Knitting How To's
To assist you, we have posted some of the most common questions. We also have a listing of knititng abbreviations & terms below.
Q: Help! I am knitting on circular needles and I'm lost!
A: First, when you knit in the round on circular needles, always remember to place a marker at the beginning of the round. Once you work the entire round, you will be back at the marker. Slip the marker from the left hand side to the right. You are now about to begin the next round. Each time around is one row.
When you knit in the round, it is circular stockinette. This will not look bumpy like garter stitch. When you knit back and forth on straight needles and only knit (no purling) it is called garter stitch. When you knit in the round, circular stockinette, this will have the same look as if you knit a row, purled a row on straight needles. It will look like the right side or public side of a sweater with little v's.
Q: How do I add a new ball of yarn?
A: Whether you are doing a scarf or larger project, the best way to add a ball of yarn is at the beginning of a row. Just drop the existing yarn you are running out of, pick up the new strand of yarn and knit a few stitches. Go back and loop the ends of the new yarn and the tail of the old yarn just enough to secure them. For the most part - we say "no knots." With some of the novelty yarns - you won't see a knot, but it's much nicer to loop them then return and weave them into the fabric securely with a yarn needle.
Q: What is Stockinette Stitch?
A: Garter stitch is just knitting. Stockinette stitch is where you knit an entire row and then on the next row you will purl. Knit one row, Purl one row, Knit one row, Purl one row ... you get the idea.
Q: What can I do about cast on edges that are too tight?
A: A cast on edge that is too tight will make knitting that next row very difficult. It also may affect the shape of your fabric. To avoid a "too tight cast on," try one of 2 things: Cast on with a larger needle size and then go back to the recommended needle. You can also try casting on using two needles for extra width then pull the one needle out and begin knitting.
Q: What does that "End on a WS" really mean?
A: The easiest example would be a stockinette piece where there is a knit side (the side that looks like interconnecting V's) and the purl side that is bumpy and usually the underside of the piece. When the knit side is the right side and the Purl side is the wrong side, you end with a Purl row. Meaning - you have just completed a Purl row and are now going to begin a right side row or in this case a Knit row.
Q: Binding off too tightly?
A: Try using a needle one or two sizes up. Use one of the larger needles to work that one last row and it will yield a looser bind off
| Knitting Gauge | |
Knitting Gauge Questions? The gauge, or the number of stitches or rows per inch, normally is determined by the size of the needles and the weight of the yarn. Always work a gauge swatch to see if your tension equals the gauge specified in your instructions. If you have too many stitches per inch, you're working too tightly. You need to stitch with less tension or change to larger needles. If you have too few stitches per inch, you're working too loosely. You need to stitch with a greater tension or change to a smaller needle. For your practice sessions, choose medium-size needles (size 8 or 9 is good to start with) and a smooth, light-color yarn so you can see your work easily. |
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| Glossary/Definitions | |
approx
beg
CC
cm
cn
cont
dec
dpn
foll
g
inc
k
LH
m
mm
MC
M1
oz
p
pat(s)
pm
psso
rem
rep
rev St st
RH
RS
rnd(s)
SKP
SK2P
sl
SL st
st(s)
St st
tbl
tog
WS
wyib
wyif
yd
yo
*
[ ] | approximately
begin(ning)
contrasting color
centimeter(s)
cable needle
continue(ing)
decrease(ing)
double pointed needles(s)
follow(s)(ing)
gram(s)
increase(ing)
knit
left-hand
meter(s)
millimeter(s)
main color
make one
ounce(s)
purl
pattern(s)
place marker
pass slip stitch(es) over
remain(s)(ing)
repeat
reverse stockinette stitch
right-hand
right side(s)
round(s)
slip1, knit 1, pass slip stitch(Es) over
slip 1 knit 2 stitches together, pass slip stitch(Es) over
slip
slip stitch
stitch(Es)
stockinette stitch
through back loop(s)
together
wrong side(s)
with yarn in back
with yarn in front
yard(s)
yarn over (hook or needle)
repeat directions following * as many times as indicated
repeat directions inside brackets as many times as indicated |
BIND OFF
| To finish off an edge and keep stitches from unraveling by lifting the first stitch over the second, the second over the third, etc. | | BIND OFF IN RIBBING: | Keep in the rib pattern as you bind off. (Knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches.) | | CAST ON: | Form a foundation row by making any number of loops on the knitting needle. | | DECREASE: | Reduce the number of stitches in a row. (i.e., knit 2 together) | | INCREASE: | Add to the number of stitches in a row. (I.e., knit in front and back of stitch) | | KNITWISE: | Insert the needle into the stitch as if you were going to knit it. | | MAKE ONE: | With tip of the needle, lift strand between last stitch knitted and next stitch on left-hand needle, place strand on left-hand needle and knit into back of it to increase 1 stitch. | | PLACE MARKERS: | Loop a piece of contrast yarn or purchased stitch marker onto the needle. | | PICK UP AND KNIT (PURL): | Knit (or purl) into the loops along an edge.
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PURLWISE: |
Insert the needle into the stitch as if you were going to purl it. | | SELVAGE STITCH: | Edge stitch that helps make seaming easier. | | SKIP: | Skip specified number of crochet stitches of the previous row and work into next stitch. | | SLIP, SLIP, KNIT: | Slip next 2 stitches knitwise, one at a time, to right-hand needle. Insert tip of left-hand needle into fronts of these stitches from left to right and knit them together to decrease 1 stitch. | | SLIP STITCH: | In knitting, pass a stitch from the left- hand to the right-hand needle as if to purl without working it. In crochet, insert hook through loop or edge, yarn over and pull through loop on hook. | | WORK EVEN: | Continue in specified pattern without increasing or decreasing. | | YARN OVER: | In knitting, make a new stitch by placing the yarn over the right-hand needle.
In crochet, wind yarn around hook. |
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