Tying Up Loose Ends

By: Ha Tien Nguyen

Book: Knitting for Dummies by Pam Allen, Shannon Okey, and Tracy Barr 

To finish your knitted piece, you have to bind off, which is securing the stitches in the last row worked so that they don't unravel. Binding off can be done in a variety of ways, each resulting in a different look. Knowing a couple of the available methods can help you choose the right one for your project. 

Standard Bind-off:

1. "Knit the first 2 stitches from the left needle.

2. With your left needle in front of your right needle, insert the left needle into the first stitch worked on the right needle. 

3. Bring this loop over the second stitch and off the tip of the right needle- sort of like leapfrogging over the stitch.

4. Knit the next stitch on the left needle so that you again have 2 stitches on your right needle. 

5. Repeat Steps 2 through 4 until you have 1 stitch remaining on your right needle.

6. Cut the yarn 6 inches form the needle and pull the tail through the last stitch to lock it"(Allen, Okey, Barr 77). 

Yarn-over Bind-off:

1. "Knit 1 stitch, yarn over the right needle, and then knit 1 more stitch.

2. With your left needle in front of your right needle, insert the left needle into the yarn over on the right needle. 

3. Bring this loop over the second stitch (the last stitch knit) and off the tip of the right needle. 

4. With your left needle in front of your right needle, insert the left needle into the first stitch on the right needle.

5. Bring this loop over the second stitch on the needle, leaving 1 stitch on the right needle.

6. Yarn over the right needle and knit 1.

7. Repeat steps 2 through 6 until you have 1 stitch remaining on your right needle. 

8. Cut the yarn 6 inches from the needle and pull the tail through the last stitch to lock it"(Allen, Okey, Barr 76).

Tying up loose ends is the last step and the most satisfying step of a knitting project. Unfortunately, I still haven't finished my scarf project and won't get to experience that rewarding moment. But that's not to say that I haven't enjoyed every step of the journey. I've learned many things during this process and I'm glad that I've gotten to learn how to knit. During the past few months, I've found that I really enjoy the hobby. It's brought me both great joy and frustration. Often, I would look forward to the time I spent with my knitting needles and my ball of yarn. It was the only time I got to step back from the stress and the chaos to reflect on my thoughts and immerse in the silence. I'd say that the art of knitting was my true accomplishment and the scarf is just an afterthought. Would you agree that when you make something, the skill is the true achievement while the actual product is the bonus? 

Works Cited

Allen, Pam. Knitting for Dummies. John Wiley, 2014.

Techniques Every Knitter Should Know

By: Ha Tien Nguyen

Book: Knitting for Dummies by Pam Allen, Shannon Okey, and Tracy Barr 

Often times, you may encounter knitting projects that requires more than the basic continuous purl and knit stitches. For more complicated projects, you may need to manipulate stitches by making increases and decreases.

Slipping Stitches

 If your directions tell you to slip a stitch (abbreviated sl st), they mean for you to move a stitch from the left-hand needle to the right-hand needle without knitting or purling it and without changing its orientation. Slipped stitches are used in a number of ways. This technique is used as a method to decrease the number of stitches on your needle. They also form the basis of a family of stitch patterns like the garter stitch (Allen, Okey, Barr 88). 

Steps of slipping stitches:

1. "Insert the right needle, as if you were going to purl, into the first stitch on the left needle.

2. Slip the stitch off the left needle onto the right needle" (Allen, Okey, Barr 88).

Yarn Overs

A yarn over (abbreviated yo) is a way of making an extra stitch on your needle and creating a deliberate little hole in your fabric. This technique are used for lace knitting, decorative increases, buttonholes, and novelty stitch patterns(Allen, Okey, Barr 88).

Between 2 knit stitches:
To make a yarn over between 2 knit stitches, follow these steps...
1. "Knit the first stitch
2. Bring the yarn forward between the needles into purl position.
3. Knit the next stitch on the needle" (Allen, Okey, Barr 89).

Between 2 purl stitches:
To make a yarn over between 2 purl stitches, do the following...
1. "Purl the first stitch
2. Wrap the yarn around the right needle front to back to front so that it ends up in purl position again.
3. Purl the next stitch" (Allen, Okey, Barr 90).

Although my project did not require me to use these skills, it was fun expanding my knowledge of knitting. I hope to place this knowledge into use with a future project. As I'm learning more about knitting and knitting techniques, I've realized that knitting is actually very flexible. There are multiple ways you can accomplish a look and missing a step or making a mistake wasn't that grave. I recommend experimenting and exploring after you've felt comfortable with the basics. I myself am beginning to experiment with different knitting techniques and methods. What would you like to explore in your real life?

Works Cited

Allen, Pam. Knitting for Dummies. John Wiley, 2014.