The twist · hub one
Knitting
Knitting holds a whole row of live loops on two needles and builds the fabric row by row. It stretches, drapes and makes the smooth stockinette of sweaters and socks.
Procedure
Getting started
- Choose yarn and needles. Pick a smooth, light-colored medium (worsted, weight 4) wool or acrylic and 5.0 mm (US 8) needles. The label tells you the needle size the maker suggests.
- Cast on. Make a slip knot on one needle. The long-tail cast-on gives a neat, stretchy edge: measure a tail about three times the width you want, then loop the yarn over thumb and finger and lift stitches onto the needle.
- The knit stitch. Needle in front to back through the first stitch, wrap the yarn counterclockwise, pull the new loop through, slide the old stitch off. Knitting every row makes garter stitch.
- The purl stitch. Yarn in front, needle back to front through the stitch, wrap, pull through, slide off. Knit one row and purl the next for stockinette.
- Bind off. Knit two stitches, lift the first over the second and off the needle; repeat across. Cut the yarn and pull it through the last loop.
- Check your gauge. Knit a 4-inch square and count stitches per inch. More stitches than the pattern says: use a bigger needle. Fewer: use a smaller one.
Stitches
Stitches and chart symbols
Each stitch shows its standard chart symbol and how many loops sit on the needle at the key moment.
Knit (k)
A blank square on a chart. Smooth V on the front.
Purl (p)
A dot on a chart. A small bump on the front.
Knit two together (k2tog)
Decrease: knit two stitches as one; leans right.
Yarn over (yo)
Increase that leaves a small hole: the basis of lace.
Cable (C4B)
Slip stitches to a cable needle and knit them out of order to cross them.
Tools
Needle sizes
| US | Metric (mm) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 2.0 |
| 1 | 2.25 |
| 2 | 2.75 |
| 3 | 3.25 |
| 4 | 3.5 |
| 5 | 3.75 |
| 6 | 4.0 |
| 7 | 4.5 |
| 8 | 5.0 |
| 9 | 5.5 |
| 10 | 6.0 |
| 10½ | 6.5 |
| 11 | 8.0 |
| 13 | 9.0 |
| 15 | 10.0 |
| 17 | 12.75 |
| 19 | 15.0 |
| 35 | 19.0 |
| 50 | 25.0 |
Source: Craft Yarn Council, hooks and needles chart.
Yarn
Yarn weights
| # | Name | Also called | Needle mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Lace | fingering 10-count, crochet thread | 1.5–2.25 |
| 1 | Super fine | sock, fingering, baby | 2.25–3.25 |
| 2 | Fine | sport, baby | 3.25–3.75 |
| 3 | Light | DK, light worsted | 3.75–4.5 |
| 4 | Medium | worsted, afghan, aran | 4.5–5.5 |
| 5 | Bulky | chunky, craft, rug | 5.5–8 |
| 6 | Super bulky | roving | 8–12.75 |
| 7 | Jumbo | roving, arm knitting | 12.75 and up |
Source: Craft Yarn Council, Standard Yarn Weight System.