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 cast on by knitting the stitches on, my heart leaped. Now I could cast-on by simply knitting stitches on the needle. How cool is that?

Recently, I found the long-tail cast-on in Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitting Workshop. Not only is it fast, it’s almost effortless to keep the stitches consistent and even. Once again, I’m in awe of Elizabeth’s knitting expertise.  Of course, she may not have invented this cast-on.

Its added bonus: with the cast-on, your first row of knitting is complete. Now that’s really clever!!

Knit side row 1 long-tail cast-on

Purl side long-tail cast-on

The pictures are a bit blurry, so the completed row may not be obvious. It’s there, though!

Here’s a picture of a simple afghan square I made with the long-tail cast on:

Here’s the link for this simple afghan square’s free knitting instructions.

So, why are the long-tail cast-on knitting instructions popular?

• You can cast-on quickly.
• The stitches slip on and can be adjusted so all stitches are even without hours of practice!
• Once you finish your cast-on row, your first row is knit. So you can start with row 2: a real time saver!
• It can be started without the first stitch being a slip knot. Combined with the even stitches, this makes a very straight border.
• It’s easy to learn.

And yes, it’s already one of my favorite cast-on methods! My only question: Why didn’t I know about it before now?

Oh, and here’s my completed Log Cabin Afghan Square, and a second version.  It’s definitely faster to piece them for a quilt!

Completed Log Cabin Afghan Square

Log Cabin Version 2

And these edges are all bind-offs, because the cast-on is for the center square.

If Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitting Workshop isn’t part of your knitting library, you should seriously consider it. See if you also find this small book a treasure of knitting information.

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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 to make with it. And after all, I was in elementary school, so knitting with two needles was very grown-up!

Since then I’ve learned a few things about knitting garter stitch with color. And like most knitters I have definite preferences as to what I like!

So what patterns arise when you use simple techniques to add color to your garter stitch?

• Stripes, or
• A mosaic, or even
• A pattern you won’t know until you finish your knitting.

When making stripes I tend to be an orderly kind of knitter. My preference is usually to change colors on the same side, which ends up being the right side most often. Carrying one color only across, and then changing colors on the same side. This gives you sharp stripes. This picture shows colors alternated every 2 rows:

Garter stitch stripes "right" side

And the other side, usually the wrong side is more blended:

Garter stitch stripes, "wrong" side

If changing colors on both sides of the article, you’ll get a blend of the two.

There is another technique called mosaic knitting. Here, you change the colors at the beginning of a row like stripes, slip some stitches, and still carry only one color across at a time. It gives some lovely color patterns, on both sides:

Two color mosaic garter stitch odd rows

Two color mosaic garter even rows

Here’s a nice online description of knitting instructions for mosaic garter stitch.

I must admit, however, that one of my favorite ways to add color to garter stitch is easier than either of these.

Garter stitch with variegated yarn

Use a variegated yarn! Especially if you like the randomness, and being surprised at the outcome which may look like stripes or Intarsia, or even something else.

If you like garter stitch, and want to try a small project, why not a kitchen set? Here’s the link on how you can get knitting instructions for my Ripple Garter Stitch Kitchen Set.

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 … or three or more double-pointed needles stockinette stitch is knitting every stitch in every row. Circular knitting though is more advanced than knitting with two needles.  So, even though stockinette can be knit every stitch, it’s not the way most knitters learn stockinette.

Unlike garter stitch, stockinette stitch has a tendency to curl. So borders, whether of garter stitch or ribbing are more common to help flatten the finished article.  And depending upon the yarn, blocking can help, too.

Stockinette stitch can be the first step towards more complex patterns.  For example, knitting with more than one color of yarn.  Whether Fair Isle, or some other pattern.

Looks complex, doesn’t it? This pattern uses only two colors.  It was fun to knit. And yes, I did follow a chart for it.  Well, sort of.  I actually changed the pattern from the original.

Here’s a more complex Fair Isle pattern from the ‘net:

Image via Wikipedia

I like to think of cable stitches as another variation of stockinette.

While they look complex, if you look closely you’ll see stockinette stitch, and reverse stockinette stitch in the pattern.  Reverse stockinette:  all purled stitches, found on the wrong side of stockinette stitch.

My latest project is stockinette stitch on circular needles.

Knit with two strands of crochet cotton, I like the variegated effect.

What are you knitting?

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 you look closely, you’ll see how small the actual sample of reverse garter I knit for this post really is …

Only 10 stitches wide, and 10 ribs high (not including the cast on and bind off).  And yes, I knit the first row and cast off with knit stitches.  I can cast off with purl stitches, and didn’t feel a need to practice those.

For the cast on method I used knitting the first row is much faster (and easier).  So that’s what I did.

Just like garter stitch, reverse garter lies flat, and is thicker than stockinette.  Its uses are the same as garter stitch. Assuming of course you  have the patience — and the inclination — to purl multiple rows.  A scarf would make one a purling expert quickly, and possibly tire of it quickly, too.

And yes, I’m one of those knitters who goes out of her way to avoid reverse garter stitch.  If I can, I’ll substitute garter stitch, or alter the pattern.  Patterns like gauges, are after all, only a suggestion—

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.  The edges don’t curl. So, it makes a nice edging, or strap.  As an edging, garter stitch is often used to flatten a pattern that otherwise would curl. I like it as a strap for a purse or bag.

Knitting tip: When knitting a strap, you can cast on the stitches lengthwise and knit.  Yes you have long rows, but it often seems easier and faster than knitting many short rows.

Its ridges give garter stitch a texture — and a thickness — not found in stockinette stitch.

Beginners often start making scarves in garter stitch.  Making a long scarf can be excellent practice in the stitches.  Hopefully not to the point of getting bored of garter stitch, though.

In cotton, it also makes great dishcloths, and dish towels.  I like the ridges for scrubbing dishes — or absorbing the water when drying them!

And it can make washcloths, towels,  sweaters, and more…  My sister likes to make watch caps with it instead of ribbing.

I looked for the origin of the term garter stitch.  And couldn’t find it.  I suspect it was used in garters — bands that used to be used frequently to hold up socks and stockings. If you know its origin, please share in the comments!

Meanwhile, I’m going to keep knitting…