Knitting at Craft Village
I have to confess to you that knitting is one of my favorite hobbies. I knit my first sweater when I was in the third grade and it was not wonderful, but it was a start. With a little practice I was soon knitting a passable sweater. Next I tried knitting a sweater that combined two colors, and with some practice, I soon mastered the skill of combining two colors into interesting patterns. Then came the cable stitch and I worked to master the many different cables. Slowly over the years I came to understand that knitting is comprised of essentially only two stitches, the knit and the purl. It is by changing the colors or by crossing the stitches that you get the interesting textures and design that we see. It isn’t hard. It isn’t complicated.
I would recommend that you buy two skeins of two different color yarns to start. Red and white are good choices as they contrast well. Buy a worsted weight yarn and # 5 or 6 needles. Make sure that the yarn you purchase is very inexpensive. You’ll just be practicing with it after all. Using the instructions in this section, and your white yarn, cast on about 50 stitches and practice the knit stitch for about 6”. When you have the knit stitch down pat switch to the purl stitch and purl 6”. Notice the difference in the look of the two stitches. It is these differences that you will use to make Gansay patterns. Next practice changing from one stitch to another. Try doing a k2, p2, k2 (repeat) combination for another 6”. Now you have conquered ribbing. Easy, right?
Next do two colors. Doing your knit stitch, k3 white, k3 red, (repeat across the row). Turn your work and this time p3 red, p3 white, (repeat across row). Turn and continue as set until you have another 6” section. Do you like the candy cane stripes you’ve made? Now it’s time for you to make up some designs of your own. By experimenting you will soon find out what works and what does not.
When you have knitting with 2 colors mastered it’s time to play with cable stitches. You’ll need another skein of white and a stitch holder. Cable is just crossing one or more stitches over another. It is not hard, but the results can be amazing. I would suggest that you buy a book of cable patterns. These books are relatively inexpensive and you’ll use them over and over. Start with a simple cable stitch and master it. Then go on to the more complicated ones. Now experiment with your own designs.
Finally make 12” squares of your favorite designs. About 24 squares would do. Sew them together and then knit a ribbed boarder all of the way around. You now have a nice throw to wrap around you when you are knitting on those cold winter nights.
When you feel confident in your knitting skills move on to the many different fibers. Try wool, cotton, silk, and combinations of wool and alpaca or mohair. There are so many different fibers and colors and they are like an artist’s pallet. In this section you will find many patterns for all skills and for all needs. I hope you find them useful, and I hope that perhaps you will consider contributing one of your own patterns to this collection.
Enjoy your new hobby!