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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780715317990 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | David & Charles |
| Publication date: | 10/15/2004 |
| Pages: | 162 |
| Product dimensions: | 8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.35(d) |
About the Author
Claire Crompton has worked in the knitting industry for over 15 years. After her Knitwear Design degree she became a pattern designer for major yarn manufacturers and is the author of The Knitter's Bible.
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Getting Started
This section contains all the techniques you need to start knitting, beginning with how to hold the needles and yarn, how to cast on and work the knit stitch, and how to bind (cast) off. These basic techniques will then allow you to complete your first project. Learn how to purl, the other basic stitch, and combine it with the knit stitch to produce stockinette (stocking) stitch and ribs. More projects follow, using the techniques just learnt. There is useful information on choosing and using different yarns, and an explanation of the different needles and equipment you will need to begin knitting confidently.
Introduction
This book will take you through the basic techniques that you need to begin knitting, such as casting on, and knit and purl stitches. It encourages you to try new techniques including cables and fair isle knitting. There is a wide range of projects for you and your home, ranging from simple ones to more challenging designs as your confidence and skills grow.
How to use this book
The book has been divided into colour coded sections to help you find the information you need quickly and easily. Each new technique is explained with clear diagrams, photographs and step-by-step instructions.
Getting Started is colour coded purple and teaches you the basic techniques you need to begin knitting straight away. It offers invaluable information about yarns and choosing the correct needles for your work. At the end of this section is a page of useful hints and tips to improve your knitting and a list of the abbreviations that are used throughout this book, each clearly explained.
Creative Options pages are coded blue, and introduce more techniques to expand your range of knitted fabrics, such as lace knitting, cables and colour knitting. Circular knitting is also explained.
Exploring Choices is colour coded green and features many exciting techniques to encourage you to experiment and discover the wide variety of fabrics that can be knitted. Beads, embroidery and looped knitting decorate the surface whilst mitred squares and entrelac illustrate the creative use of shapes. This section also includes information on working from knitting patterns, how to alter patterns to fit and how to adapt patterns with new stitches.
Throughout these three sections, there are Knit Perfect boxes, which focus on the important points of each technique and give hints and tips to improve your knitting.
The Stitch Library pages are coded turquoise and include a wide range of over 100 stitches that you can use in the projects or for your own designs.
Throughout the book, the techniques are illustrated by projects, beginning with a simple garter stitch scarf that can be knitted with three basic techniques. Other projects include a cable throw, and bootees, sweater and blanket for baby. The smaller items like gift bags and scented sachets are quick and easy to knit and will encourage you to try new techniques.
Measurements are given in imperial with metric conversions in brackets. Use either imperial or metric when working, do not combine them since in many cases they are not a direct conversion.
Two ways of holding the needles and knitting are explained: the English method and Continental method. To avoid confusion, throughout this book the diagrams show the English method of holding the needles. Knitters who prefer the Continental method can easily use the diagrams since the position of the needles and the working yarn around the needles are the same for both methods.
Whether you are a complete novice wanting to start knitting, or an experienced knitter searching for fresh ideas and inspirations, this is the essential handbook that will always be at your side.
INTRODUCING YARNS
Fibres
Yarns are spun from natural or synthetic fibres. Natural fibres include wool, silk, linen, cotton, cashmere and alpaca. Synthetic fibres include polyester, acrylic, viscose, rayon and nylon. Yarn can also be a mixture of each, for example, wool and acrylic, or wool and cotton.
The following list describes the most common fibres used in knitting yarns:
NATURAL FIBRES
Alpaca hair from the alpaca (llama)
Angora hair from the angora rabbit
Cashmere hair from the cashmere goat
Cotton plant fibre, from the boll of the cotton plant
Lambswool sheep's first shearing, usually the softest
Linen plant fibre, from the stem of the flax plant
Merino wool from the fleece of the merino sheep
Mohair from the angora goat, the softer and finer kid mohair is from the kid goat
Shetland wool traditionally from Shetland sheep
Silk continuous filament secreted by the silkworm larva
Wool from the fleece of a sheep
SYNTHETIC FIBRES
Acetate, rayon and viscose chemical treatment of cellulose fibres from wood pulp
Acrylic, polyester and nylon made from petro-chemicals, nylon is the strongest textile fibre, elastane is an elastic fibre
PLY OR THICKNESS
A ply is a single twisted strand and, as a general rule, the more plies that are twisted together, the thicker the yarn but, confusingly, the plies from different manufacturers can be different thicknesses themselves. A tightly spun ply will be thinner than a loosely spun one. In order of thickness they are:
1 ply which is used for gossamer lace knitting like traditional Shetland shawls
Baby and fingering (UK 2ply or 3ply)
Sport (UK 4ply)
Worsted (UK DK – double knitting) the most widely used weight which is suitable for most garments without being too bulky for indoor wear.
Fisherman or medium weight (UK aran)
Bulky (UK chunky)
Super bulky (UK super chunky) and Big yarns are even thicker
Texture
Most yarns are plain – simply plies twisted together but there are other yarns called novelty or specialist yarns.
Chenille has a core of strong plies spun together to trap the short velvet pile threads.
Boucle has two plies spun together at different speeds so one bunches up around the other creating a towelling look when knitted up.
Slub yarns alternate between thick and thin creating a very textured fabric.
Ribbon yarns are exactly what they sound like; knitted up they form a loose fabric with plenty of drape.
Mohair or angora yarns have been brushed to raise the hairs of the fibre and make a soft fluffy fabric.
Fun fur yarns with short or long piles knit up for an extra furry garment.
Fleece yarns knit up to make a soft allover pile.
Special features
Due their different characteristics, some yarns are more suitable for certain uses than others. A child's garment that needs frequent washing should be knitted in a hardwearing, machine-washable yarn rather than one that has to be hand washed. Fun fur yarns make cosier cushions than rough natural wool and linen yarns drape better than crisp cotton.
Wool is the best yarn to use. It is strong, durable, elastic, takes dye well and feels soft against the skin. A garment knitted in wool will hold its shape, have excellent insulation properties and the surface will not pill like some synthetics. As there are different breeds of sheep so there are different types of wool; lambswool is soft, merino and wensleydale have long fibres and a lustrous sheen when knitted, and shetland wool is available in a wide range of colours for traditional fair isle knitting. Natural, undyed yarn, usually straight from the wool producers, comes in range of colours from cream through to soft browns and charcoals, and has a real rustic look and feel. Wool that has machine washable or tumble dry printed on the ball band has been treated to not shrink or full in the washing machine and drier.
Cotton is a heavy yarn, so the weight of a finished garment can cause it to drop and the garment will get longer. It also lacks elasticity and so ribs become baggy, though this is restored after washing. Cotton blended with a synthetic fibre will have more stability. However, cotton is a great yarn to use for crisp stitch textures and looks beautiful in lace knitting. Mercerized cotton has been treated to add lustre and take brighter dyes; it is stronger than untreated cotton and harder wearing.
Silk is a luxury fibre that is beautiful to knit with and creates soft, fluid garments to wear against the skin. If loosely spun, it will not be hard wearing, so use it for special garments only.
Cashmere is an expensive yarn but its soft, light and luxurious qualities make it a good investment. Knit it into classic garments that never go out of fashion.
Synthetic yarns are hard wearing, and can be pulled in and out of the washing machine without suffering shrinkage or fulling, making them ideal for children's clothes. But some knitters find them uncomfortable to knit with, as stitches tend to cling to the needles. The surface pills easily, and submit them to a steam iron and they lose all elasticity and life.
Blended yarns of natural and synthetic fibres combine the natural yarn's qualities with the hardwearing and stable features of the synthetic.
When you are learning to knit, start as you mean to go on – choose a 100 per cent wool yarn; it is easy to work with, can be unravelled and reused, and whatever you knit will look gorgeous.
CHOOSING YARNS
When selecting yarn for a particular garment or accessory, bear in mind the way in which it will be used once finished, and the overall effect you want to achieve through the colour and texture.
Yarns for baby
Yarns specifically for babies are treated to be softer, and made to withstand frequent machine washing and tumble drying. Suitable yarns are baby and fingering (2ply) in 100 per cent wool for white lacy heirloom shawls, sport (4ply) nylon/acrylic mix in traditional blue and pink, fashion worsted (DK) nylon/acrylic mix with a pearlized thread or 100 per cent wool in soft colours for cosy sweaters and bootees.
Crisp cool yarns
Pure 100 per cent cotton, cotton mixes and natural fibres such as linen and silk are perfect for summer but can look good all year round. Hardwearing, they also give a classic look to soft furnishings, knitted into throws and cushions. Worsted (DK) denim yarn fades and ages like jeans, tweed yarns with a touch of silk make relaxed holiday wear, and spaced-dyed yarns give a blended look. Worsted (DK) cotton comes in bright colours for crisp ribbed sweaters, worsted (DK) linen mixed with viscose has drape, sport (4ply) mercerized cottons have a sheen, and a cotton ribbon yarn is ideal for slinky summer evening wear.
Yarns with texture
Knit them in simple stockinette (stocking) stitch and let the yarn make the difference. Use soft, velvety chunky chenille for opulence and a multi-coloured version for fun. Mohair makes huggable sweaters in medium (aran) weight mohair/wool mix, sport (4ply) kid mohair creates a delicate fabric and a sophisticated tweed is ideal for city wear. Boucle yarns are great for summer tops. For a fun look, knit a top in funky fur yarns in variegated or bold colours while fleece yarns are great for outdoor wear.
Yarns with sparkle
A lurex and viscose mix is perfect for evening wear and adds an unexpected accent to fair isle knits. Metallic embroidery threads add small glints of sparkle when combined with a plain yarn.
Knit Perfect
Dye lots of the same colour may differ slightly in shade, so always buy enough yarn of the same dye lot to complete your project. The dye lot number is printed on the ball band next to the shade number.
Natural fibre yarns
The best knitting yarns are made from natural fibres. Tweeds for a cosy country look, thick yarns for warmth in the great outdoors and stylish yarns for urban wear. Try using small amounts of tapestry wools for their great range of colours in fair isle or for embroidery. Shown here are truly rustic fisherman (aran), bulky (chunky) and worsted (DK) weight yarns in tweeds and soft greens, a soft sport (4ply) 100 per cent alpaca yarn, traditional shetland wool sweater yarn and tapestry wools equivalent to worsted (DK) weight.
Every one of these adorable bags was knitted in basic stockinette (stocking) stitch (see pages 18–23) and measures 4in (10cm) square, but the varying choices of yarn and needle size have resulted in very different effects. See page 152 for the full pattern and details of trimmings.
Gold ribbon star knitted in stockinette (stocking) stitch using a cotton ribbon yarn on size 8 (5mm/UK6) needles.
Heart and bird knitted in stockinette (stocking) stitch using a chunky fleece effect yarn on size 9 (5.5mm/UK5) needles.
Rosebud knitted in stockinette (stocking) stitch using a silk and kid mohair yarn used double on size 5 (3.75mm/ UK9) needles.
Hand painted, hand made yarns
For a really exclusive garment, how about an individual yarn, hand painted in multi-colours or a big bold slub yarn for texture and colour? Add an extravagant touch by using small amounts of embroidery thread, the mixed colours guarantee no two are alike. Multi-coloured chenille and ribbon yarn come in sophisticated colours like these berry shades and for pure luxury try a sport (4ply) 100 per cent silk yarn in soft azure shades. Slub yarns make unusual fun sweaters and embroidery silks can be added for a little touch of magic.
Denim heart bag knitted in stockinette (stocking) stitch using a cotton yarn on size 7 (4.5mm/UK7) needles.
Hologram daisy bag knitted in stockinette (stocking) stitch using a lurex yarn on size 3 (3.25mm/UK10) needles.
Fluffy pink ribbon bag knitted in stockinette (stocking) stitch using a funky fur yarn on size 6 (4mm/UK8) needles.
Snowflake bag knitted in stockinette (stocking) stitch using a boucle yarn on size 6 (4mm/UK8) needles.
NEEDLES AND EQUIPMENT
There are three types of needles, in a range of sizes, lengths and made from different materials.
Straight needles are used in pairs and have a point at one end with a fixed knob at the other. Stitches are worked using the pointed end; they cannot be removed from the other end. They are used for flat knitting, working across a row of stitches moving them from one needle to the other, turning the work and working back again, and continuing back and forth.
Double-pointed needles are used in sets of four or five and have a point at each end. Stitches can be worked with one end and can also be removed from the other end. This means you don't have to turn your work at the end of each row. In fact you can continue knitting in a spiral and produce a seamless continuous tube. This is called circular knitting.
Circular needles consist of a pair of needles joined by a flexible nylon wire. They have a point at each end and, like double-pointed needles, you can work from both ends and so knit in rounds to produce a seamless tube.
Plastic, metal or wood, including bamboo are used to make needles. Each has its own characteristics and can help or hinder your knitting experience. Metal can be cold and inflexible to work with, but it is more slippery than other materials and can help you knit faster. Wood, bamboo or plastic on the other hand are warmer and more flexible, and are smooth rather than slippery. They grip the stitches a bit more which is quite useful when you're beginning to knit and don't want stitches sliding off your needles. Wood and bamboo warm up in the hands and are light to use. Try different materials and find the one you are most comfortable with.
The tip of the needle is also something to consider. Some needles have a blunt tip and some have a sharp tip. A blunt tip is harder to insert into stitches but is better to use with a loosely spun or thick yarn. A sharp tip can split the stitches but is useful when working pattern stitches or knitting with a tight gauge (tension).
The size of a needle is determined by its diameter and there are three sizing systems. In the US, needles have the American size and metric equivalent. In Britain, they have the metric size with the old UK size. The table shows you how these sizes compare; however some needles have no exact equivalent.
Three standard lengths are available, 10in (25cm), 12in (30cm) and 14in (35cm). Use longer needles for projects with a large number of stitches and shorter needles for fewer stitches. The stitches should fit snugly along the length of the needle, not crammed together where they can easily fall off the end. Long needles can be awkward to knit with; you need a lot of elbowroom to work comfortably. Many knitters find it easier to use a circular needle instead, working as for flat knitting, and turning the work at the end of every row.
Additional items beside needles and yarn will be needed as you progress with your knitting. These include:
• A needle gauge to check the size of a needle; circular needles and double-pointed needles tend not to be marked.
• A pair of small sharp scissors to cut the yarn; never be tempted to break the yarn, you will stretch the fibres.
• A non-stretch fibreglass tape measure for checking your garment measurements and a ruler for measuring your gauge (tension) square.
• Cable needles are used for manipulating stitches whilst working cables. They are short needles, pointed at both ends, and some have a kink in the middle.
• Stitch holders to hold stitches not being worked; you can use a safety pin for a small number of stitches.
• A tapestry needle with a large eye and a blunt end for sewing pieces together and sewing in ends.
• Bobbins for winding off lengths of coloured yarns for intarsia or fair isle knitting.
• A pad of graph paper is useful for charting garment shaping or stitches, giving a clearer picture than written instructions.
• A row counter that slides on to the needle to keep track of the row being knitted.
HOLDING THE NEEDLES
Not every knitter holds their needles and yarn in the same way. The yarn can be held in either the right or left hand, the needles can be held from above or below. Try each of the methods described here and work in a way that is most comfortable for you. They are all bound to feel awkward and slow at first.
English method (yarn in the right hand)
Left hand: hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand with your thumb lying along the needle, your index finger resting on top near the tip and the remaining fingers curled under the needle to support it. The thumb and the index finger control the stitches and the tip of the needle.
Right hand: pass the yarn over the index finger, under the middle and over the third finger. The yarn lies between the nail and the first joint and the index finger 'throws' the yarn around the righthand needle when knitting. The yarn should be able to move freely and is tensioned between the middle and third finger. You can wrap the yarn around the little finger if you feel it is too loose and it keeps falling off your fingers. Hold the empty needle in your right hand with your thumb lying along the needle, your index finger near the tip and the remaining fingers curled under the needle to support it (see right hand in Continental method).
Some knitters prefer to hold the end of the right-hand needle under their right arm, anchoring it firmly. Whilst knitting this needle remains still and the right hand is above the needle and moves the yarn around it.
Alternative hold
Left hand: hold the needle in the same way as shown left.
Right hand: hold the yarn in the fingers the same way as shown left. Hold the needle like a pen, on top of the hand between thumb and index finger. The end of the needle will be above your right arm, in the crook of the elbow. As the fabric grows longer, the thumb will hold the needle behind the knitting.
Continental method (yarn in the left hand)
Left hand: wrap the yarn around your little finger, under the middle two fingers and then over the index finger between the nail and the first joint. The yarn is held taut between the index finger and the needle. Hold the needle with your thumb lying along the needle, your index finger near the tip and remaining fingers curled under the needle to support it. The thumb and index finger control the stitches, yarn and needle tip.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "The Knitters Bible"
by .
Copyright © 2004 Claire Crompton.
Excerpted by permission of F+W Media, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
GETTING STARTED,
Introduction,
Introducing Yarns,
Choosing Yarns,
Needles and Equipment,
Holding the Needles,
Casting On,
Introducing Knit Stitch,
Binding (Casting) Off,
Introducing Purl Stitch,
Combining Knit and Purl,
Advanced Casting On,
Advanced Binding (Casting) Off,
Increasing Stitches,
Decreasing Stitches,
Ribs,
Gauge (Tension),
Knit Perfect,
Abbreviations,
CREATIVE OPTIONS,
Introduction,
Lace Knitting,
Fair Isle,
Cables,
Embossed Knitting,
Short Rows,
Twisted Stitches,
Intarsia,
Circular Knitting,
EXPLORING CHOICES,
Introduction,
Medallion Knitting,
Beaded Knitting,
Looped Knitting,
Entrelac,
Mitred Squares,
Fulling,
Smocking,
Reading Knitting Patterns,
Knitting a Garment,
Other Garment Details,
Adapting a Pattern,
Knitting a Patterned Garment,
Tassels, Fringes and Cords,
Edgings,
Buttons,
Flowers and Leaves,
Embroidery,
Correcting Mistakes,
STITCH LIBRARY,
Introduction,
Knit and Purl Stitches,
Gansey Patterns,
Texture Stitches,
Rib Stitches,
Cable Stitches,
Lace Stitches,
Edgings,
PROJECTS,
Introduction,
Garter Stitch Scarf,
Flower Top,
Striped Bag,
Cable Throw,
Place Mat and Coaster,
Fun Children's Mittens,
Rib Stitch Scarf,
Short Row Cushion,
Beret,
Garden Plot Squares Throw,
Beaded Bag,
Sheep Toy,
Fair Isle Baby Blanket,
Scented Sachets and Cover,
Lace Bags,
Funnel Neck Sweater,
Lace Cardigan,
Baby Bootees,
Dainty Knitted Trims,
Drawstring Bags,
Patchwork Cushion,
Greetings Cards,
Gift Bags,
House Sampler,
Intarsia Cushion,
Motifs,
Yarn Details,
Suppliers,