I have great enthusiasm for knitting and for sharing the craft with others. Because you’ve picked up this topic, it’s clear that you share at least some of my enthusiasm. It’s hard to put a finger on what it is about knitting that pulls us in.Maybe it’s the simple, repetitive motions, and the feel and look of the fibers and fabrics that we create; or maybe it’s the chance to share in a long tradition that cuts across boundaries of age and background. It’s also pretty cool to be able to point to a garment and say “I made that beautiful, warm thing with some string and a couple of sticks!” Whatever it is that attracts us, knitting is something that you can return to your whole life, making all kinds of projects — and friends — along the way. I love teaching people how to knit. And, even more, I love teaching them to knit the things that they want to knit. Putting this topic together challenged me to come up with straightforward patterns with broad appeal and lots of room for improvisation. I charged myself with two goals: to make designs that would flatter lots of different people, and to think carefully about keeping the shapes simple, relying on basic shapes like rectangles, cylinders, and triangles to create patterns that are knittable and easy to understand. I hope that you take the patterns in this topic and make them your own. Even if you’re new to knitting, you can still make design decisions, whether it’s the color combination you choose or the yarn and stitch pattern you decide to knit. I firmly believe that every knitter can be her own designer. So, I try to provide opportunities for you to master not only knitting skills but also skills that you need to understand why things are the way they are in a pattern — and how to change them if you want to. Whether you’re a brand new knitter, a seasoned stitcher, or someone returning to the needles after a long absence, this topic gives you lots of great patterns to choose from and plenty of help along the way. Knitting Patterns is filled with classic knits that won’t go out of style — and they’re all presented in an easy-to-follow format.
How This Topic Is Organized
The first two parts of this topic contain information that you may want to know before you start knitting, particularly if you’re a new knitter. The bulk of the topic, Parts III and IV, are the pattern chapters. The patterns in these parts are organized by their basic geometry, starting with the rectangle and moving up in complexity to fully shaped sweaters for the whole family. Similarly, each chapter is organized by level of difficulty, so choose patterns at the beginning of a chapter if you’re looking for a simpler project and choose ones at the end of a chapter if you want a more ambitious project.
Part I: The Nuts and Bolts (or Sticks and String) of Knitting
Part I is packed with useful information. Chapter 1, for instance, introduces you to the basic tools of the trade: yarn, needles, and the other gadgets that you want to have at hand. Chapter 2 gives you the lowdown on gauge. Understanding what gauge is and how to knit at the gauge specified in a pattern is vital to knitting pieces that fit well and turn out right. If you’re a new knitter, or if the garments you knit never seem to fit right, read Chapter 2 and take it to heart! If you take the opportunity to practice gauge and get it right, you’ll be richly rewarded. Chapter 3 deals with taking body measurements and knowing what size garments to knit. Because you can’t try your sweater on before you knit it, it’s imperative to know what size is right for you. Finally, in Chapter 4,I give you guidance on reading knitting patterns. Knitting can seem like a foreign language at times, but after you master the lingo, you’ll be ready to read.
Part II: A Primer on Stitches and Color
Part II provides step-by-step instructions for the stitch patterns used in this topic and some others you might like to try. If, for example, you need a refresher on how to knit seed stitch in the round or want to try your hand at half linen stitch, Chapter 5 is the place to turn. This chapter is where I cover the simplest stitches. Chapter 6 introduces you to a variety of textures that can be used all over a piece or as accents. Study this chapter to master the basics of ribbing, cabling, and knitting lace. If you want to learn about stripes, Fair Isle, or mosaic patterns, check out Chapter 7, which introduces color work. There, I also show you how to add a bit of color with duplicate stitch or surface crochet after your handknit is complete.
Part III: Patterns with Rectangles and Related Shapes
The easiest shape to knit is a rectangle, but the simplicity of the knitting doesn’t mean that these patterns are boring — they’re anything but! Start off with rectangles to wear in Chapter 8. You’ll find scarves here, of course, but you also can choose from stoles, hats, slippers, and even a top — all of which are rectangles. Really. But wait, there’s more! Chapter 9 gives you rectangular projects for the home: pillows, potholders, a lovely and smart looking baby blanket, and a journal cover perfect for your knitting notebook. Chapter 10 introduces just a hint of shaping. By binding off and casting on in the right places, you can make a wonderful messenger bag, a baby sweater, a couple of fantastic coats, or a great shell that you’ll love to wear. To look at these pieces, you’d never guess that the knitting was so straightforward. These projects are well within the grasp of any knitter who’s whetted her needles on her first scarf or dishcloth and who’s ready for something a bit more ambitious.
Part IV: Patterns with Circles,Triangles, and More
After you’ve gotten the hang of all things rectilinear, try your hand at the patterns presented in Part IV. This part begins with circles in Chapter 11. Working in the round is no more complex than knitting a rectangle. In fact, it’s easier in some cases! stylish wrist warmers, or a ruffled cowl to warm your neck? If you’re feeling ambitious, cast on for the mosaic-patterned felted purse. Chapter 12 familiarizes you with triangles. Easy kerchiefs and shawls help you understand the ins and outs of shaping, and you can practice short rows by making the surprisingly simple short row scarf or harlequin blanket. The next two chapters — Chapters 13 and 14 — put all the shapes together as you move on to more involved projects: classic sweaters for the whole family. These projects combine the skills used in earlier chapters, but in their basic forms they’re fine choices for a knitter who’s ready to make her first sweater.In Chapter 13, you find an all-purpose pattern for a kid’s top. Make it with short or long sleeves, cabled or not, wool or cotton — the choice is yours. I also include patterns for a women’s T-shirt and two men’s sweaters. One of the men’s sweaters is more casual with rolled edges and a bit of color, and the other is a fine-gauged sweater with traditional finishing. Chapter 14 includes two top-down cardigans. One is bulky and zipped — ready for weekends outdoors — and the other is half-ribbed with a wide collar and clean lines. Finally, you can also choose from two women’s pullovers. These feminine pullovers have shaping at the waist, and you can knit either a scooped neck or a wide V-neck. The scoop neck is shown with Fair Isle borders and the V-neck is cropped and accented with lace. However, the details on these sweaters are interchangeable, which
allows you to create a top that’s just what you want.
Part V: The Part of Tens
This part of the topic is a mixed bag of little chapters that are full of tips and whimsy. They’re great to read when you need a break from your knitting. Discover what to do with your swatches, how to knit with some unusual things, and how to care for your knits after they’re complete.
Basic Knitting Skills
If you find yourself stuck at some point, look to the appendix, featuring basic knitting skills. The appendix can refresh your memory on knitting basics, such as casting on, knitting, purling, binding off, and more. Remember too that the index can point you to pages where skills are described in greater depth.
