June's Knitting 101
                                         
 
knitting astrology
gardening recipes
 

THE BASIC STITCHES

                   Get out your needles and yarn and slowly read your way through
                   these pages--practicing the basic stitches illustrated here as you
                   go along. Once you know them, you're ready to start knitting!
 
        CASTING ON
 
                        This puts the first row of stitches on the needle. Measure off
                   about 2 yards of yarn (or about an inch for each stitch you are
                   going to cast on). Make a slip-knot at this point by making a
                   medium-size loop of yarn, then pulling another small loop through
                   it. Place the slip-knot on one needle and pull one end gently to
                   tighted. (fig 1).
 
                                                             fig. 1 
 
                  Hold the needle in your right hand. Hold both strands of yarn in the
                  palm of your left hand securely but not rigidly. Slide your left thumb
                  and forefinger between the two strands and spread these two fingers
                  out so that you have formed a triangle of yarn.

                  Your left thumb holds the free end of the yarn; and the needle in your
                  right hand holds the first stitch. (fig. 2).
                                                  fig.2 

 
                     You are now in position to cast on. Bring the needle in your right hand
                 towards you; slip the tip of the needle under the front strand of the
                 loop on your left thumb (fig. 3).
 
                                                               fig.3 
 
 

KNITTING ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS 

Knitting directions are always written in standard abbreviations. They look mysterious at first, but you'll soon know them: 

beg--beginning 
bet--between 
bl--block 
CC--contrasting color 
dec(s)--decrease(s) 
dp--double-pointed 
"or in(s)--inch(es) 
incl--inclusive 
inc(s)--increase(s) 
k--knit 
Ip(s)--loop(s) 
MC--main color 
oz(s)--ounce(s) 
psso--pass slipped stitch over last stitch worked 
pat(s)--pattern(s) 
p--purl 
rem--remaining 
rep--repeat 
rnd(s)--round(s) 
sk--skip 
sl--slip 
sl st--slip stitch 
sp(s)--space(s) 
st(s)--stitch(es) 
st st--stockinette stitch 
tog-- together 
yo--yarn over 
pc--popcorn stitch 
* (asterisk)--directions immediately following * are to be repeated the specified number of times indicated in addition to the first time--eg. "repeat from * 3 times more" means 4 times in all. 
( ) (parentheses)--directions should be worked as often as specified--e.g., "(k 1, k2 tog, k3) 5 times" means to work what is in ( ) 5 times in all. 

Hope these are of some help to you!
 

 
                                                 
                                 


 
 

 

june@isys.ca

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