Knitting in the Details
Page 9
Lining
Fold felted lining fabric in half at bottom edge. Use a backstitch (see Glossary) with a ⅜" (1 cm) seam allowance to sew side seams. Slip bag lining inside purse, turn a ⅜" (1 cm) seam at top, and use a whipstitch to secure just below eyelet band.
Glossary of Terms and Techniques
Abbreviations
beg
begin(s); beginning
BO
bind off
CC
contrast color
cm
centimeter(s)
cn
cable needle
CO
cast on
cont
continue(s); continuing
dec(s)
decrease(s); decreasing
dpn
double-pointed needles
foll
follow(s); following
g
gram(s)
inc(s)
increase(s); increasing
k
knit
k1f&b
knit into the front and back of same stitch
kwise
knitwise, as if to knit
m
marker(s)
MC
main color
mm
millimeter(s)
M1
make one (increase)
p
purl
p1f&b
purl into front and back of same stitch
patt(s)
pattern(s)
psso
pass slipped stitch over
pwise
purlwise, as if to purl
rem
remain(s); remaining
rep
repeat(s); repeating
rev St st
reverse stockinette stitch
rnd(s)
round(s)
RS
right side
sl
slip
sl st
slip st (slip 1 stitch purlwise unless otherwise indicated)
ssk
slip 2 stitches knitwise, one at a time, from the left needle to right needle, insert left needle tip through both front loops and knit together from this position (1 stitch decrease)
st
stitch(es)
St st
stockinette stitch
tbl
through back loop
tog
together
WS
wrong side
wyb
with yarn in back
wyf
with yarn in front
yd
yard(s)
yo
yarnover
*
repeat starting point
* *
repeat all instructions between asterisks
( )
alternate measurements and/or instructions
[ ]
work instructions as a group a specified number of times
Bind-Offs
Three-Needle Bind-Off
Place the stitches to be joined onto two separate needles and hold the needles parallel so that the right sides of knitting face together. Insert a third needle into the first stitch on each of two needles (Figure 1) and knit them together as one stitch (Figure 2), *knit the next stitch on each needle the same way, then use the left needle tip to lift the first stitch over the second and off the needle (Figure 3). Repeat from * until no stitches remain on first two needles. Cut yarn and pull tail through last stitch to secure.
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
Cast-Ons
Backward-Loop Cast-On
*Loop working yarn and place it on needle backward so that it doesn’t unwind. Repeat from *.
Cable Cast-On
If there are no stitches on the needles, make a slipknot of working yarn and place it on the needle, then use the knitted method to cast-on one more stitch—two stitches on needle. Hold needle with working yarn in your left hand with the wrong side of the work facing you. *Insert right needle between the first two stitches on left needle (Figure 1), wrap yarn around needle as if to knit, draw yarn through (Figure 2), and place new loop on left needle (Figure 3) to form a new stitch. Repeat from * for the desired number of stitches, always working between the first two stitches on the left needle.
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
Long-Tail (Continental) Cast-On
Leaving a long tail (about ½" [1.3 cm] for each stitch to be cast on), make a slipknot and place on right needle. Place thumb and index finger of your left hand between the yarn ends so that working yarn is around your index finger and tail end is around your thumb and secure the yarn ends with your other fingers. Hold your palm upward, making a V of yarn (Figure 1). *Bring needle up through loop on thumb (Figure 2), catch first strand around index finger, and go back down through loop on thumb (Figure 3). Drop loop off thumb and, placing thumb back in V configuration, tighten resulting stitch on needle (Figure 4). Repeat from * for the desired number of stitches.
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 4
Decreases
Knit 2 Together Through Back Loops (k2togtbl)
Insert right needle through the back loops of the next two stitches on the left needle from front to back), wrap the yarn around the needle, and pull a loop through while slipping the stitches off the left needle.
Slip, Slip, Purl (ssp)
Holding yarn in front, slip two stitches individually knit-wise (Figure 1), then slip these two stitches back onto left needle (they will be twisted on the needle) and purl them together through their back loops (Figure 2).
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
Increases
Knit in the Front and Back (k1f&b)
Knit into a stitch but leave it on the left needle (Figure 1), then knit through the back loop of the same stitch (Figure 2) and slip the original stitch off the needle (Figure 3).
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
Make One (M1)
Note: Use the left slant if no direction of slant is specified.
Left Slant (M1L)
With left needle tip, lift the strand between the last knitted stitch and the first stitch on the left needle from front to back (Figure 1), then knit the lifted loop through the back (Figure 2).
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
Right Slant (M1R)
With left needle tip, lift the strand between the needles from back to front (Figure 1), then knit the lifted loop through the front (Figure 2).
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
Seams
Backstitch
Pin pieces to be seamed with right sides facing together. Working from right to left into the edge stitch, bring threaded needle up between the next two stitches on each piece of knitted fabric, then back down through both layers, one stitch to the right of the starting point (Figure 1). *Bring the needle up through both layers a stitch to the left of the backstitch just made (Figure 2), then back down to the right, through the same hole used before (Figure 3). Repeat from *, working backward one stitch for every two stitches worked forward.
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
Mattress Stitch
Place the pieces to be seamed on a table, right sides facing up. Begin at the lower edge and work upward as follows for your stitch pattern:
Stockinette Stitch with 1-Stitch Seam Allowance
Insert threaded needle under one bar between the two edge stitches on one piece, then under the corresponding bar plus the bar above it on the other piece (Figure 1). *Pick up the next two bars on the first piece (Figure 2), then the next two bars on the other (Figure 3). Repeat from *, ending by picking up the last bar or pair of bars on the first piece.
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
Stockine
tte Stitch with ½-Stitch Seam Allowance
To reduce bulk in the mattress-stitch seam, work as for the 1-stitch seam allowance but pick up the bars in the center of the edge stitches instead of between the last two stitches.
Whipstitch
Hold pieces to be sewn together so that the edges to be seamed are even with each other. With yarn threaded on a tapestry needle, *insert needle through both layers from back to front, then bring needle to back. Repeat from *, keeping even tension on the seaming yarn.
Short-Rows
Short-Rows Knit Side
Work to turning point, slip next stitch purlwise (Figure 1), bring the yarn to the front, then slip the same stitch back to the left needle (Figure 2), turn the work around and bring the yarn in position for the next stitch—one stitch has been wrapped and the yarn is correctly positioned to work the next stitch. When you come to a wrapped stitch on a subsequent row, hide the wrap by working it together with the wrapped stitch as follows: Insert right needle tip under the wrap (from the front if wrapped stitch is a knit stitch; from the back if wrapped stitch is a purl stitch; Figure 3), then into the stitch on the needle, and work the stitch and its wrap together as a single stitch.
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
Short-Rows Purl Side
Work to the turning point, slip the next stitch purlwise to the right needle, bring the yarn to the back of the work (Figure 1), return the slipped stitch to the left needle, bring the yarn to the front between the needles (Figure 2), and turn the work so that the knit side is facing—one stitch has been wrapped and the yarn is correctly positioned to knit the next stitch. To hide the wrap on a subsequent purl row, work to the wrapped stitch, use the tip of the right needle to pick up the wrap from the back, place it on the left needle (Figure 3), then purl it together with the wrapped stitch.
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
Sources for Yarn
The following companies distribute Louisa Harding Yarns. Visit their websites for helpful information regarding yarns, shade cards, and yarn store locations.
Australia
Prestige Yarns
prestigeyarns.com
+61 02 4285 6669
Canada
Diamond Yarn
diamondyarn.com
(416) 736-6111
Europe
Designer Yarns
designeryarns.uk.com
+44 (0) 1535 664222
United States
Knitting Fever Inc.
knittingfever.com
(516) 546-3600
Substituting Yarns
For each project in this book, yarn choice is an inherent factor in the overall design. If you want to substitute a different yarn, be sure to choose a yarn (and needles) that has a similar weight and that produces exactly the same gauge specified in the instructions. If your gauge is different, the project will turn out a different size, something that can be disastrous in a garment. Always knit a swatch to test the gauge before embarking on a project. That said, it can be fun to substitute yarns for different looks and effects, and the process can get you thinking creatively about your knitting.
Sources for Embellishments
The following companies and stores are at the top of my list when I’m looking for embellishment extras. They sell all the ribbons, bows, buttons, beads, buckles, and feathers that a creative magpie desires. Many yarn stores sell similar items (because most are run by creative magpies).
La Droguerie à Paris
9 et 11 rue de jour
75001 Paris
ladroguerie.com
Exquisite buttons, closures, pressed velvet applique flowers, feathers, purse handles, jacquard, velvet and satin ribbons, and so much more.
VV Rouleaux
102 Marylebone Ln.
London W1U 2QD
vvrouleaux.com
Beautiful ribbons, feathers, and trimmings.
Debbie Abrahams Beads
debbieabrahams.com
A wonderful selection of beads specifically selected for knitting with.
Button Shoppe
buttonshoppe.com
Unusual buttons and closures.
M & J Trimming
mjtrim.com
Ribbons of all kinds, buttons, buckles, and more.
Purl Soho
purlsoho.com
Jumbo rickrack, Japanese twill tapes, silk embroidery floss, unusual ribbons (and yarn, too!).
Vintage Vogue
vintagevogue.com
Mokuba ribbons and ribbon flowers, wool felt, charms, chenille thread, and more.
EDITOR Ann Budd
TECHNICAL EDITOR Kristen TenDyke
PHOTOGRAPHER Stephen Jessup
ART DIRECTOR Liz Quan
COVER AND INTERIOR DESIGN Karla Baker
PRODUCTION Katherine Jackson
© 2010 Louisa Harding
Photography © 2010 Stephen Jessup
All right reserved.
Interweave Press LLC
201 East Fourth Street
Loveland, CO 80537-5655 USA
interweave.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Harding, Louisa.
Knitting in the details : charming designs to knit and embellish /
Louisa Harding.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-59668-256-6 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-1-59668-480-5 (PDF)
ISBN 978-1-62033-156-9 (ePub)
1. Knitting. 2. Knitting--Patterns. I. Title.
TT820.H2658 2010
746.43--dc22
2010021177