just knitting a handy guide for all hand knitters!
Knitting Patterns
Patterns can be bought individually - for a single garment - or in themed books which are usually better value. Magazines are also an excellent way of building up a ‘library’ of favourite patterns and they will be bang-up-to-date. There are some free patterns available on the web - but be aware that many of these are American and for the British knitter this can give problems as American yarns, for example, are different thicknesses from those sold in the UK (see yarns page).
Once you have found a pattern that works well for you in terms of sizing and shape, you can adapt it a bit. For example, I make striped jumpers for children using a plain pattern, ensuring that the back and front stripes match at the sides. If you find a motif you like, for example a star on a hat pattern, you could try to place it on the front of a plain jumper with a bit of arithmetic to get it central.
Sizing is very important if you are going ‘off piste’ with knitting patterns - see sizes page to avoid pitfalls.
CRACKING THE CODE
Some years ago when I arrived at Moscow airport, a security officer took great interest in the knitting pattern I had in my hand luggage. I imagine he thought it was some kind of suspicious secret code!
Of course knitting patterns are written in a code which must baffle new knitters. Abbreviations are used for instructions which would otherwise be very long and repetitive. All knitting patterns have a guide to abbreviations at the start of the instructions, and I have listed the more common ones on this page. Some are simply different ways of saying the same thing, for example yarn round needle/wool round needle! Here is an explanation of a couple of the more ‘technical’ ones:
s1,k1,psso: slip one stitch (pass a stitch from left needle to right needle without knitting it), knit one stitch, pass slipped stitch over (using the left needle, pull the slipped stitch forward over the knitted stitch and off the right needle). It’s a way of decreasing by one stitch, commonly used to shape a raglan sleeve.
k2tog tbl: knit 2 together through back of loop. Insert the right hand needle into the next two stitches on the left hand needle through the back of the loops; wrap yarn over needle and knit both stitches together. Again, it decreases by one stitch. You might see purl variations of these instructions (s1,p1,psso and p2tog tbl).
Some years ago when I arrived at Moscow airport, a security officer took great interest in the knitting pattern I had in my hand luggage. I imagine he thought it was some kind of suspicious secret code!
Of course knitting patterns are written in a code which must baffle new knitters. Abbreviations are used for instructions which would otherwise be very long and repetitive. All knitting patterns have a guide to abbreviations at the start of the instructions, and I have listed the more common ones on this page. Some are simply different ways of saying the same thing, for example yarn round needle/wool round needle! Here is an explanation of a couple of the more ‘technical’ ones:
s1,k1,psso: slip one stitch (pass a stitch from left needle to right needle without knitting it), knit one stitch, pass slipped stitch over (using the left needle, pull the slipped stitch forward over the knitted stitch and off the right needle). It’s a way of decreasing by one stitch, commonly used to shape a raglan sleeve.
k2tog tbl: knit 2 together through back of loop. Insert the right hand needle into the next two stitches on the left hand needle through the back of the loops; wrap yarn over needle and knit both stitches together. Again, it decreases by one stitch. You might see purl variations of these instructions (s1,p1,psso and p2tog tbl).
abbreviation
meaning
k
knit
p
purl
st st
stocking stitch
rep
repeat
yf or y fwd
yarn forward
yrn
yarn round needle
m1
make 1
dec
decease
inc
increase
foll
following
incl
inclusive
won
wool over needle
wrn
wool round needle
C
main colour
TIP OF THE WEEK - free patterns!
Knitting yarn makers Patons have a selection of free patterns to download for easy and intermediate skill levels.
Go to www.patonsyarns.com and look under our patterns.
Go to www.patonsyarns.com and look under our patterns.