Know These Important Things Before You Learn How To Knit

Author: B Hopkins

Copyright 2006 B Hopkins

Did you ever enjoy texture of yarns in your hand or wondering how that interesting color pattern was created in your favorite sweater? Then you will surely have fun learning the art of knitting. Knitting is one of several ways to turn thread or yarn into cloth-weaving and crochet. It's all about creativity.

The Introductory Steps of Knitting

Unlike woven fabric, knitted fabric consists entirely of horizontal parallel courses of yarn. The courses are joined to each other by interlocking loops in which a short loop of one course of yarn is wrapped over the bight of another course. Knitting can be done either by hand, described below, or by machine. What makes knitting even more exciting is the fact that this art can be easily learned.

In practice, hand knitting is usually begun by forming a base series of twisted loops of yarn on a needle. This is called Cast On. A second knitting needle is then used to reach through each loop in succession in order to snag a bight of yarn and pull a length back through the loop. This forms a new stitch. Work can proceed in the round (circular knitting) or by going back and forth in rows. Knitting can also be done by machines, which use a different mechanical system to produce nearly identical results.

Knitting Styles: There are two basic styles of knitting; English and Continental. The difference between the two is in how you hold the yarn. In the English method the yarn is held in the right hand. In continental knitting, the yarn is held in the left hand. Whatever your natural hand-preference, you should be able to master either method because the nature of knitting is basically ambidextrous.

The two basic stitches are knit or plain and purl or wrong. These two nominal stitches are actually identical, however, being the obverse and reverse of the same stitch. It is the variations and combinations of these two stitches that create all the different stitch patterns which are possible in knitting. Typically, a knit stitch is formed by inserting the needle in the front of the loop from a left-to-right perspective and pulling a loop of yarn through to form a new loop, while a purl stitch is formed by inserting the needle in the front of the loop from a right-to-left perspective.

A piece of knitting begins with the process of casting on, which involves the initial creation of the stitches on the needle. Casting on is the first step in knitting These stitches become the first row of stitches and one selvage of your work, usually the bottom or hem.

Different methods of cast on are used for different effects; one may be stretchy enough for lace, while another provides a decorative edging. Provisional cast on is used when the knitting will continue in both directions from the cast on.

The body of a knitted piece may include plain stitches or a number of colors and textured patterns. The number of active stitches remains the same as when cast on unless stitches are added -an increase or removed- a decrease to shape the item.

Patterns to Knit (Way to Online Income): There are lots of people who sit at home and publish great knitting patters from home. Since over the years they have collected and modified many knitting patterns. They make a great income by selling/publishing the patterns on the net. Once you have enough practice, even you could make some online income.

Many patterns can be made by using knit and purl stitches in various combinations. If only knits or only purls are used when working back and forth in rows, the result is called garter stitch.

Alternating rows of knits and purls result in stockinette stitch, also known as stocking or jersey stitch, the stitch most often used in commercial garments such as T-shirts. Different combinations of stitches can be used to form ribbing, cables, or other textures.

Once the knitted piece is finished, the remaining live stitches are cast off. Casting or binding off loops the stitches across each other so they can be removed from the needle without unraveling the item. Although the mechanics are different from casting on, there are a similar variety of methods and choices to be made. Of the various methods the most versatile are the Plain Bind-off and the Suspended Bind-off.

Knitted garments are most commonly made in pieces, where individual sections of the garment are knit separately and then sewn together once all the pieces have been completed. Seamless knitting, where a whole garment is knit as a single piece is also possible. Smaller items, such as socks and hats are usually knit in one piece on double pointed needles.

Knitting can be easily learned these days as there are many websites on knitting and also various books for beginners available on the market, where you can find step by step instructions. These instructions are so easy to follow that even kids would not find them difficult at all. Show your creativity, grab your knitting tools and learn to knit today!

About the author: Do you want to learn how to knit? For more articles on knitting and crochet, go to the knittinginfosite.com. Find knitting and crochet articles, knitting resources and other items usefull for knitters. http://knittinginfosite.com (This article is a http://Drivetraffictomywebsite.com creation)