March 26, 2013

Well I have been quite busy and forgetting to capture my progress with my Learn-To-Knit Afghan. Since my last blog I have completed three additional squares.

Square 6
Twisted and Crossed Ribbing

In this square you can see that twisted ribs look like tight little braids; crossed ribs are looser, though not so loose as plain ribbing. Working a stitch through its back loop causes it to cross at the base. The strand on the right-hand side of the stitch passes over to the left-hand side of the next stitch above, and vise versa. Whenever it is desirable to keep stitches from looking too loose and open, working in the back loops will help to close them up.

Square 7
Garter and Rib Pattern

This pattern is an excellent illustration of the difference in fabric width between Ribbing, which squeezes, and Garter Stitch, which spreads. Each block of Garter Stitch (shown by 4 horizontal ridges) looks wider than each group of 5 ribs above, below, and to each side of it; yet there are only 7 stitches in the Garter Stitch block, and 9 stitches in the group of ribs! Notice, also, how very far out of the vertical line the continuous ribs are forced to curve, as they are alternately pulled by the Ribbing and pushed by the Garter Stitch. The important lesson taught by this square is that different patterns can create very obvious differences in gauge (number of stitches and rows to the inch), even when worked with the same yarn and needle size.

I really enjoyed working this square. It was fun, fast and fascinating.

Square 8
Rose Fabric

Rose Fabric is loose, fluffy, non-curling and has a lot of lateral spread. This pattern calls for knitting a stitch in the row below. At first this was difficult to see, but is especially easy to understand when the previous row has been knitted. You just insert the needle from the front under the horizontal "purl strand", from behind which the stitch on the left-hand needle emerges, and knit. Knitting or purling in the row below always means that you draw the next stitch from one loop lower than the loop that is on the needle, so there are two strands caught in the completed stitch instead of just one.

I have always wanted to try this technique and even bought a book of patterns just for it, but I haven't used it yet until I made this square. It really was simple once the technique was started.

These 8 squares complete the first section of the total eight sections in the book. This first section features Knit-Purl Combinations of stitches. The next section will focus on Mosaic Patterns. Mosaic knitting is a new, easy method of working in two colors, by using only one color at a time and forming designs with slip-stitches.  I have begun square 9 and will feature it later when I am finished.

Well, while waiting for Steve to arrive home from his trip to Las Vegas and back, I finished square 9.

Square 9
Horizontal Chain
Right Side

Square 9
Horizontal Chain
Back Side

This is a simple but very effective pattern of interlocking dark and light motifs, shaped in bold blocks connected by horizontal bands. This pattern teaches slip stitches and stranding. Stranding is when the yarn is carried or stranded across several stitches, as shown in the back side photo.

Well, Steve should be home soon, so I am going to stop this blog now and post it. Catch you later.