By: Louise Nova
Even though you may want to jump right in there and start using
knitting patterns it is definitely a good idea to make a knitting gauge
swatch. You don’t want skip this step, it’s not worth it. A single
stitch in one inch can end up really making a big difference to the
eventual size of an item from all knitting patterns. It seems like a
chore but you need to just learn that you will be thankful in the end.
Always knit the swatch in the stitch that you will use. Obviously
different knitting patterns end up with different sizes so this
matters. I always try to make my swatch big enough to make it a good
test. I usually go for at least 4" x 4". Surround the swatch with a few
rows of seed stitch knitting (knit or purl the opposite stitch of what
you see facing you on odd number rows). Begin and end each row with
four seed stitches as well. This stitch lies very flat and will help
you measure accurately.
Feel The Tension!
It may surprise you to know that the needle size is much less important
than your particular tension with knitting patterns. Some people are
loose with their knitting while others are tight. This can also vary
from day to day with some people. You can deliberately adapt your
tension to create different looks from the same knitting patterns.
Loose knitting for a light open feel and tighter knitting for a warmer
feel. Remember also that you will get a softer feel from a loose knit
and a stiffer feel from a tight knit.
When you have finished the swatch let it sit for awhile. The yarn needs
to relax and even out any tight spots. Now count the stitches and
measure
the rows per inch of knitting. Remember to try a measurement in a few
different places. Another way is to just calculate how big the total
knitting
pattern swatch should be. If 16 stitches were cast on and the gauge in
the knitting pattern is 4st=1" then the swatch should measure 4" The
part you measure should not include the seed stitches. Think about the
size and adjust the needle size. For instance, if you are too small,
try larger needles and vice versa. Now you have finished you can start
using your knitting patterns with confidence knowing that the product
of your labors will actually fit you!
About the Author:
Louise Nova loves knitting and teaching people how to knit. She also
loves to blog. Knitting for 30 years, she has taught many young family
members how knitting is fun and easy. You can find more information on
her blog at Knitting Patterns
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Louise Nova
I wanted to set out some basic knitting instructions as a refresher so
here it is. All knitting instructions use basically two stitches, the
knit stitch and the purl stitch. Once you know these two knitting
essentials you will be able to follow most knitting instructions which
are just combinations or variations of these two stitches.
Knitting Instructions for the Knit Stitch
Once you have cast on, hold the knitting needle with the cast on
stitches in your left hand. Push the point of the right knitting needle
in between the front of the first and second stitches, pointing the
knitting needle to the right to feed the point through the first stitch
keeping it under the left needle. The knitting yarn should be at the
back of the work. Loop the knitting yarn around the right knitting
needle from back to front, letting the knitting yarn rest between the
needles. Catch the knitting yarn on the end on the right knitting
needle and pull it through the first stitch to the front of the work.
Slip the old stitch off the left needle. The new stitch is now on the
right needle. Now you are getting the hang of the knitting
instructions. It is a good idea to keep the knitting yarn draped over
the right forefinger, this keeps it to the back of the work too. Repeat
this process until all stitches are on the right knitting needle. Now
count the stitches, if they are all there, turn the right knitting
needle around and put it in the left hand. This is the first row from
your knitting instructions. The knitting yarn will look like it is at
the front and you will now take it to the back and start the second row
of transferring stitches to the empty right needle.
Knitting Instructions for the Purl Stitch
The Purl stitch will also be in any knitting instructions. Start with
the knitting needle with the cast on stitches in your left hand. Your
knitting yarn will be hanging in front. Push point of right knitting
needle into the front of the first stitch from right to left. Wrap the
knitting yarn around the tip of the right knitting needle, crossing
over the two needles and hanging once again in front. Slide the right
knitting needle down and back taking the new loop of knitting yarn from
front to back, through the old stitch. Slip the old stitch off the left
knitting needle. If you have followed the knitting instructions you now
have a stitch in purl on the right knitting needle and the yarn is
hanging, once again, in the front. Repeat this process until all
stitches are on the right knitting needle. Now count the stitches to
make sure you haven’t dropped any and turn the work around putting the
knitting needle with the stitches on in your left hand to start the
next row.
I hope you could follow my basic knitting instructions. I have a lot
more information about knitting on my Knitting Instructions blog so
please join me there to learn more.
About the Author:
Louise Nova loves knitting and teaching people how to knit. She also
loves to blog. Knitting for 30 years,she has taught many young family
members how knitting is fun and easy. You can find more information on
her blog at Knitting Instructions
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Louise Nova
If you have been keeping up with the trend to use free knitting
patterns for your knitting projects then you probably have been
searching the internet for web sites offering them. It is not just by
collecting free knitting patterns that you can save money. You need to
look around your house for knitted items that you no longer use. Look
at any old sweater and ask yourself if you still like the style, maybe
you never really liked it in the first place. Maybe you still love the
color or the texture of the yarn. This will probably be a good
candidate for re-using the yarn and knitting a whole new sweater using
one of those free knitting patterns you have been collecting. I have
done this often because I hate to waste money. Once you have made the
decision, and the size of the sweater is approximately equal to or
larger than the one you will be making from your free knitting pattern,
then the decision is easy…it’s time to re-use the yarn.
The first thing I do is unstitch all around the seams. Take your time
and be careful where you cut so you don’t keep cutting the pieces of
knitting. First you need to find the end where the knitting was cast
off, not on, because the way the yarn is knitted, makes it very easy to
just pull and unravel each row. It helps if you have a helper with
their hands about a foot apart. I have many memories of sitting with my
hands apart while my mother wound yarn around them. If you don’t have a
willing pair of hands then just use the back of a chair to wind the
yarn around. If you find that some of the pieces of yarn are short you
can just tie the next piece to it and continue on. I usually tie a
couple of pieces of yarn loosely around the bundle to stop it tangling.
This is the stage you look at it and wonder how you will knit with this
crinkly yarn. If you used it this way it would give a bumpy texture to
your knitting and could cause problems with your tension.
I have had some success with washing the yarn in bundles (washable yarn
only of course). I wash yarn as usual leaving the yarn quite wet. I
hang the yarn over the back of an old chair outside, or inside in the
bath tub in the winter. You can use anything that will let you hang it.
A stick across two boxes will work. Because the yarn is wet it will
pull itself down while it dries. When it is dry I wind it with my yarn
winder, but if you don’t have one just hand wind into balls. I like to
use my yarn winder because I can pull the yarn from the inside which
stops it rolling and catching. Some people have success winding the
yarn around a small object to make a hollow inside but make sure you
can get it out. If not then hand winding it is!
Now take your yarn, which cost you nothing, and take your free knitting
patterns, which cost you nothing, and start creating. The pride of
wearing something you have made yourself will be so much more when you
can say that you didn’t spend any money to do it!
About the Author:
Louise Nova loves knitting and teaching people how to knit. She also
loves to blog. Knitting for 30 years, she has taught many young family
members how knitting is fun and easy. Visit her blog at Free Knitting Patterns
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com