired length to create the number of stitches required for the pattern as directed. Hook it up to your needle and hold needle in your right hand, be aware you need to begin with the short end of yarn to make a loop on left thumb, then insert needle in the loop from left to right. With long end of the yarn loop, bring yarn under and over your needle and draw through loop on your thumb, tighten short end with left hand. This process will be repeated for required number of stitches.
KNITTING: When the required number of stitches have been cast on, pass your right needle through the first loop on your left needle from left to right. Put the yarn under and over your right needle. Pay close attention, and draw straight through, allowing your first stitch on left needle to slip off, and repeat until no stitches remain on left needle. When this type of simple knitting is repeated, the work is similar on both sides and known as the "Garter Stitch."
HOW TO PURL:
Bring the yarn in front of the needle, insert right hand needle in first loop on left-hand needle from right to left. Pass yarn around back of right hand needle from right to left and draw through loop backward, allowing stitch to slip off left needle as in knitting. Continue to work each stitch in this manner being careful to have yarn in front of work.
STOCKINETTE STITCH:
Purl one, see circular: On circular needle or sock needles knit continuously until the pattern is completed.
INCREASING YOUR STITCH:
To increase a stitch, knit one stitch in the normal way but without slipping the stitch off the left needle, then knit another stitch through the back of same stitch and slip stitch off left hand needle.
RIBBING WORK
Cast on a multiple of 4 strings, knit 2 strings, then bring yarn under needle to front of work, purl 2 strings. Be careful at this point! Take yarn under your needle to the back of your completed pattern, and repeat from start to end of row. Repeat this row. Bind off as the pattern describes.
"BINDING OFF":
To bind off, knit 2 sts. in the regular way, you need to knit the first string over the second. Knit another string and repeat from the beginning until only one string remains. At this point, you will need to break the yarn and pull it through this last loop.
All letters in brackets indicate abbreviations used in instructions. When desired number of stitches have been cast on, pass the right needle through the first loop on left needle from left to right, yarn under and over right needle. Draw through and allow first stitch on left needle to slip off, and repeat until no stitches remain on left needle. When plain knitting is repeated back and forth any number of times, the work is alike on both sides and known as the Garter Stitch.
Comment on "Knitting Ideas and Help"
User Comments:
Annette Aurrecoechea on March 22, 2009
In the Knitting Magazinne issue July 2001 there is a patern for a Baby set. It would appear there is an error on the Row 8 instructions. Can you verify and let me know. Thanks! olbrd@sbcglobal.net
Patricia Oswald on July 02, 2009
In your vest pattern, Pretty in Pink, (Vol 19, No. 5 , Page 13, 1997 Knitting Digest Magazine), what does the instruction "pM" in Row 1 of the Body of the vest mean? Also, in the Border instruction, does "est" in Row 4-6 direction mean estimated????
Thank you. poswald5881@charter.net
Barb Procenti on February 24, 2010
I have started the vest pattern, Pretty In Pink, (Vol. 19, No.5, Page 13 ) 1997 Knitting Digest mag. and I am having trouble following the instructions after I do row 3 of the Body. I went to a knitting instructor and she said it was confusing and that it may contain errors and that I should contact you. Is there any errors, or is there any clearer way to explain this pattern? Thank you
Barb Procenti on February 27, 2010
I forgot my email address in my first letter. It is:
sapbap@aol.com
I would appreciate instructions on the Pretty In Pink knitted vest.
I tried to contact you Patricia to see if you finished the vest. Please let me know if you had any trouble.
Thank you
