As a child, I learned to knit. My knitting was a mixture of: what my mother taught me, what I learned from a knitting pamphlet, and my own invention. Amazingly enough, it worked. Actually, it worked quite well. That is, until I attempted circular knitting and lace. They were much less forgiving than knitting, purling, and even cables. Over the past few years I’ve been seeking new ways (for me) to cast on. In retrospect my original cast-on either never made it to the knitting manuals or I remembered it wrong. Which is probably why it was so difficult challenging. When I learned a two needle... (Read More ...)
Like many knitters, when I first learned to knit, I started with a garter stitch scarf. By the time I finished, I’d learned cast on, knit stitch, and casting (or binding) off. As I recall it was a long scarf, so I had lots of practice on my knit stitches. The scarf was made of a single color. I didn’t try anything fancy. Was just happy to be using two wooden needles, size 11, instead of the spool knitting I’d done previously. At the time I thought spool knitting boring, and for children. It seemed as though there were only a limited number of things like placemats or hot pads... (Read More ...)
When most folks think of “plain knitting” they usually mean stockinette stitch. Because it’s smooth, and looks like the same stitch on the right side, it’s often thought by non-knitters to be the first stitch knitters learn. Usually garter stitch is practiced first, because garter stitch uses only the knit stitch. That is, every stitch is knit (no purl stitches). Its ridges often make it seem more complex. On two needles, stockinette stitch is a row of knit stitches followed by a row of purl. For circular knitting, whether using a circular needle … two circulars... (Read More ...)
Reverse garter stitch looks like garter stitch. Instead of knitting every stitch, every stitch is purled. So, when do you use reverse garter stitch? When you’re: Making a garter stitch border, and need to start it with a purl row … Practicing your purl stitches, or … Teaching someone how to make reverse garter stitch. Honestly, I rarely use it. For me, the knitting stitch is more natural. I can do it almost without thinking about it. Purling, however, takes more concentration. And after a few rows of reverse garter, I long to throw in a few knitted stitches. Which is why, if... (Read More ...)
What’s the first knitting stitch most of us learn? Plain knitting, also known as the garter stitch! On two needles, garter stitch is all knitting. Every stitch. So, once you’ve cast on, it’s only one stitch to learn or practice. Of course, if you knit in the round, it’s one round (or row) of knitting alternating with a round of purling. There is a symmetry to garter stitch not found in stockinette. 10 stitches is the same length as 10 ridges, or 20 rows. I think that is so cool, but then I’ve always loved math! And garter stitch knit on 2 needles lies flat. ... (Read More ...)
