Knitting is a very relaxing and soothing hobby. It can also be very useful since you can learn to make your own scarves, hats, socks, sweaters, and even bags, all from yarn. This article will tell you a little about knitting in general, as well as inform you on how to design your own knit patterns.
The best way to design your own knit patterns is to start by getting good at some pre-made patterns first. After you’ve become a pro at reading patterns, start designing your own by making a rough sketch of what you want to knit. Then, if it’s an article of clothing, measure the person who is going to be wearing the piece. Then take your yarn and needles and knit a swatch in your chosen knitting stitch pattern. Now measure your swatch for gauge and you’re reading to make some simple calculations to get the right fit. You can also find computer programs, such as knitPro that allow you to upload certain measurements and yarn type and then let you produce your own design of a pattern. But until you’re really a pro, it is not recommended that you attempt to design your own knit pattern.
Now, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about knitting:
What information should I look for on the yarn label?
The information on the yarn label will help you select the type of yarn you want and the number of skeins you need for a project. It should include the yarn brand name, fiber content, color name and number, dye lot number, plies (number of strands), weight classification, ounces or grams or meters, knitting gauge, and home laundering and dry cleaning instructions.
What are double point and circular knitting needles used for?
Double point and circular needles are different from straight knitting needles and are used for seamless knitting or "knitting-in-the-round." Double point knitting needles come in sets of four or five and are used to make smaller round pieces such as cuffs, socks and mittens. Circular knitting needles come in various lengths and sizes, and are used for larger round sections such as sleeves, collars, and the body of a sweater. Circular knitting needles may also be used for knitting back and forth. The size on knitting needle required for a project is specified in the project instructions.
What is "gauge" and how is it determined?
Gauge is the number of stitches and rows in every inch of knitting. Each pattern you use should have a required gauge listed in order to determine the finished size of the project. It is very important that you make a gauge swatch and match it with the gauge specified in the project pattern because everyone knits differently. You may find that if you knit loosely, you may have to use a needle or hook smaller than the pattern specifies. Or if you knit tightly, you may need to use a needle or hook larger than the pattern specifies.
What does yarn weight mean?
Yarn weight is described in five basic categories:
Baby/fingering
Sport/baby
Worsted weight
Chunky
Bulky
Each of these has a different thickness, and if you were to have equal lengths of them they would all generally weigh more or less than the other, which is the "weight". Fingering is the finest. The term "ply," means to the number of smaller strands that were spun together to form the yarn. Yarn is made of different things, synthetic, natural, and even metallic. That is the "fiber content". Weight, ply, and fiber content are almost always found on the label wrapped around skeins or attached to balls.