Knitting Patterns For Dummies

Put your knitting skills into action with these fun and easy-to-follow patterns Knitting is fun, functional, and stress-relieving—get started today with Knitting Patterns For Dummies ! Written for all skill levels and perfect for beginners, it includes patterns for socks, scarves, sweaters, and beyond. Add to your knitting repertoire and experiment with different textures, fun colors, and pattern shapes. You’ll love the full-color project photos in the color insert and helpful, easy-to-understand instructions for every single project. Even if you’ve never followed a written pattern before, you can knit cool stuff with the practical, modern patterns inside. This friendly guide will help you pick the right needles and yarn, step you through reading and knitting the patterns, and then finishing off your masterpieces. Select the supplies that are right for your projects Learn how to read a knitting pattern Practice working common stitches and creating different textures Make gifts for friends, clothing for yourself, and cold weather wear Need more practice? Want fun new ideas? Just getting started? All knitters welcome! Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Introduction About This Book Conventions Used in This Book Foolish Assumptions How This Book Is Organized Part 1: The Nuts and Bolts (or Sticks and String) of Knitting Part 2: A Primer on Stitches and Color Part 3: Patterns with Rectangles and Related Shapes Part 4: Patterns with Circles, Triangles, and More Part 5: The Part of Tens Appendix Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here Part 1 The Nuts and Bolts (or Sticks and String) of Knitting Chapter 1 The Right Stuff: Knitting Supplies Unraveling the Basics of Yarn Checking out different types of packaging Reading a yarn label Choosing the right yarn for the job Fibers Weights Determining how much yarn you need Calculating yardage when you’re substituting yarns Estimating your yarn needs when you’re knitting on the fly Getting to the Point of Needles Looking at different kinds of needles Understanding needle sizes Filling Your Knitting Bag with Other Gadgets Measuring tools Markers and holders Tools for keeping track of your knitting Finishing tools Chapter 2 Gauge Your Success Calculating Gauge for Any Project How Tense Are You? Tips for Knitting to the Right Gauge Relaxing with your knitting Switching needles if your gauge is off Swatching Before You Begin a New Project Making your swatch Measuring your swatch Practicing different gauges in a single swatch Checking Your Gauge throughout a Project When to check your gauge How to check your gauge Examining the Drapes of Different Gauges Chapter 3 Do You Measure Up? Size Matters Deciphering a Pattern’s Size Information The kinds of size information in a pattern The sizing conventions in this book Measuring Yourself Knowing What Size You Should Knit Focusing on essential fit considerations Factoring in ease Trying the “favorite sweater” technique if you’re still unsure about size Chapter 4 Break the Code: Reading Patterns Deciphering Knitroglyphics Understanding common terms and abbreviations Following a repeating pattern Reading charts and symbolcraft Cable charts Lace charts Color charts Try Before You Buy! Spot-Checking Patterns Are all the parts there? Do you understand the directions? Does the pattern come in your size and style? Part 2 A Primer on Stitches and Color Chapter 5 The Simplest Stitches Starting with Garter Stitch Knitting and Purling Stockinette Stitch Mixing It Up with Reverse Stockinette Stitch Staying Simple with Seed Stitch Creating Box Stitch Working Half Linen Stitch Chapter 6 Stitches that Look Tricky but Aren’t Lining Up with Ribs 1 × 1 rib 2 × 2 rib 4 × 2 rib Broken rib Two-stitch rib Twisting Away with Cables Two-stitch twist Four-stitch cables Six-stitch cables Horseshoe cable Wave cable and chain cable Seeing Through Your Knitting with Lace Yarn overs Common decreases used in lace Double decreases Other essential lace know-how Openwork Feather and fan Climbing vine lace Arrowhead lace Chapter 7 Colorful Stitches Combining Colors with a Careful Eye Get in Line: Stripes Two-row stripes Regularly repeating stripes Random stripes Classic Color: Fair Isle Patterns Simple stranded pattern Small Fair Isle motif Fair Isle border Slip in Some Color: Mosaics Puzzle piece mosaic Woven cord mosaic Little mosaic Little boxes mosaic Miniature mosaic Color for Cheaters: Adding Details after You Finish Knitting Duplicate stitch Surface crochet Part 3 Patterns with Rectangles and Related Shapes Chapter 8 Rectangles to Wear Garter Stitch Scarf New skill: The double wrap (and beyond) Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Using beautiful yarns Variation: Creating a seafoam stitch scarf Ribbed Scarf New skill: Switching from knit to purl and back again Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Ribbed scarves with any yarn Box Stitch Scarf Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Twins scarf Variation: Two-yarns scarf Flat Hat Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Knitting a garter stitch flat hat Retro Slippers for Baby Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Using different yarns Variation: Sizing up Longways Multiyarn Stole New skill: Changing colors New skill: Making fringe Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Changing yarns Loose Rib Wrap Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Make your wrap a poncho Variation: Make your wrap a shrug Box Top Materials and vital statistics Starting with the back Moving to the front Finishing your top Variation: Short and simple Chapter 9 Rectangles for the Home Felted Potholders New skill: Making miters Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Single-color potholders Variation: Striped potholders Variation: Coasters Variation: Mitered square afghan Throw Pillows Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Retro check pillow Variation: Bean sprout pillow Journal Cover Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Small journal cover in half linen stitch Nested Squares Baby Blanket New skill: Picking up stitches along a garter stitch edge Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Substituting yarns Chapter 10 Almost Rectangles Felted Messenger Bag New skill: The cable cast-on New skill: Working linen stitch by slipping stitches Materials and vital statistics Knitting the bag Side gussets and back Flap Creating the straps Finishing your bag One-Piece Baby Sweater New skill: Making a buttonhole Materials and vital statistics Directions Sleeves Neck Left front Right front Finishing Deceptively Simple Shell Materials and vital statistics Starting with the back Shape armholes Moving to the front Right neck Left neck Finishing your shell Shawl-Collared Coat New skill: The three-needle bind-off New skill: Pick up and knit vertically New skill: Pick up and knit horizontally Materials and vital statistics Starting with the back Shoulder and neck shaping Moving to the left front panel Shoulder shaping Continuing with the right front panel Shoulder shaping Attaching the front and back panels Making the sleeves Creating the shawl collar Finishing your coat Variation: A beautiful border Hooded Coat Materials and vital statistics Starting with the back Shoulder shaping Moving to the hood Knitting the left front Knitting the right front Shoulder shaping Attaching the front and back panels Making the sleeves Working the shawl collar and sides of hood Finishing your coat Part 4 Patterns with Circles, Triangles, and More Chapter 11 Knitting in Circles Ruffled Cowl New skill: Joining your knitting in the round New skill: Increasing with kfb Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Turning your cowl into a poncho Wrist Warmers New skill: Working with double-pointed needles Materials and vital statistics Directions Ruffled Muffatees Materials and vital statistics Directions Basic Beanies Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Creating a cabled beanie Storybook Hats Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Changing yarns Mosaic Bags Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Keeping your bag plain and simple Variation: Striping your bag Chapter 12 Shaping Triangles The Most Basic Kerchief Ever Materials and vital statistics Directions The Most Basic Shawl Ever Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Changing up your yarn Variation: Making a poncho Fully Fashioned Kerchief New skill: Additional left-slanting decreases Materials and vital statistics Directions Lacy Shawl Materials and vital statistics Directions Variation: Knitting through thick and thin Stretchy Halter Top Materials and vital statistics Knitting the front Underarm shaping Neck shaping Making the back Finishing your top Short Row Scarf New skill: Working short rows Materials and vital statistics Directions Harlequin Blanket Materials and vital statistics Directions Chapter 13 Putting Together Rectangles and Triangles V-Neck T-Shirt Materials and vital statistics Starting with the back Shoulder shaping Moving to the front Neck shaping Left neck Left shoulder shaping Right neck Right shoulder shaping Making the sleeves Finishing your T-shirt Variation: Crew neck T-shirt with garter stitch edging Back Front Sleeves Collar Finishing Kid’s Top New skill: Picking up neckline stitches Measuring and marking Picking up the right stitches Materials and vital statistics Starting with the back Neck and shoulder shaping Moving to the front Neck shaping Right neck Right shoulder shaping Left neck Left shoulder shaping Making the sleeves Knitting the collar Finishing your sweater Variation: Short sleeves Variation: Cables Front Collar Rollneck Pullover New skill: Setting in sleeves in a new way Materials and vital statistics Starting with the back Armhole shaping Shoulder shaping Moving to the front Neck shaping Right neck Right shoulder shaping Left neck Left shoulder shaping Making the sleeves Knitting the collar Finishing your sweater Variation: Showing your true colors Classic V-Neck Sweater New skill: Binding off in rib Materials and vital statistics Starting with the back Armhole shaping Shoulder shaping Moving to the front Right neck Right shoulder shaping Left neck Left shoulder shaping Making the sleeves Knitting the collar Finishing your sweater Variation: Crafting a crew neck Front Collar Finishing Chapter 14 Knitting Beyond Geometry Class Bulky Zipped Cardigan New skill: Trying the make 1 increase Materials and vital statistics Starting with the body Moving to the sleeves Knitting the collar Finishing your cardigan Half-Ribbed Raglan Cardigan New skill: Fashioning self-facing buttonbands New skill: Decreasing in rib Materials and vital statistics Starting with the body Moving to the sleeves Crafting the collar Finishing your cardigan Variation: Using the perfect buttons Scoop-Neck Pullover Materials and vital statistics Starting with the back Fair Isle border Waist shaping Armhole shaping Neck shaping Right neck Right shoulder Left neck Left shoulder Moving to the front Making the sleeves Finishing your pullover Variation: Making a mosaic border Lacy V-Neck Top Materials and vital statistics Starting with the back Armhole shaping Neck shaping Right neck Right shoulder Left neck Left shoulder Moving to the front Armhole shaping Neck shaping Right neck and shoulder Left neck and shoulder Making the sleeves Creating the collar Finishing your top Variation: Lengthening your top Back Front Finishing Part 5 The Part of Tens Chapter 15 Ten Things You Can Knit with that Aren’t Yarn or Needles Raffia or Ribbon Kite String Plastic Bags Old T-Shirts Cassette Tapes Licorice Ropes Pencils Chopsticks Skewers or Toothpicks Tinkertoys Chapter 16 Almost Ten Things You Can Do with Your Swatches Knit a Set of Coasters Sew Some Cozies Create Cat Toys Whip Up Washcloths and Soap Sacks Make Slippers Stitch a Crazy Quilt Keep a Knitting Journal Stash Away Swatches for Later Mending Store Swatches as Emergency Yarn Chapter 17 Ten Ways to MacGyver Your Knitting Winding Your Yarn with Power Crafting Your Own Knitting Needles Using Makeshift Cable Needles Measuring Your Knitting with Handy Items Substituting for Stitch Markers Storing Your Notions Smoothing Out Your Rough Edges Putting Your Stitches on Hold Counting Stitches and Rows the Low-Tech Way Cutting Yarn without Scissors Chapter 18 Ten Smart Ways to Care for Your Knits Read the Label Wash Wisely Avoid Hot Water and Agitation Always Air-Dry Clean Your Knits Regularly Store Your Knits Flat or Folded Save Some Yarn for Later (Just in Case) Knit Like You Care Give Care Instructions with a Gift Remember that Not Everything You Knit Is an Heirloom Appendix: Basic Knitting Skills Binding Off Blocking Light blocking Wet blocking Casting On Crocheted Edging Crocheting a Chain Felting Knit Stitch Knitting into the Back of a Stitch Making Stitches Knitwise and Purlwise Mattress Stitch Stockinette stitch, side to side Garter stitch, side to side End to end End to side Purl Stitch Ripping Back Stitches Slipping Stitches Weaving in Ends Index EULA Have you always wanted to knit? Know the basics, but you're looking to stretch your knitting skills? Knitting Patterns For Dummies is chock-full of simple instructions and easy-to-follow patterns to help you create a wide range of classic, beautiful knits for the whole family, from clothing to household items to gift ideas. This fun, friendly guide gives you scores of new ways to have fun with needles and yarn, with great projects such as basic ponchos and pullovers, felted bags and slippers, cabled sweaters, and home and baby accessories, to name a few. You get step-by-step instructions for all the patterns in the book, along with line drawings and 8 pages of full-color photos to guide you. And, with the variations added at the end of many of the patterns, you'll have almost 100 projects to choose from! You'll discover how to: Select the right yarn and needles Decipher knitting lingo Measure your gauge, read a pattern, and understand garment sizing Work with common stitches, such as the stockinette, garter seed, box, and half linen Handle ribbing, cabling, and knitting lace Work with patterns with rectangles, circles, and triangles Use colorful stitches such as the Stripes, Fair Isle, and Mosaic Join shapes together in your design Create different textures and add color throughout a piece or just as accents You'll also find ten things you can knit with that aren't yarn or needles, as well as plenty of tips for caring for your knits once they're complete. From beanies to bags to blankets, Knitting Patterns For Dummies has it all--everything you need to pick up your sticks and get creative right away!