Free Knitting Pattern Blog

Cool Headband to Knit

2004-11-27T19:04:00.000-08:00

Here's a really cool headband pattern. It's one of the first things I learned to knit, and I still make them often for Christmas presents. I like it a lot because it is wider around the ears so it keeps my ears nice and warm.

HEAD BAND
With # 10 needles. Cast on 8 sts.

Row 1: K1, p1, k4, p1, k1.

Row 2: P1, k1, p4, k1, p1.

Repeat rows 1 & 2 until piece measures 3". * Double the amount of stitches by knitting and purling in each st. Work in Garter st (k each row) for 3". Decrease by knitting 2 st tog across *. Repeat rows 1 & 2 until piece measures 14". Repeat instructions from * to *. Repeat rows 1 & 2 for 3". Full headband should measure 20" (or fit snug to head). Bind off and sew ends together. Wash and block flat.

An Invisible Cast On

2004-09-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

An Invisible Cast-On

Knitting Patterns

Try this on any knitting pattern project where you will be coming back to your cast-on edge and picking up sts later.

OPEN CAST ON: Tie nylon string and yarn together in slip knot,
and slip onto needle; hold in right hand. Insert thumb and 1st finger of left
hand between string and yarn; yarn is over thumb in front and string is over
finger in back, grab loose ends with other fingers.

LOOP 1: Dip needle down into triangle, grabbing side 2 from bottom; slip it
off your thumb and tighten.

LOOP 2: Twist back of left hand toward you and dip needle down, grabbing side
2 from back, slip loop off thumb and tighten. Repeat. String should run
straight along bottom of needle.

Note: When picking up beginning sts eliminate slip knot on first row, k in the
back of twisted sts.

Sweater Knitting Pattern

2004-08-12T12:28:00.000-07:00

Suggestion: Knitting
Pattern Sweater

Knitting a Sweater with a Pattern

I love to knit sweaters because of the fiber. I love
soft wools, cashmere, linen, cotton - any natural
fiber.

When knitting a sweater first pick the right yarn and
fiber for your project. You would never want to knit a light summer sweater out of
thick scratchy wool. And it is best for a rugged, every day,
sweater to be made out of something durable and easy to clean.

Most important . . . I like my yarns to be nice to
touch, smell and feel. After all, I am going to be handling it
for hours and hour while I knit, and I want my knitting
experience to be pleasant.

Knitting a sweater is quite a project to undertake, and
most of us want to be pretty certain that we will end up with something
we like... A sweater that fits and is attractive. That is why it is good
to take some time, before starting, to prepare for the project.

When working a new project, I like to choose my fiber and yarn
first, and then go looking for a knitting pattern. And that is
one of the reason's I started designing my own patterns, and
making them so that they would work for any size of yarn. I
don't like to be stuck to a particular type or brand of yarn
when I want to make a sweater!

First I am attracted by the color and sheen of a
yarn, then by the touch and feel. After that I start thinking
about what to make with it.

The other reason I design knitted sweaters the
way I do is because I can envision so many different ways to
form knitting yarn around the human body. I want to try them
all! Below are some of my designs and tips in why I created them
the way I did.

2004-08-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

IT'S INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT
THE HISTORY OF KNITTING

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Knitting, as we know it, is not very old. Records indicate that the first sweaters were knit less than two centuries ago - in the 17th century. Before that time smaller pieces and undergarments were knit. The earliest, historical, example of true knitting is a pair of patterned cotton socks found in Egypt, dating back to A.D. 1100 - a mere 9 centuries ago. There may be knitted pieces found in India which were worked prior to that. Weaving and other textile arts date back to prehistory, so knitting is the textile infant.

Currently it is believed that knitting was first invented by Arabian nomads who carried the craft into Egypt. From there the craft was carried through North Africa and into Spain where it was picked up by traveling members of the Catholic church and spread rapidly throughout Europe.

Regardless of the origins of knitting, when it did catch on in Europe, it was quickly established as a true craft. During Medieval times professional guilds controlled the market, knitted garments came in fashion for the wealthy upper class, and knitting cottage industries sprang up throughout the country. Silk gloves and stockings were highly prized and intricate techniques perfected.

Different types of knitting have origins in diverse areas of Europe. Fair Isle knitting, a technique which uses two colors stranded into intricate patterns, originated on a group of islands north of Britain. The earliest museum examples of this technique are thought to have been knitted around 1850. This technique became popular when the Prince of Wales sported a Fair Isle sweater at a public event in 1921. Other legends attribute Fair Isle knitting to the year 1588 when a Spanish ship was wrecked off Fair Isle and the crew inspired the knitting natives to new forms of patterning colors.

Knitters in France created fashionable items prior to 1429. Many popular lace patterns in use today still have French names. Germany also has a long history of knitting. Much German knitting is worked on four or five needles in the round and stockings were quite popular there. This long-established craft is forever documented in the picture of the knitting Madonna, The Visit of the Angels, painted around 1390 by Master Bertram of Munich.

Fisher communities off the British coast are responsible for styles of Guernseys from the end of the eighteenth century onwards. These garments, often intricately patterned with textured stitches, were knit in the round and so tight they were water and wind proof. The designs were sometimes knit as a family "signature" piece so lost seamen could be identified from shipwreched remains.

As with other aspects of life, the industrial revolution took over the craft of knitting through the invention of the knitting machine. To compete with the speed of the new knitting frames many of the cottage industries started working piecemeal and garments began to be knit in flat pieces which were sewn together. Even with these speedy techniques hand knitting lost it's ability to compete in the marketplace with machines. Knitting as an art and a craft fell to the wayside and was kept alive only as a hobby.

In my opinion the real renaissance of knitting is happening today. Diverse techniques from different parts of the world are being combined into wonderful new techniques. Knitting, and other fiber arts, are just beginning to be accepted in art circles as pieces of worth. In the search for simpler ways to make life more meaningful knitting is reestablishing itself in people's everyday lives.

A Great Free Cable Knitting Pattern

2004-08-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Knitting Patterns

Here is the greatest little cable that is easy to add to anything you are knitting. It makes a good ribbing too.

Add this to your next knitting pattern project! Great for sweaters, socks, hats, gloves ... anything!

MOCK CABLE PATTERN:
(multiple of 5 plus 2)

YO = Yarn over.
Psso = pass sl st over.

Start your swatch by casting on 22 sts

Row 1: p2, *sl 1, knit 2, psso 2 knit sts, p2; rep from * across.
Row 2: knit 2, *p1, yo, p1, knit 2; rep from * across
Row 3: p2, *knit 3, p2; rep from * across.
Row 4: knit 2, *p3, knit 2; rep from * across.

(When working in the round do this...)
Row 1: p2, *sl 1, knit 2, psso 2 knit sts, p2; rep from * across.
Row 2: p2, *knit 1, yo, knit 1, p2; rep from * across.
Row 3 & 4: p2, *knit 3, p2; rep from * across.

It's a cute little rib-like cable stitch, good for any knitting pattern.

Free Lace Knitting Pattern

2004-08-02T07:20:00.000-07:00

V-Lace Knitting Pattern
This pattern is worked on a Multiple of 8 + 1If you are going to be knitting this pattern as a swatch, cast on a multiple of 8 + 1 stitches. If you are adding this to a knitting project, either adjust your stitches to a multiple of 8 + 1, or center pattern on full number of stitches.
Written Instructions

First and every alt rows: P (on wrong side)2nd row: K1, *k1, k2 tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2, rep from * to end4th row: K1, *k2 tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1, rep from * to end.6th row: K2 tog, * yo, k5, yo, sk2p, rep from * to last 7 sts, yo, k5, yo, ssk.

Charted Instructions
To follow chart, start at the right bottom square, and work square-by-square to the left following the symbols in each square from the key.
Knit the second row from right left remembering that you are now on the back of your work. Repeat, row after row.

Key to Chart
rs = right sidews = wrong sidek = knitp = purlyo = yarn overssk = sl 2 sts separately as if to k; insert left-hand needle into the front of both sts tog, and knit them off as one.k2tog = k 2 togetherpsso = pass slipped st oversk2p = slip 1, k2tog, pssocn = cable needle4-st right cable = sl 2 sts to cn and hold to back, k2, k2 from cn

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