New knitters often tackle scarves as their first project, not necessarily because they want to make a scarf but because it is the easiest thing to make (other than a dishcloth) for a beginner. The difference between knitting a scarf and a sweater however, is mainly getting a handle on shaping. Shaping is the art of increasing and decreasing stitches in order to create a desired shape to the fabric being knitted. This week, we tackled increasing and decreasing.
DECREASING
Decreasing reduces the number of stitches on your needle. There are many ways to decrease. This week we focused on the easiest way. You will probably see instructions in a book like this: K2tog, P2tog, work the next two stitches together. This is the simplest of the decreasing methods and involves working two stitches together.
Knit side - using your right needle, go into the second stitch and then the first knitwise so that both stitches pass over your right needle. Wrap the yarn counterclockwise as for a regular knit stitch and then slide both stitches off the left needle.
Purl side - using your right needle, go into the first stitch and then the second purlwise so that both stitches pass over your right needle. Wrap the yarn counterclockwise as for a regular purl stitch and then slide both stitches off the left needle.
INCREASING
Increasing is a little trickier but straightforward once we break it down. You use an increase when you want to make two (or more) stitches where there was previously one. In a pattern, an increase is usually abbreviated inc or M1. The inc method is described here:
Knit or Purl - Work the next stitch as described in the pattern (knit or purl) but do not slide it off the needle once it is completed. Using the right needle, knit or purl the stitch again going into the back of the same stitch on the left needle. It is very important that you go into the back of the stitch or you will end up with a hole in your garment that you weren't planning on. The purl stitch requires a little twisting, but if you keep the yarn relaxed it should cooperate nicely. Slide the two stitches off the left needle. Notice the two stitches now on your right needle and remember what they look like. You should have one knit and one purl stitch or vice versa. This is a great way to know when you have increased if you ever lose count.
More methods...
As mentioned earlier, there are many ways to increase and decrease. Here are links for each stitch that you can browse through at your convenience.
In the second group, we talked about advanced methods of full fashion shaping. For a recap, you'll have to chat Steve up! Once again, thanks for reading. As always, your comments are welcomed and appreciated.
Yarn over and out,
JAS
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