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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Herringbone Stitch

Sample knit with Araucania Azapa on US Size 11 needles

This weeks stitch was requested by one of my YouTube friends.

If you like this stitch, try the Little Herringbone Stitch.

Here is a video for knitting this stitch in the round. 

There are a number of stitches named herringbone.  Some look like the one above, some do not.  

I used the Twice Knit Knitting method to do this weeks stitch, and the instructions below are also in Barbara Walker's Second Treasury as I have them below.  She calls it Double Stockinette or Little Herringbone stitch.

This particular method creates a very dense fabric, so you should use a larger needle than called for on your ball band.  Even a lighter weight yarn will yield a fairly dense fabric when knit with larger needles.

Cast on any number of stitches

Row 1: K2tog through the back loop - drop only the first stitch from the left needle, the second stitch should remain on left needle.  Knit next two stitches through the back loop, dropping only the first stitch from left needle as before.  Continue working in this manner to last stitch, Knit one as normal.

Row 2: P2tog, dropping only the first stitch from left needle.  Purl next two stitches together, dropping only first stitch as before.  Continue working in this manner to last stitch, Purl one as normal.

Repeat these two rows.

And here is the video:


I've had some questions on picking up dropped stitches with this particular stitch, so here is a video that I hope will answer any questions folks may have:


Monday, December 26, 2011

Zig Zag or Chevron Stitch

                               This sample knit as per pattern below, in Lily Sugar n Cream Cotton Yarn on US Size 6 needles
This sample was knit in Lily Sugar n Cream on US Size 9 needles, all in garter sitch
This sample was knit in Lily Sugar n Cream on US Size 10 needles, and I used a YO instead of  KFB to increase



This stitch pattern was requested by one of my YouTube friends!  Before I get into the details, I want to share a short story about this stitch pattern with you.  Back when I first began knitting, I came across this particular stitch, I think on a website.  The picture of the stitch did not show the points at the bottom of the fabric, just the middle of the sample.  I did not know the stitch would cause the fabric to come to points, and so as I was knitting my scarf, and the points were forming, I was a little concerned but not much.  I figured that I could block it into shape! (I don't know why I thought the fabric was not supposed to do this, but I did.) I was using a cheap acrylic yarn, and of course blocking did not help.  So I decided to iron it instead.  No matter how hard I tried, I could not get rid of those points!  I did do a pretty good job of completely flattening the yarn though.  I never wore the scarf, and am not even sure what ever happened to it.  At some later time, I came across this stitch pattern again, where someone did show the points in their picture, and I felt like a complete idiot.  So, just incase you, dear knitter, are not aware that this stitch pattern will produce lovely points on your fabric, I have made sure that the points are included in the sample pictures above.

Now.  Here are the details.  The instructions below will give you fabric that looks like the first picture, with the black and white yarn.   You certainly are not limited to only two colors, or to switching colors after Row 4.  Feel free to use as many or few colors as you like, and switch them as often as you like.  

You may also see this stitch pattern named Afghan Stitch - there are a number of variations on this stitch pattern.  Whatever you call it, or whatever particular method you use, you will end up with something that looks like the pictures above.

And I always assume that you will be watching the video, in which I usually tell you what the abbreviations are for, but if not:

KFB = Knit into the front and back of the next stitch
SSK = Slip the next two stitches knitwise, one at a time, and then knit them together through the back loop.  I actually like to slip the second stitch purlwise, but most of the time patterns will instruct you to slip both knitwise.  Either way will work, but I find that by slipping the second stitch purlwise, it makes the stitches a bit neater
K2tog = Knit the next two stitches together as if they were one

Cast on a multiple of 14 + 2

Rows 1 and 3:  Purl all stitches
Rows 2 and 4: K1, KFB, K4, SSK, K2tog, K4 *KFB, KFB, K4, SSK, K2tog, K4* Repeat from * to last 2 stitches, KFB, K1

Repeat these 4 rows for the pattern.  

And here is the video.  Enjoy!




Saturday, December 17, 2011

Knotted Open Work and Open Star Stitch

Open Star Stitch, Lily Sugar n Cream, US Size 6 needles
Knotted Open Work, Lily Sugar n Cream, US Size 6 needles

Knotted Open Work was a requested stitch, and when I was looking through my stitch books to see if it was known by another name, I found Open Star Stitch.  They are almost identical, except that Open Star Stitch is more knotty and textured.  

Both are worked on a multiple of 3 stitches, plus 3

Open Star Stitch:

Row 1: (Wrong Side) K2, *YO, K3 - then pass the first stitch over the second and third sts*  Repeat from * to last stitch, K1
Row 2: Knit all stitches
Row 3: K1, *K3 - then pass the first stitch over the second and third sts, YO* Repeat from * to last two stitches, K2
Row 4: Knit all stitches
Repeat these 4 Rows for pattern


Knotted Open Work:

Row 1: (Right Side) K2, *YO, K3 - then pass the first stitch over the second and third sts*  Repeat from * to last stitch, K1
Row 2: Purl all stitches
Row 3: K1, *K3 - then pass the first stitch over the second and third sts, YO* Repeat from * to last two stitches, K2
Row 4: Purl all stitches
Repeat these 4 Rows for pattern


Here is a video with both stitches.  Enjoy!


  

Monday, December 12, 2011

Trellis Lace, Vertical Version

Sample knit with Lily Sugar n Cream cotton on US Size 6 needles

A couple of weeks or so ago, I posted this stitch pattern for either left or right slanting fabric, and noted that I would be posting the vertical version at some point in the future, or sooner if requested.  It was requested, so here is the pattern for the vertical version of Trellis Lace!

Work on an odd number of stitches

Rows 1 and 3: Purl all stitches
Row 2: K1, *YO, K2tog*  Repeat from * to end of row
Row 4: *SSK, YO*  Repeat from * to last stitch, K1

Repeat these four rows for the pattern

Here is the video.  Enjoy!



Friday, December 9, 2011

Waterfall Stitch

Sample knit with Lily Sugar n Cream Cotton on US Size 6 needles
Cast on a multiple of 6 plus 3

Row 1: K3, *P3, K3*  (This is the wrong side of the fabric)
Row 2: P3, *K3, YO, P3*
Row 3: K3, *P4, K3*
Row 4: P3, *K1, K2tog, YO, K1, P3*
Row 5: K3, *P2, P2tog, K3*
Row 6: P3, *K1, YO, K2tog, P3*

Repeat these 6 Rows for the pattern

And here is the video.  Enjoy!



Sunday, December 4, 2011

Rickrack Rib

Sample knit with Araucania Ruca on US Size 6 needles
I think this is my new favorite rib stitch!  How cool is that zig zag effect?!  The look is achieved by working stitches out of order on each side of the fabric.  Looks like you did a lot of work, but this is really an easy stitch to master.  The first couple rows or so were a little tight for me, but once I got going I didn't have any problems.  It is also a tiny bit tricky working the stitches, but you will be zipping along once your hands get used to the motion.  

Work on a multiple of 3 stitches, plus 1

Row 1: P1, *Knit through the back loop of the second stitch on the left needle, then knit through the front of the first stitch, and drop them both from the needle at the same time, P1*

Row 2: K1, *Purl the second stitch on the left needle, then purl the first stitch, and drop them both from the needle at the same time, K1*

Repeat these two rows for the pattern.

Here is the video.  Enjoy!



Thursday, December 1, 2011

Trellis Lace

Sample knit with Butterfly Cotton on US Size 6 needles

This beautiful lace stitch is very easy to do, and only a two row repeat.  As you can see from the picture, this can be knit to slant either to the left or the right.  (There is also a pattern for vertical trellis lace, which I will probably post at some point in the future - or sooner if asked!)


Abbreviations used in the pattern:
YO - yarn over
K2tog - knit two together
SSK - slip, slip, knit -- typically you will see instructions tell you to slip the two sts knitwise, which is fine.  Myself, I slip the first knitwise and the second purlwise, which I think makes the decrease a bit neater.  But it is up to you how you slip the stitches.


Work on an even number of stitches

Right Slant:

Row 1: K1, *YO, K2tog* Repeat from * to last stitch, K1
Row 2: Purl all stitches

Left Slant:

Row 1: K1, *SSK, YO*  Repeat from * to last stitch, K1
Row 2: Purl all stitches


See, I told you it was easy!

Here is the video.  Enjoy!