Knitting Yarns
Published by JoAnn on Tagged Tools and yarns
There are many kinds of yarns, different textures and colors. The other difference between yarns is the price. High quality yarns carry a higher price tag than do synthetic yarns. Using the exact yarn called for in a pattern usually creates the best results but there will be times that you may choose a different yarn than the pattern suggests. When you do this, you should choose a yarn that is as close in weight to the one recommended by the pattern as possible.
Choosing a yarn that is similar in fiber will give you a result that will closely match the pattern. Yarns are different in weight and thickness. There are two-ply, three-ply and four-ply yarns. Ply is the number of strands that have been woven together to form the final thickness and weight of the finished yarn. When you do purchase yarn for a particular project, you should purchase exactly the amount you will need at that time, paying careful attention to the dye lot number that is on the yarn label. If you just purchase the yarn by looking at the color rather than by dye lots, you might not realize how yarns may look the same in the store but have a slightly different shade that becomes apparent when the yarns are later joined together while you are knitting your project. These subtle differences will affect the outcome of your project, unless of course, you are deliberately choosing these shades. If you don’t buy all of the yarn you might need at once, you may find that you are unable to find that dye lot number later when you need it. It is a good idea to keep the label from each skein of yarn until your knitting project is finished because it contains not only information about dye lots and color number but also has washing instructions. As well, there is often a pattern on the reverse side that you may wish to knit sometime in the future.
Lightweight yarns are best when knitting lacy shawls, infant and baby wear and fine socks or gloves knit on fine needles. It is best to choose smooth washable treated wool or yarn for these items. Medium weight yarns are better suited for adult sweaters, socks and scarves and for articles that will stand more rugged wear like mittens and gloves. Heavy or bulky yarns are great for making outdoor jackets or ski sweaters where you need a warmer, heavier fabric.
Determining Tension or Gauge
Published by JoAnn on Tagged Types of Stitches, Uncategorized
The only way to determine your gauge is to make a swatch (sample of knitting) using the same stitch and same kind of yarn and using the same size needles you plan to use to knit your project. Tension is the number of stitches and rows to an inch and is also called stitch gauge. The tension along with the stitch pattern determines the size and shape of a garment. Using different size needles than recommended by the pattern will not affect the work as much as having the correct gauge will, although if you do use the needle size recommended, your work should be close to that suggested by the pattern. Tension varies between knitters which is why it is a good idea to knit a swatch before beginning a new project. If you are knitting sweaters this is really important, else you can end up with a finished sweater that is either much larger or much smaller than you wanted. The swatch should be approximately six inches square.
To measure the gauge, place the sample on a padded surface, smooth it out and count the number of stitches in that are recommended in the gauge given in the instructions. Generally, you would count the number of stitches in two full inches of the swatch. Half of this number will make up your gauge for one inch. For beginning knitters, it is usually easier to measure gauge by using the stockinette stitch. By using this stitch, you will more easily be able to differentiate between the stitches and the rows. If you have more stitches per inch than the pattern recommends, you have knit the gauge more tightly than the “average” and should try knitting another swatch using slightly larger needles. If you have fewer than the recommended stitches, your stitches are more loose than the “average” and you should knit another swatch using slightly smaller needles. Keep changing your needles or tension until your gauge is exactly correct.
Types of Stitches
Published by JoAnn on Tagged Types of StitchesNow that you know the basics of getting the stitches on the needle, you are ready to begin learning the different knitting stitches that are used in most patterns. There are really only two basic stitches to learn, they are called the knit stitch and the purl stitch. Once you know how to make these simple stitches, you can knit any pattern you wish to knit no matter how complicated it seems. It is just a matter of using different combinations of stitches from this point forward.
The Knit Stitch
This is the first stitch that people learn to make. There are three steps to making this stitch. Holding the needle with the cast on stitches in your left hand, insert the right hand needle into the front of the first stitch on the left hand needle. (Your right hand needle should cross behind your left hand needle.) Take the yarn from the ball and put it around the point of the right hand needle. (It is simpler if you use your index finger to guide the yarn over the needle.) Next you use the tip of the right hand needle to draw a loop of yarn through the stitch, forming the new stitch on the right hand needle. Now that the stitch is formed, slip the loop from the left hand needle onto the right hand needle. Continue with these steps until all of the stitches have been worked off the left hand needle onto the right hand needle. This is your first “row”. To knit row 2, you can repeat the above steps.