Knitting is a craft that has been around for centuries, and it's no wonder why. It's a great way to create beautiful pieces of clothing, accessories, and home decor. But before you can start creating your own masterpieces, you need to learn the basics. This guide will cover the most common knitting techniques, from the simplest garter stitch to more complex patterns like eyelet lace and bee stitch.
The garter stitch is the most basic type of knit stitch. It's marked as “K1” in knit patterns and diagrams, and it's used to form garter strings. Garter stitch is the simplest type of knitting, and it's a great place to start if you're a beginner. The next step up is jersey stitch, also known as stockinette stitch.
This is the most common knit stitch pattern, and it's what gives you the classic “V” stitch that you see on many sweaters, bags, scarves and more. Jersey stitch is made up of alternating rows of knit stitches and purl stitches. Continental Weaving is a technique you should master if you want to do a lot of Fair Isle knitting. This method involves passing the stitches from one needle to another without actually knitting them.
It creates a wavy line of eyelet lace that looks great on blankets and other knitted home decorations. Rib knit is another popular technique that creates a very stretchy fabric. It's often used on cuffs and hems, as well as on the wings of hats. Rib knit is made up of alternating rows of knit stitches and purl stitches, with increases in yarn creating the peaks and decreases creating the valleys.
The bee stitch is a beautiful all-over texture created with just knitted stitches (and some clever needle placements). It looks great on summer tops or cuffs of socks, and it's a great way to add some texture to your knitting projects. Finally, English tissue is a technique that can help you become a more efficient knitter. It involves biting with your left hand while wrapping less with your right hand (to the extent that this is physically possible).
