HOW TO KNIT

Casting on Knit

If you have never knitted before, heres how to get started, with the help of expert knitter Debbie Bliss.
all the stitches have been worked. One purl row has now been completed. Increase Increases are used to add to the width of the knitted fabric by creating more stitches. They are worked, for example, when shaping sleeves up the length of the arm or when additional stitches are needed after a ribbed welt. Some increases are invisible, while others are worked away from the edge of the work and are meant to be seen in order to give decorative detail. Most knitting patterns will tell you which type of increase to make.
Increase

Casting on 1 Wind the yarn around your left index finger to make a circle as shown above. With a knitting needle, pull a loop of the yarn attached to the ball through the circle. 2 Pull both ends of yarn to tighten the slip-knot on the knitting needle. You are now ready to begin.

Knit Knit and purl stitches form the basis of almost all knitted fabrics. The knit stitch is the easiest to learn and is the first stitch you will create. When worked continuously, it forms a reversible fabric called garter stitch. You can recognise garter stitch by the horizontal ridges formed at the top of the knitted loops. 1 With the cast-on stitches on the needle in your left hand, insert the right-hand needle from left to right and from front to back through the first cast-on stitch. 2 Take the yarn from the ball on your index finger (the working yarn) around the point of the right-hand needle. 3 Draw the right-hand needle and yarn through the stitch, forming a new stitch on the right-hand needle, and at the same, time slip the original stitch off the left-hand needle. Repeat these steps until all the stitches from the left-hand needle have been worked. One knit row has now been completed.

Purl After the knit stitch, you will move on to the purl stitch. If the purl stitch is worked continuously, it forms the same fabric as garter stitch. However, if purl rows and knit rows are worked alternately, they create stocking stitch, which is the most widely used knitted fabric. 1 With the yarn to the front of the work, insert the righthand needle from the right to the left into the front of the first stitch on the lefthand needle. 2 Then take the yarn from the ball on your index finger (the working yarn) around the point of the right-hand needle. 3 Draw the right-hand needle and the yarn through the stitch, forming a new stitch on the right-hand needle, and at the same time, slip the original stitch off the left-hand needle. Repeat these steps until
Purl

Increase one 1 Insert the right-hand needle into the front of the next stitch, then knit the stitch, but leave it on the left-hand needle. 2 Insert the right-hand needle into the back of the same stitch and knit it. Then slip the original stitch off the needle. Now you have made an extra stitch on the right-hand needle.

Make One 1 Insert the left-hand needle from front to back under the horizontal strand between the stitch just worked on the right-hand needle and the first stitch on the left-hand needle. 2 Knit into the back of the loop to twist it and to prevent a hole. Drop the strand from the lefthand needle. This forms a new stitch on the righthand needle.
Yarn over

Casting Off Casting off is used to finish off your knitted piece so that the stitches dont unravel. It is also used to decrease more than one stitch at a time, such as when shaping armholes, neckbands and buttonholes. It is important that a cast-off is firm but elastic, particularly when you are casting off around a neckband, to ensure that it can be pulled easily over the head. Unless told otherwise, cast off in the pattern used in the piece.
Knit cast-off

Purl cast-off

Purl 2 together

Decrease Decreases are used to make the fabric narrower by getting rid of stitches on the needle. They are worked to make an opening for a neckline or shaping a sleeve head. As with increases, they can be used to create decorative detail, often around a neck edge. Increases and decreases are used together to create lace patterns. Knit 2 together (k2tog or dec one) On a knit row, insert the right-hand needle from left to right through the next two stitches on the left-hand needle and knit them together. One stitch has been decreased.
Knit 2 together

together. One stitch has been decreased. Slip stitch over 1 Insert the right-hand needle into the next stitch on the left-hand needle and slip it onto the right-hand needle without knitting it. Knit the next stitch. Then insert the left-hand needle into the slipped stitch as shown. 2 With the left-hand needle, lift the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch as shown and off the right-hand needle.
Slip stitch over

Yarn Over Yarn over between knit stitches Bring the yarn forward between the two needles, from the back to the front of the work. Taking the yarn over the right-hand needle to do so, knit the next stitch. Yarn over between purl stitches Bring the yarn over the right-hand needle to the back, then between the two needles to the front. Then purl the next stitch. Yarn over between a purl and a knit Take the yarn from the front over the righthand needle to the back. Then knit the next stitch. Yarn over between a knit and a purl Bring the yarn forward between the two needles from the back to the front of the work and take it over the top of the right-hand needle to the back again, then forward between the needles. Then purl the next stitch.

Knit cast-off 1 Knit two stitches. Insert the left-hand needle into the first stitch knitted on the righthand needle and lift this stitch over the second stitch and off the right-hand needle. 2 One stitch is now on the right-hand needle. Knit the next stitch. Repeat first step until all the stitches have been cast off. Pull the yarn through the last stitch to fasten off. Purl Cast-off 1 Purl two stitches. Insert the left-hand needle into the back of the first stitch worked on the right-hand needle and lift this stitch over the second stitch and off the right-hand needle. 2 One stitch is now on the right-hand needle. Purl the next stitch. Repeat the first step until all the stitches have been cast off. Pull the yarn through the last stitch to fasten off.

Purl 2 together (p2tog or dec one) On a purl row, insert the right-hand needle from right to left through the next two stitches on the left-hand needle. Then purl them

Stocking stitch Garter stitch

Moss stitch

Double rib stitch

Single rib stitch

STITCH TYPES Once you have mastered the knit and purl stitches, you can combine the two to create an endless variety of stitch patterns. Each stitch pattern has its own character and most knitters have a particular favourite. Mine is moss stitch, which I use in many of my designs. Garter stitch Garter stitch is made of all knit rows, which create a dense, reversible fabric. It is particularly good for plain garments without borders as the fabric lies flat and doesnt curl up at the edges. Garter stitch gives new knitters the opportunity to create simple garments without welts or borders.

Cast on any number of stitches. Knit every row. Repeat this row to form garter stitch. Stocking stitch The most commonly used pattern, stocking stitch is worked using alternate knit and purl rows. The purl row is considered to be the wrong side, but you can make either side the right or wrong side, depending on the effect you want. The purl side of stocking stitch when used as the right side is called reverse stocking stitch. Cast on any number of stitches. 1st row (right side) Knit. 2nd row (wrong side) Purl. Repeat the first and second rows to form stocking stitch.

Single rib or 1 x 1 rib Ribbing is made by alternating vertical columns of knit and purl stitches. The knitter changes from knit to purl within the row rather than every other row. Ribbing can be used as an all-over pattern, but its elasticity makes it perfect for borders, such as neckbands and cuffs, as it stretches and springs back into shape to fit the body. Cast on an even number of stitches. 1st row *K1, p1, repeat from * to end. Repeat this row to form single rib. Double rib or 2 x 2 rib Cast on a multiple of 4 stitches, plus 2.

1st row K2,*p2, k2, repeat from * to end. 2nd row P2,*k2, p2, repeat from * to end. Repeat the first and second rows to form double rib. Moss stitch Moss stitch is one of the most attractive of the simple stitch patterns. The reversible fabric is achieved by working knit and purl stitches that alternate vertically and horizontally. It works well as a standalone pattern, but is also a good alternative to rib to provide decorative detail. Cast on an uneven number of stitches. 1st row K1,*p1, k1, repeat from * to end. Repeat this row to form moss stitch.

TWO-TONE SOCKS

Sizes To fit ages 3-6 (6-12:12-18) months Materials 1 x 50g ball Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in each of main colour (M) and contrast colour (C) Set of four double-pointed 3mm knitting needles Tension 25 sts and 34 rows to 10cm square over st st using 3mm needles. To make-up With 3mm needles and C, cast on 32 (36:40) sts. Arrange these sts on 3 needles and cont in rounds. Rib round * K1, p1; rep from * to end. Rib a further 3 (5:7) rounds. Change to M. Now work in rounds of k, so forming st st. K 2 (2:4) rounds. Dec round K5, k2tog, k to last 7 sts, skpo, k5. 30 (34:38) sts. K 3 (5:7) rounds.

Dec round K4, k2tog, k to last 6 sts, skpo, k4. 28 (32:36) sts. Work 3 (5:7) rounds. Dec round K3, k2tog, k5 (6:7), k2tog, [k5 (6:7), skpo] twice, k2 (3:4). 24 (28:32) sts. Cut off M. Divide sts onto 3 needles as follows: slip first 7 (8:9) sts onto first needle, next 5 (6:7) sts onto second needle and next 5 (6:7) sts onto 3rd needle, then slip last 7 (8:9) sts onto other end of first needle. Shape heel With right side facing, join C to 14 (16:18) sts on first needle. Cont in st st rows on these 14 (16:18) sts only. Beg with a k row, work 10 rows st st. Next row K9 (11: 13), skpo, turn. Next row Sl 1, p4 (6:8), p2tog, turn. Next row Sl 1, k4 (6:8), skpo, turn. Next row Sl 1, p4 (6:8), p2tog, turn.

Rep the last 2 rows twice more. 6 (8:10) sts. Break off yarn. Reset sts on 3 needles as follows: slip first 3 (4:5) sts of heel sts onto a safety pin, place marker here to indicate beg of round. Join M to rem sts, with first needle k3 (4:5), then pick up and k8 sts along side of heel, with second needle k10 (12:14), with 3rd needle pick up and k8 sts along other side of heel, k3 (4:5) from safety pin. 32 (36:40) sts. Cont in rounds. K 1 round. Dec round K9 (10:11), k2tog, k10 (12:14), k2tog tbl, k9 (10:11). 30 (34:38) sts. K 1 round. Dec round K8 (9:10), k2tog, k10 (12:14), k2tog tbl, k8 (9:10). 28 (32:36) sts. K 1 round. Dec round K7 (8:9), k2tog, k10 (12:14), k2tog tbl, k7 (8:9). 26 (30:34) sts. K 1 round. Dec round K6 (7:8), k2tog, k10 (12:14), k2tog tbl, k6 (7:8). 24 (28:32) sts. Work 11 (13: 17) rounds straight. Shape toe Dec round [K2tog tbl, k4 (5:6)] 4 times. 20 (24:28) sts. K 1 round. Dec round [K2tog tbl, k3 (4:5)] 4 times. 16 (20:24) sts. K 1 round. Change to C. Dec round [K2tog tbl, k2 (3:4)] 4 times. 12 (16:20) sts. K 1 round. 2nd and 3rd sizes only Dec round [K2tog tbl, k (2:3)] 4 times. (12:16) sts. 3rd size only K 1 round. Dec round [K2tog tbl, k ( :2)] 4 times. (:12) sts. K 1 round. All sizes Dec round [K2tog tbl] 6 times. Break off yarn, thread through rem 6 sts, pull up and secure.

STANDARD ABBREVIATIONS

alt = alternate beg = begin(ning) cont = continue dec = decrease (ing) foll = following inc = increase (ing) k = knit m1 = make one stitch by picking up the loop lying between the stitch just worked and the next stitch and working into the back of it patt = pattern p = purl psso = pass slipped stitch over rem = remain (ing) rep = repeat (ing) skpo = slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over sl = slip st(s) = stitch(es) st st = stocking stitch tbl = through back of loop tog = together yf = yarn forward yon = yarn over needle yrn = yarn round needle

To find your local stockist of Debbie Bliss yarns and pattern books, visit www. prestigeyarns.com, email info@prestigeyarns.com or phone Prestige Yarns on (02) 4285 6669. Pattern books also available at bookstores.