Read Knitting Patterns

Knitting Pattern: Baby Afghan – Part 1

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:00:37 +0000

Read the Knitting Pattern for a Baby Afghan

Afghans are wonderful things to make for a baby. With soft, fine yarn, it will be so cozy.

This is the first in a series of three articles that describe how to make a Baby Afghan with some nice texture.

Here is the photo of my completed afghan (you might notice that when this photo was taken, I still had some ends to weave in).

Baby Afghan

Afghans are usually rectangles, which makes them have little shaping. This one does look to be rectangular or square.

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Knitting Stitch Pattern: K2P2 Double Seed Stitch

admin — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:00:44 +0000

How To Read a Knitting Pattern with K2P2 Double Seed Stitch

The Double Seed Stitch knitting pattern is very similar to the K2P2 Ribbing knitting pattern. The difference is that every two rows, the pattern gets shifted two stitches. The resulting fabric does not have the widthwise compression and stretchiness that K2P2 ribbing does.

Double Seed Stitch creates a nicely textured knitted fabric, as shown in this photo:

Double Seed Stitch knitted fabric

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Knitting Technique: SSK (Slip Slip Knit)

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

When a Knitting Pattern says SSK

You will often read a knitting pattern for a project that involves either shaping or a fancy stitch. A lot of these patterns will call for a decrease of some form.

The SSK is a left-leaning decrease. The stitch is called “Slip, Slip, Knit”.

This is a relatively new method of creating a left-leaning decrease. The end result is very close to an SKP (Slip 1, Knit 1, PSSO). Since I learned the SSK technique, I always use it where I see the phrase “Sl 1. K 1. PSSO.” in a knitting pattern.

Let us see how it is done.

This sequence starts with skipping two stitches KNITWISE. (There are some variations, in which one stitch is slipped knitwise and the other purlwise, but the most common form has both of them slipped knitwise.)

Thi photo shows a stitch being slipped knitwise. The right-hand needle is inserted into the stitch as if to knit, but instead of knitting, the left-hand needle stitch is just moved to the right hand needle.

SSK Step 1

This photo shows the two stitches slipped knitwise to the right-hand needle.

SSK Step 2

Here is the interesting part. We have done the “Slip Slip” part of the SSK. Now it is time to do the “Knit” part.

Insert the LEFT-HAND (old) needle through those two slipped stitches from left to right. The left-hand needle will be slightly in front of the right-hand needle.

SSK Step 3

Now, wrap the yarn around the right-hand needle as if you were doing a normal knit stitch.

SSK Step 4

Pull the yarn through those two stitches. The slipped stitches will have miraculously slid back to the left-hand needle (see the photo).

SSK Step 5

Now, drop those slipped stitches from the left-hand needle. The decrease is done.

This photo shows a completed SSK. In this case it was the second and third stitches of the previous row that were involved in the decrease. Notice in the row below the needle that the second stitch is wrapped around the third, giving it the left slant.

SSK Completed

Knitting Stitch Pattern: K2P2 Ribbing

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:00:04 +0000

How to Read a Knitting Pattern for K2P2 Ribbing

Many knitting patterns for garments feature a band of ribbing at the bottom of the main body and at the cuffs of the sleeves.

Ribbing is a type of fabric with prominent vertical ribs. The ribs help to compress the knitted fabric widthwise a bit. This way the garment fits a bit more snugly around the waist/hips and cuffs.

One of the common forms of ribbing in hand-knits is the K2P2 ribbing, in which there are columns of ribs that are two stitches wide. These columns are either of stocking stitch (K 1 row, P 1 row over two stitches) or reverse stocking stitch (P 1 row, K 1 row over 2 stitches). The stocking stitch columns pop out, while the reverse stocking stitch columns recede.

K2P2 Ribbing on Multiple of 4 Stitches

The stocking stitch columns are usually referred to as the Knit columns, because when you look at them, they look like Knit stitches, because of all the Vees that you see. Similarly, he reverse stocking stitch columns are usually referred to as the Purl columns, because when you look at them, all you see are the purl-type Bumps.

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Technique: Knit the Knits and Purl the Purls

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:00:57 +0000

When a Knitting Pattern says to Knit the Knits and Purl the Purls

Some knitting stitch patterns are designed in pairs of rows, with both rows looking the same from the front (or back).

This is common in stitch patterns that form texture by combining both Knit and Purl stitches on each row.

On the right side of the fabric, the bumps from the Purl stitches can provide an attractive raised pattern (as in Seed Stitch), or they can recede into the background (as in K2P2 ribbing).

Here is a simple example:

Row 1 (RS):K3. P4. K2.
Row 2:P2. K4. P3.

In this pattern:

the wrong-side P2 lines up with the right-side K2
the wrong-side K4 lines up with the right-side P4
the wrong-side P3 lines up with the right-side K3

Looking at this from the right side, there would be one 3-stitch column showing the Vees that Knit stitches produce on the right side. Then there would be a 4-stitch column showing the Bumps that Purl stitches produce on the right side. And finally there would be a 2-stitch column of Vees again.

On patterns that are more complicated than the little example given above, pattern writers have two options:

Spell out the Knits and Purls in detail, as shown in the example
Tell the knitting pattern reader to knit the knits and purl the purls

Of course, if the pattern is really complex, then the writers just might make a mistake if they spell out the Knits and Purls in detail or you might make a mistake reading it.

If the knitter can learn to read the knitted fabric instead of the pattern, then it can be a whole lot easier to knit, because you don’t need to be switching your eyes between your knitting and the pattern.

Here is what you need to know to knit the knits and purl the purls.

The key difference between a Knit stitch and a Purl stitch is this:

When you make a knit stitch, the new needle (usually the right-hand needle) now shows a little Vee below the new stitch, and there is a Bump on the back of the stitch.
When you make a purl stitch, the new needle now shows a Bump below the new stitch, and there is a little Vee on the back of the stitch.

When you get to the end of the row and switch needles:

that stitch that you Knitted now has the Bump facing you – so that it looks similar to what a Purl stitch looked like on the other side.
that stitch that you Purled now has the Vee facing you – so that it looks similar to what a Knit stitch looked like on the other side.

The concept of knitting the Knits and purling the Purls refers to what you see as you are about to make the stitch. It does NOT refer to how the stitch was made in the previous row.

So when the pattern says to knit the knits and purl the purls your response is:

If you see a bump right below the next stitch on the old needle, Purl it.
If you see a V right below the next stitch on the old needle, Knit it

Here are some examples with photos.

Knit the next stitch

Purl the next stitch

Knit the next stitch

Purl the next stitch

Knit the next stitch

The next photo shows that there is a Bump below the needle, but it is too far below. Closest to the needle is a Vee. So the next stitch should be Knitted.

Knit the next stitch

With the information about, you should now be able to understand the pattern when it says to knit the Knits and purl the Purls – and you should be able to read the knitted fabric, as it tells you how to work the next stitch.

Knitting Stitch Pattern: Trinity Stitch Variation 1

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:10:02 +0000

A Variation of Trinity Stitch

The post on Trinity Stitch indicated that not only were there several names for the stitch pattern, there were also several variations of the stitch.

Here is one variation. I have no idea if it has a formal name – perhaps a reader of this post could provide some enlightenment here in the comments section below.

The texture resulting from this stitch is quite a bit different from that in Trinity Stitch.

What does this Trinity Stitch variation look like?

This photo shows a closeup of the right side of this pattern stitch.

Trinity Stitch Variation 1: closeup of right side

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Knitting Pattern: Spa Washcloth 1 – Part 1

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:00:19 +0000

Read the Knitting Pattern for a Spa Washcloth

A washcloth – or a dishcloth – is an ideal way to learn a new knitting stitch or knitting technique. It’s small, so it’s completed relatively quickly.

This article is the first in a series of two on how to read the knitting pattern for a washcloth, featuring a variation of a fancy stitch pattern called Trinity Stitch.

Knitted Spa Washcloth

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Knitting Stitch Pattern – Easy Cable Ribbing

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:00:11 +0000

You may read many knitting patterns that feature cables. Learn some general information about knitted cables here.

One way that knitting pattern designers can spice up a simple stocking-stitch-and-ribbing sweater is to replace the waist and cuff ribbing with a cable ribbing, such as the one described on this page.

Easy Knitted Cable Ribbing

This stitch pattern is a very easy introduction to making knitted cables. It can be made with any size yarn and corresponding needles.

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Knitting Technique: SKP (Slip 1, Knit 1, Pass Slipped Stitch Over)

admin — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 13:00:51 +0000

How to Read a Knitting Pattern with SKP

Many knitting patterns feature either shaping or fancy stitches. A lot of those patterns include decreases of various forms.

One of these decreases might be the SKP, a Left-Leaning Decrease.

SKP

There are many ways that you might see these instructions in a knitting pattern:

Sl 1. K1. PSSO.
Slip 1, Knit 1, Psso.
Sl 1, K 1, pass slipped stitch over.
Slip-knit-pass
SKP

All of these mean the same thing.

SKP stands for “Slip, Knit, Pass”.

And, by the way, you can do an SSK and achieve the same result – and some knitters think that the SSK is easier.

Here is how to do the SKP.

The first step is to Slip 1 stitch. Although the patterns don’t usually say it, the Slip has to be done Knitwise. That means that you insert your needle into the next stitch as if you were about to do a Knit stitch, as shown in this photo:

SKP Step 1

Then, complete the Slip stitch – just transfer that stitch from the old needle onto the new needle, as shown in this photo:

SKP Step 2

So the S part of the SKP is done.

Now for the K part of the SKP. This is just an ordinary Knit stitch. Knit the next stitch on the old needle, putting in onto the new needle. See this photo. The pink stitch was the Slipped one, and the purple stitch was Knitted.

SKP Step 3

Finally, the P part of the SKP. This is where you pass the Slipped stitch over the Knitted one.

Some of you probably do this sort of stitch movement when you bind off or cast off. I call this a “leapfrog”.

The first part is to insert the old needle into the slipped stitch on the new needle, as shown in this photo:

SKP Step 4

And then lift that slipped stitch over the knitted stitch AND over the needle, as shown here:

SKP Step 5

Finally, the slipped stitch (the pink one) is cozily wrapped around the knitted stitch (the purple one):

SKP Step 6

This photo shows how the slipped stitch is leaning to the left as it wraps around the knitted stitch.

SKP Step 7

And the SKP is complete.

Here is an example of a knitting pattern using SKP.

In this website, Bronze (or paid) members can see detailed patterns featuring SKP, such as:

Knitting Technique: K2tog (knit 2 together)

admin — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 13:00:42 +0000

How to Read a Knitting Pattern with K2tog

Many knitting patterns feature either shaping or fancy stitches, and a lot of those patterns include a decrease of some form. One common – and easy – decrease is the K2tog.

K2tog completed

K2tog is the abbreviation for “knit 2 together”.

This is a right-leaning decrease. The stitch is “knit two together”.

The first step is to insert the right needle, from left to right, picking up TWO stitches from the left needle.

In this photo, I have used a smaller needle to make it clear where the right needle should go.

K2tog - part 1

This photo shows the proper right-hand needle inserted into those two stitches.

K2tog - part 2

From here on, it feels just like a normal knit stitch. Wrap the yarn around the right-hand needle as usual, and bring that yarn through to the front, as shown in this photo.

K2tog - part 3

Now, remove both stitches from the left-hand needle.

K2tog - part 4

And here is a completed “K 2 tog”. In this photo, the left-most stitch was not part of the decrease. The second and third stitches from the end were decreased. Notice in the row below the needle that the left stitch of the decrease pair is covering the right stitch.

K2tog completed

And that’s how easy it is to do a K2tog.

Here is an example of a knitting pattern using K2tog.

In this website, Bronze (or paid) members can see many patterns featuring a K2tog, such as: