[ Home ]

Pattern Terms and Instructions

We've found over time, we use the same terms and instructions on many of our patterns.  Here is a detailed list of some of the special techniques you may find in our patterns, along with links to video instruction that we've found helpful to achieve the techniques described below.

• Fair Isle Knitting

  There are various ways to achieve flat, un-puckered fair isle knitting.  One option is to hold color A in the right  hand and color B in the left.  When working across several sts of one color, it is recommended that the B yarn be “caught” under the strand of A.  This is achieved by inserting the RH needle into the next stitch and then placing B over the needle.  When the A yarn is wrapped around the needle to make the stitch, the B yarn can be taken off the needle and it just lays over the A yarn.  When the next stitch is made, the B yarn is “caught” under the strand.  Do this every other stitch to create a smooth inside for your project so that fingers and toes can’t be caught on the stitches.  Videos on this technique are available on Youtube at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na3o0JxCLmE & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B33SUeSwubE

   

• Grafting (Kitchener Stitch)

Arrange stitches on two needles.  Hold needles with points facing the same direction, wrong sides of fabric together.  Thread a tapestry needle with matching yarn (approximately 1” per stitch).  Working from right to left and RS facing, proceed as follows:

Front needle: yarn through 1^st stitch as if to purl, leave stitch on needle.

Back needle: yarn through 1^st stitch as if to knit, leave on needle.  Then continue as follows:

* Front needle: through 1^st stitch as if to knit, slip off needle; through next stitch as if to purl, leave on needle.

Back needle: through 1^st stitch as if to purl, slip off needle; through next stitch as if to knit, leave on needle. * Adjust tension to match rest of knitting and continue between * * until all stitches are worked in this fashion.

• I-Cord

CO required number of sts onto DP needles. [Knit sts, do not turn needles.  Slide sts to right side of needle and put needle in left hand.] Repeat between [ ].

• Make 1

With the left needle, pick up strand between st just worked and first st on left needle by inserting the needle from front to back.  Knit the stitch through the back part of the loop.

• One row Buttonhole

Work to where you want the buttonhole placed.

Sl 1, and bring the yarn to the front of the work, drop and leave hang.  Sl1, pull first slipped stitch over the second in bind off fashion.  Continue the slip, bo, until the buttonhole is the desired width. 

Put the last slip stitch back onto the left needle.  Turn work to wrong side.  Bring yarn to the front as if to purl.  Cast on as if to purl, leaving the stitches on the left hand needle.  Put on one more stitch than you bound off.  Turn the work back to the front side and sl1 to the right needle.  Pull the extra cast on stitch over the sl stitch.  Put the slip stitch back on the left needle and knit to the next buttonhole.

• Provisional Cast On

CO using smooth cotton waste yarn.  Knit 2-3 rows.  Begin knitting with MC yarn.  When it is time to release the stitches, pick up the stitches above the waste yarn by picking up the back loop of working yarn, removing the waste yarn as you go.

• Provisional Crochet Cast-on

With a crochet hook, chain 5-10 more chains than the number of stitches required to be cast on.  Cut yarn and fasten off chain.  With knitting needles, pick up and knit the required number of sts into the back of the chain stitches.  Later, you will be able to unravel the chains and the loops from the first row of stitching will be easy to put on your needles.

• Provisional Cast-on with Waste Yarn

Provisional cast on  Knot the MC yarn to contrasting (waste) yarn. With needle in right hand, also hold knot in right hand. Tension both strands in left hand with waste yarn over the index finger and the working yarn over the thumb, similar to a long tail cast on.  * Bring needle between yarns, under the working yarn to the front to make the first stitch.  Bring needle behind and under both yarns, bringing the needle in front of the working yarn then down between the two yarns and behind the waste yarn to make the next stitch. *  Repeat between * * for every 2 stitches.  When working the first knit or purl row, hold tension on the waste yarn until several stitches have been made.  The waste yarn can be cut with 6-8 inches for the tail.  A great helpful video can be found at www.knittinghelp.com/videos/cast-on.

• Short Rows Shaping (W/T)

K to the marker as indicated for the short row, bring the yarn to front, slip the next stitch purlwise, then take the yarn to the back. Return the slipped stitch to the left needle.  Turn and work the next row (w/t).  Repeat the process as many times as needed.

When working back across the sts that were wrapped, pick up the wrap with the wrapped st and knit/purl them together.

• Three Needle Bind Off

Place stitches to be joined together each on their own needle.  With right sides together, and both sets of stitches in left hand, take 3^rd needle and knit into the first stitch on both needles. 

Knit a second stitch on both needles.  Pass the first stitch over the second in bind off fashion.  Continue knitting a stitch and binding off until only one loop remains.  Fasten off.

    Send mail to info@thealpacayarnco.com  with questions or comments about this web site.
    Copyright © 2005-2009 The Alpaca Yarn Company.
    Last modified: February 26, 2010