Saturday, September 29, 2012

Raspberry Stitch - Trinity Stitch

Sample knit with worsted weight yarn on US Size 11 needles, Knitter's Pride Cubics

I first did a video on this stitch back in 2009 with my old digital camera.  Since then, it has had over 2 million views.  Yes, two million!  I only demonstrated the k/p/k and p3tog parts of the stitch.

This is also the same as Trinity Stitch, which you will find in several stitch pattern books.  Barbara Walker's First Treasury omits the +2 from the pattern, though.

This new video is HD, and shows the entire stitch.

Multiple of 4 + 2

Rows 1 and 3: Purl all stitches
Row 2: K1 *(K1, P1, K1) into next stitch, P3tog* K1
Row 4: K1 *P3tog, (K1, P1, K1) into next stitch* K1

Repeat these four rows for the pattern.

Here is the video.  Happy Knitting, and Enjoy!



Friday, September 28, 2012

Cables and Eyelets Stitch

Sample knit with Butterfly Cotton, US Size 5 addi Clicks

This stitch is my 'unvention'!  I was playing around this morning, and this appeared on my needles.  So I thought I would use it as the stitch for this week.  It is very easy to knit, and you can do it with or without a cable needle.  The cables are only 4 stitches, so I didn't bother with a cable needle.  If anyone has seen this in a book, magazine, or elsewhere, feel free to let me know.  I am sure someone at some point in knitting history has done this before :0)

This is a ten stitch pattern worked over eight rows.

For my sample, I worked with a total of twenty stitches - five extra on each side.  Two of those are knit edge stitches, and three are used for the reverse stockinette background.  You can use as many stitches as you like for the reverse stockinette background and edge stitches.

To make the right slanting cable:
Slip next two stitches to cable needle and hold in back of the work. Knit two from left needle, then knit two from cable needle.

Without a cable needle, slip next four stitches from left needle.  With left needle, reach behind the last two stitches and slide the first two stitches back onto the left needle.  Then grab the last two stitches and place them back on the left needle, knit all four stitches

To make the left slanting cable:
Slip next two stitches to cable needle and hold in front of the work.  Knit two from left needle, then knit two from cable needle.

Without a cable needle, slip next four stitches from left needle.  With left needle, reach in front of the last two stitches and slide the first two stitches back onto the left needle.  Then grab the last two stitches and place them back on the left needle, knit all four stitches.

Below directions are for the cable itself.  Add however many extra edge/background stitches you like for your project.

Abbreviations:
C2R = Make a right slanting cable
C2L = Make a left slanting cable

Row 1: (RS) C2R, YO, SSK, C2L
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: C2R, K2tog, YO, C2L
Rows 6, 7, 8: Repeat Rows 2, 3, and 4 

Repeat these eight rows for the pattern.  

I hope you all like my stitch.  Here is the video (in which my little helper was very involved today).  Happy Knitting, and Enjoy!




Thursday, September 20, 2012

Raindrop Lace


Sample knit with Patons Lace on Kollage US 7 square needles


The edges of this fabric curl inward, because this is really a stockinette stitch.  You may want to add some extra stitches for each side to help it lay flat, depending on what you knit.

Cast on a multiple of 6+5


  • Row 1 (RS): P5 *YO, P2tog, P4*
  • Rows 2, 4 and 6: K5 *P1, K5*
  • Rows 3 and 5: P5 *K1, P5*
  • Row 7: P2, YO, P2tog *P4, YO, P2tog*, end P1
  • Rows 8, 10 and 12: K2, P1 *K5, P1*, end K2
  • Rows 9 and 11: P2, K1 *P5, K1*, end P2
Repeat these twelve rows for the pattern.  Here is the video.  Happy Knitting, and Enjoy!


Friday, September 14, 2012

Bluebell Rib

Sample knit with Mulberry Merino yarn on US Size 6 addi Turbos

Time for more ribbing!  This is a super quick and easy stitch.  The sides are a little curly/sloppy, so I personally would add extra stitches on each side to neaten things up.

Multiple of 5 + 2

Rows 1 and 3: (RS) P2 *K3, P2*
Rows 2, 4 and 6: K2 *P3, K2*
Row 5: P2 *YO, Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO, YO, P2*

Repeat these six rows for the pattern.  Happy Knitting, and Enjoy!



Saturday, September 8, 2012

Hyacinth Stitch

Sample knit with worsted weight yarn on US 10.5 needles, Knitter's Pride Cubics

I so love this stitch!  While I wouldn't say it is hard, it is a little tricky - purling 5 together!  You can make this part a bit easier by working the preceding rows a bit more loosely than you normally would, use needles with pointy tips, give the stitches a little wiggle once the needle is through them, and use a wool yarn.  Wool has a bit of spring to it, and will give slightly as you knit.  You can use any yarn you like of course, but wool can be a tad easier to manipulate 5 stitches at a time.  This stitch also has super sloppy sides.  I would recommend adding several stitches along the sides for a border to neaten it up.  The bottom makes a pretty edge as you can see in the picture.  


Cast on a multiple of 6 + 2

Row 1 (WS): K1  *P5tog, (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) into next stitch* end K1
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: K1 *(K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) into next stitch, P5tog* end K1
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Knit all stitches, wrapping yarn around needle 3 times for each stitch
Row 6: Purl all stitches, dropping the extra wraps

Repeat these six rows for the pattern

Here is the video.  Happy Knitting, and Enjoy!



Sunday, September 2, 2012

Tight Lattice Stitch

I saw this sweater in the store last week, and really liked the stitch on the panel down the front.  After only a short search, I found what I believe is the stitch.

This is a fairly simple stitch, but does require some concentration (at least for me it does), because of all of the twisted/crossed stitches.

The way I found this written was very confusing to me, and I had to try several times before I got the hang of it.

For the sake of simplicity, I am just going to refer to the method as "T2F - Twist 2 front" and "T2B - Twist 2 back".  I think I say cross several times in the video, but cross and twist are done the same way.

You can use a cable needle if that is how you feel most comfortable; I do not use one in the video.  It is just too much fuss to cross only one stitch over the other.  Again, do whatever is most comfortable for you.  I know  a lot of times as knitters, if the stitch is not on the needle, there is often panic.  However, as you will see in the video, no stitch is dropped or unraveled.  If you have never crossed/twisted/cabled without a cable needle, I encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone and give it  a try.

On the right side rows, the front twisted stitches are P1, K1
On the right side rows, the back twist stitches are K1, P1

On wrong side rows, the twisted stitches are both purled

T2F = Twist 2 front

  • With a cable needle: Slip next stitch to cable needle and hold in front of work. Purl next stitch from left needle, knit stitch from cable needle.
  • Without a cable needle: Slip next two stitches from left needle.  With tip of left needle, reach in front of second stitch, grab first stitch and place on left needle.  Then, replace the second stitch on left needle.  The two stitches have switched position on the left needle.  Stitch 2 becomes stitch 1, and stitch 1 becomes stitch 2. Purl 1, Knit 1.


T2B = Twist 2 back

  • With a cable needle: Slip next stitch to cable needle and hold in back of work.  Knit next stitch from left needle, purl stitch from cable needle.
  • Without a cable needle: Slip next two stitches from left needle.  With tip of left needle, reach in back of second stitch, grab first stitch and place on left needle.  Then, replace the second stitch on the left needle.  Again, the two stitches have swapped positions. Knit 1, Purl 1.


For wrong side rows, twist either front or back as instructed, then PURL both of the twisted stitches.

Sample knit with Cascade 220 on US Size 6 addi needles


Cast on a multiple of 4 + 6

Row 1 (RS): P1 *T2F, T2B* P1
Row 2: K2 *T2B, K2*
Row 3: P1 *T2B, T2F* P1
Row 4: K1, P1, K2 *T2F, K2*, end last two stitches P1, K1

Repeat these four rows for the pattern

Here is the video.  Happy Knitting, and Enjoy!




Saturday, September 1, 2012

Speckled Rib

Sample knit with Lily Sugar'nCream Cotton on US Size 9 needles.  This is what the front of the fabric looks like.        
This is what the back of the fabric looks like.

This is a super simple stitch.  With only two rows, it is also easy to remember.  I personally would add a few more stitches to neaten up the sides, maybe plain garter or seed stitch.

Multiple of 5 + 2

Row 1: P2 *K3, P2*
Row 2: K2 *P1, K1, P1, K2*

Repeat these two rows for the pattern.

Here is the video.  Happy Knitting, and Enjoy!