Showing knitted stitches is a way to show off your skills as a knitter. Some people prefer to see or be shown the difference between stockinette and garter stitch, or the difference between pattern repeat and no repeat.
It can be a little nerve-wracking to cast the first few stitches of a new pattern, then proceed to show off the differences in texture and shape as you continue working.
This is why it is best to start out with a quick look at the new design and then add more details as you get comfortable with your new skill set.
The best way to show off your knitting stitches is by using different sizes of knitting needles, or using different stitch types such as garter, pattern, or none-of-the-above.
This article will go over some tips on how to show off your knitting stitches properly.
Purl stitch
A purl stitch is a knitting technique that lets the knitter alternately pass the right and left hands over the same needle in the same direction several times.
The result is a smooth, seamless increase or decrease, or change of texture. The right hand needle goes over and under the left hand needle multiple times to create the new pattern.
Purl stitches are most common in Borders, fancy grilles, and textured pieces. They also make a nice change from simple knit sts and purls.
There are four ways to purl: variegated purls, cabled purls, reverse variegated purls, and double-dgkns. All except cabled pups can be done using only one of these methods.
Variegated pups use more than one color across the ball of the knitting machine and look like little vesicles on a map. Reverse variegated pup use two different colors but always matches up with the first color on both sides.
Bind off
Bind off is a little different than cast on, and maybe a little harder to learn. The main difference is that when you bind off, you leave at least one additional cast on stitch on each end of the project.
This additional cast on stitch can be the next stitch or it can be the last. It all depends on how many stitches you have left in your project.
The last stitch may be the most difficult to spot: When you bind off, your slip next loop back to the needle, and then draw up a loop and leave a short turn of chain for your next knitted stitch.
This must be done quickly or your fabric will break apart as it is pulled through the bound off stitches.
Casting on
When you begin to knit, your first job is to cast on a knitting stitch. This is where you take your startable yarn and wrap a number of turns around your finger, then hold the yarn in the right hand and gently draw the end up through the top.
This process is called casting on, and it takes a few tries to get it right every time. On the first try, try not to put too much pressure on the yarn as you draw up the end. Then, release the thread as it passes through your fingers and begin again.
On the second try, if you got it right, let out all of the air that was holding in the starts of your knit. If not, repeat until you do!
The easiest way to learn how to cast on is to take some cheap knitting grade superplies of different thicknesses and practice doing it on those.
Stockinette stitch
The term stitchless is more common in knitalong than show-knitting, but it can be done! There are a few stitchless techniques you can use, and all are beautiful.
The most common shows only the back of the stitches. This is the case for the double decrease and increases. The decrease is a circle of knit stitches, and the increase is a single crochet.
The lase-cut is a new addition to fashion design. It is just as effective as a cut, but does not show undergarments or necklines. The lase-cut shows just enough to draw attention, but does not show too much because it is so subtle.
The plain old stockinette stitch lacks any visible stitches at all.
Garter stitch
Garter stitch is one of the most popular stitches to show off your knitting. It is a low profile, vertical-crease stitch that can be repeated to infinity.
Garter stitch is made by doubling the yarn around the chain and repeatedly knitting and dropping the new row until the piece is right length. This row looks like a narrow column with an extra row above and below.
These columns are called gauges and are what determines the name garter stitch, as in a gentle rise in the stitches. This gentle rise makes garter something very desirable to look at.
Many experts praise giltedge pattern as one of the most relaxing long-duration crticls to knit.
Beginning knit stitches
Starting a knitted stitch begins with casting the first stitch. There are two ways to start a new row. One is to just cast the first stitch and let it become the first stitch of the new round. The other is to hold down a special marker and then start working the next row.
The way to hold a special marker is to put your left thumb on top, then slip it under the ring, then work the next row off of that extra space.
The way to cast a beginning knit stitch is to pull up a loop and then draw another loop through both loops. Then pull up another loop and draw through that one. Then finally pass the left hand through the remaining two loops andcast off!
This process may be repeated until there are all of those many stitches left in your project or you reach your limit for starting new rows on one piece.
Holding yarn
Having a pair of knitting stitches is a nice touch, but not the only way to show your work. You can hold the yarn in your hands, or you can let the yarn drape down around you.
You can also show the beginning and end of a row, or mark up where the edge of your project will be.
Many people display their stitches by legendering. Holding the yarn with one hand and drawing the other through the Krause ring with the other hand, legendering adds some shape to your stitches.
Needle types
Needle types refers to how the needle is shaped. There are two main shapes of needles: round and flat.
Round needles are called circular or oval. These can be round, crescent, post-it, or ream. Flat needles are called standard or normal size. These can be regular, double, triple, and so on.
Standard thicknesses of flat needles include civilian (regular), police (double), military (triple), and aviation (quadruple). Other standard thicknesses include crimp (non-serif), sport (normal), and medical (force).
Circumference wise, normal thicknesses range from about 8 to 16 inches! The biggest benefit of using the taller normal thicknesses is that you can see the difference in the knitter’s hands when holding the two different sizes of needle.
