March 19, 2013

Well, I have spent some time today knitting squares for the Learn-to-Knit Afghan. Completed two already and have the third one half finished. I figure that 4 a week will be required in order to complete the afghan in the time allotted. These squares are very simple and quickly knit, so I think this is doable. But I must remember that the knitters learning to knit may be much slower.

Square 1
Striped Garter Stitch

The Garter Stitch is the basis for many different kinds of patterns. Note: On the right side of the work, where the colors changed every other row, the stripes are sharp and clear, while on the wrong side they blend together. This shows that whenever working with two colors, the first row of each new strand should be knit on the right side for a sharp stripe.

When Garter Stitch is worked in one color only, you can't tell the right side from the wrong side because both sides look alike.

Notice, too, that the Garter Stitch square is square because it has exactly as many 2-row stripes as the number of cast on stitches. This means that each stitch is as wide as two rows are high. So any piece of Garter Stitch worked to the same number of 2-row ridges (that is, twice as many rows) as there are stitches, will be a square.

Garter Stitch lies flat, doesn't curl, doesn't require pressing or blocking, and therefore is very useful for borders, collars, cuffs, button bands, and other portions of garments where a non-curling fabric is needed.

Square 2
Striped Stockinette Stitch

This is the basic sock-and-sweater fabric. The stripes are clear on the right side, blended together on the wrong side, just as in striped Garter Stitch. But Stockinette Stitch looks different on the right and wrong sides, even if it is worked in a single color. The right, or knit, side is smooth; the wrong, or purl, side is bumpy, showing little half-moon-shaped loops for every stitch.

The Stockinette Stitch curls - toward you at the top and bottom, away from you at the sides. Even blocking and pressing will not fully control this tendency. That's why garments made of Stockinette Stitch always need borders of some non-curling fabric at their exposed edges.

I also finished sewing all the fabric tubes for the four purses.

Vickie's

Rachel's

Jenny's

Emma-Leigh's

Still lots to do to finish these purses, but they will need to wait until next week. I'm joining Steve tomorrow for a couple tours. I won't be able to sew until the weekend.

But I can take the knitting with me and continue making squares for the afghan. I love working with the Caron Simply Soft yarn. It is soft. The pattern uses knitting needles size 6, which is a nice easy size for me. I like the smaller size needles best.

Gonna sit and knit for a while before the day ends.