Getting Started
 

 

  • Gather all the materials needed to complete your project.
  • Use the schematic drawing measurements to guide your size selection.
  • Read through the instructions; circle the numbers pertaining to your size. 

 
 Making a Slip Knot
 
The slip knot becomes the first stitch. Hold the tail end of the yarn in your palm with your thumb. Wrap the yarn from the ball twice around your index and middle fingers. Pull the strand attached to the ball through the loop between your two fingers, forming a new loop. Place the new loop on the needle. Tighten it by pulling on both ends of the yarn to form the slip knot. To prepare for casting on, leave an extra long tail when making the slip knot.
 Casting On
 

With a slip knot on the needle in your right hand, wind the tail end around your left thumb. Wrap yarn from the ball over left index finger. Hold both ends in your palm.

Insert the needle upwards in the loop on your thumb, then behind the loop on your index finger. Use the needle to draw the yarn up from the ball through the loop to form a stitch.

Take your thumb out of the loop and pull the tail end to tighten the stitch on the needle. Repeat steps 1 to 3 until the desired number of stitches are cast on.
        Making a Knit Stitch
 
The needle with the stitch is in your left hand, the first stitch near the tip. With the empty needle in your right hand, wrap the yarn around your fingers as shown. Insert the right needle from front to back into the first stitch on the left needle. Keep the right needle under the left needle and the yarn at the back.
Bring the yarn under and over the right needle, and pull it gently between the two needles. Use your right index finger to manipulate the yarn. With the right needle, catch the yarn and pull it through the stitch on the left needle. Slip the stitch off the left needle, leaving the new stitch on the right. Repeat steps 2 to 4 until all the new stitches are on the right needle.

                                                               Making a Purl Stitch

 
Hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand and the empty needle in your right hand. For the purl stitch, the yarn is held to the front of the work. Insert the right needle from back to front into the first stitch. The right needle is in front of the left needle, and the yarn is at the front of your work.
With your right index finger, wrap the yarn counter-clockwise around the right needle in a downward direction as shown. Draw the right needle and yarn backwards through the stitch on the left needle, forming a loop on the right needle. Slip the stitch off the left needle. Repeat steps 2 to 4 until all the new stitches are on the right needle.

 

 
 
BINDING OFF is the process of finishing off the edges of a garment to prevent it from unraveling. The most popular bind-off method for finishing knitting is: Knit two stitches. *Insert the point of the left-hand needle (LHN) into the first stitch on the right-hand needle (RHN). With the point of the LHN, pull this stitch over the second stitch on the RHN. You have completed one bind-off and one stitch remains on the RHN. Knit the next stitch. Repeat from the * until you have bound off the required number of stitches. When one stitch remains on the RHN, pull the yarn through the loop to fasten off.
Knit two stitches. *Insert the left-hand (LH) needle into the first stitch on the right needle. Pull this stich over the second stitch and off the right-hand (RH) needle. One stitch remains on the right needle as shown. Knit the next stitch. Repeat from the * in step 1 until you have bound off the required number of stitches. When one stitch remains on RHN, pull the yarn through the loop to fasten off.

  

The Gauge

Knitting gauge—the number of stitches and rows per inch—determines the size of the garment you are making. Every knitting pattern states the gauge, or “tension,” on which the sizing is based. For successful results, it is essential to test your knitting against this measurement before you start a project. Make a test swatch at least 4"/10cm square, using the yarn and needle size called for in the pattern. Then measure your swatch using a ruler or knit gauge tool. If the number of stitches and rows do not match the pattern’s gauge, you must change your needle size. An easy rule to follow is: TO GET FEWER STITCHES TO THE INCH/CM, USE A LARGER NEEDLE; TO GET MORE STITCHES TO THE INCH/CM, USE A SMALLER NEEDLE. Try different needle sizes until you get the proper gauge.

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