A Blog about Knitting
Before you can truly enjoy knitting, you need have power over it by
learning how to take out stitches in case you have a mistake, etc.
These two videos are for knits and purls. We will get into trickier stitches in the future!
Learn it. Do it. Love your knitting!
So… you thought you were done with that baby blanket, scarf, shawl. Then, lo and behold, there is a mistake a few rows before the bind off. Not just a little mistake that no one would notice, but a BIG GLARING mistake.
Oh well, you’ve bound off. Nothing you can do about it. Think again!
Once you have the stitches back on the working needle, you can do pretty much anything with your project. Make it longer, take out rows, fix that mistake. It all hinges on knowing how to remove the bind off.
I am not a big fan of having many stitches hanging out in the breeze without a needle. When I remove the bind off, I do not unzip the whole thing at once. I use only the working needle in the left hand and my fingertips to place each stitch onto that needle to remove the bind off. If you feel more comfortable, you can do it with the knitting needle in your right hand.
Try it! Make a small swatch, bind it off and then take out the bind off. You will be amazed at how easy it is!
There is a lot of visual action going on with the Tiny Bowknot Stitch without too much difficulty, which makes it perfect for any level knitter. I worked this as an all over stitch on a cotton sweater many years ago and I still get compliments on it!
This pattern is readily available in many stitch dictionaries.
This stitch is worked with a multiple of 6 stitches. That means that the number of stitches on your needle must be divisible by 6.
Row 1 (WS): P
Row 2: K
Row 3: (P3, k3) repeat between () to end.
Row 4 Bowknot Row: (P1, k1b, p1, k3), repeat between () to end.
K1b= knit into the next stitch in the row below the stitch on the left hand needle.
Row 5: P
Row 6: K
Row 7: (K3, p3), repeat between () to end.
Row 8 Bowknot Row: (K3, p1, k1b, p1), repeat between () to end.
Repeat these 8 rows as desired.
If you want a more subtle pattern, you can add more rows of stockinette stitch between the bowknot rows.
This pattern is perfect for a garment, shawl or blanket. Make a border of garter or seed to prevent this stockinette stitch-based pattern from rolling on a flat fabric.
Please sing along to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”:
This little tune is designed to make you feel wonderful even before you begin!
Whether you are sewing plain stockinette stitch or a stitch pattern, a vertical seam is the same in both cases.
Verbal Explanation of “figure 8” at the start of an edge: Thread a blunt tapestry needle with the tail from the knitting or a new piece of yarn. Take the needle under the lower cast on edge between the first and second stitch. Repeat on the other piece. If necessary, repeat this on each side again to make the sewn edge look the same as the cast on.
Verbal Explanation of mattress stitch vertical seaming: Begin seaming by taking the yarn under one or two bars between the first and second stitch from bottom to top; going back and forth from one piece to the other. Always start the next stitch on each side by going into the same place where the yarn from the previous stitch on that side is coming out. Sew about 3-4 bars on each side and then pull the seaming yarn taut until the pieces come together and look like an uninterrupted piece of fabric. Continue for the entire seam. If the top of the seam will show as a finished edge, repeat the figure 8 to end.
And now to wrap up with another verse:
Personal instruction is the best way to learn how to knit or learn a new technique. When you don’t have me as your local knitting teacher, my YouTube videos are a great substitute. If you want to learn a new knitting technique or you need a reminder of something you have already learned and forgotten, go to my YouTube channel. Everyone needs a clue now and then!
This favorite stitch right now resembles crochet. The Star Stitch can be done in a solid color or any number of colors. It is usually knit in two colors. Try working it in a gradient yarn.
You may use it for shawls, scarves, baby blankets and even sweaters in any weight yarn.
If you work the Star Stitch in two colors, simply draw the yarns gently up the side of the work without cutting.
Cast on with color A. *Work rows 1 and 2 in color A. Join color B and work rows 3 and 4 in color B.* Repeat between *’s.
Note: When a stitch pattern gives a multiple with a plus number behind it, use multiples over and over and add the plus at the end. For our example, you would cast on a multiple of 4 (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, etc) and then add one stitch. The pink swatch has 41 stitches. The green and white has 25 stitches. The cream and peach swatch has 17 stitches.
Watch the video below to learn the Star Stitch.
