When
knitting a hat the knitting instructions can seem
at first
very
daunting. Even to the more experienced knitter interpreting
instructions can sometimes be a tricky task to say the least. To help
dispel some of the mystery around knitting patterns, we cover some of
the basic and more advanced sticking points below.
I
noticed the letters 'BO'
in my
hat knitting instructions, but I'm really unsure what it means?This
is instructing you to 'bind off' and is most commonly seen when working
round the collar of a sweater. When binding off, ensure you knit the
knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as they face you, and bind off
loosely if you want the sweater to fit over your head. This can be
achieved by using a slightly bigger needle.
What
does ssk mean when it
appears in my hat knitting instructions? SSK
is an acronym, standing for slip, slip, knit and is a decrease that
verges to the left. Slip two stitches as if to knit one at a time from
the left to the right needle. Insert the left needle into the fronts of
the two slipped stitches and knit them together.
What is
a selvage stitch? A
selvage stitch is an empty stitch worked into each side of a garment to
allow it to be sewn together, effectively acting as a seam. Selvage
stitches can also be used for decorative purposes.
The
pattern stitch reads k2, *p1, k1, p2, rep from *, k1. What does that
mean? This
is just an abbreviated form. It is asking you to knit two stitches,
then purl 1, k1, p2 across the row until the last stitch, then k1.
More
valuable resources on knitting patterns and hat knitting
are readily
available. Take the time to learn the standard terminology and practise
before beginning to knit your hat - you'll definitely reap the
benefits of a little hard work in the long run! After some minor
research, you can begin knitting for your whole family,creating high
quality, beautifully crafted, durable garments to keep everyone warm
and looking adorable!
knitting
pattern, to withstand the worst winter weather? Do you
want a simple
solid color, with or without fancy cable knitting? Or do you prefer a
whimsical hat pattern with variegated colors and funny, furry, novelty
yarns?
Be sure to examine your
hat knitting pattern carefully to
decide what yarn you should be buying. If it calls for a specific yarn
and you want something different, be sure the yarn you choose is of the
same weight, and knit up a gauge swatch. If the knitting gauge in your
swatch is larger or smaller than the gauge specified in the hat
knitting pattern, you will need to adjust the size of your needles or
the tightness of your stitches to compensate. Measure the recipient's
head and do the necessary math to ensure the right size.
Don't
rely on the stretchiness of the yarn or of the knitting
stitch to
correct errors in gauge -- many a hat knitting pattern has gone awry,
and resulted in a hat that is too large or too small because the
knitter didn't swatch and adjust properly! You don't want that to
happen to something you knit for a loved one, do you?
Knitting
in the round is no harder than knitting flat -- anyone who
can knit a
scarf can knit a hat to match. Most hat knitting patterns
call
for you to begin on a circular needle, which is simple two knitting
needles joined by a plastic cable, which enables you to knit easily in
the round. You will need a stitch marker (something as simple as a
paper clip or safety pin will do) to mark the beginning of each row of
knitting.
To
close the top of the hat you may need to learn the
technique of using multiple double-pointed needles, or DPNs.
This
may sound intimidating, but it's really very simple -- you're simply
changing the way you transfer stitches from needle to needle as the
diameter of the hat gets smaller. There are many tutorials -- and even
videos -- online to teach you to use double-pointed needles.
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