Pages

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

ColourSpun In Stitches - Cabled Basket Weave Stitch



This easy cable stitch pattern is worked over 4 sts and 4 rows and produces a thick, stable fabric. Make it even more interesting by working with more than one colour.

You will need:
ColourSpun Yarn of your choice available from www.colourspun.com
Knitting needles to suite your yarn

Abbreviations
C/on cast on
C/off cast off
C4B Slip next 2 sts onto a cable needle and hold at back of work, K2, K2 from cable needle
C4F Slip next 2 sts onto a cable needle and hold at front of work, K2, K2 from cable needle
K knit
Sts stitches

Instructions
C/on a number of stitches divisible by 4
Row1: C4F; repeat to end of row
Row 2 and 4: Purl
Row 3: K2; (C4B) to last 2 sts; K2
Repeat rows 1 - 4 for pattern as many times as needed.
C/off.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

ColourSpun In Stitches - Tunisian Bobbles



Tunisian Bobble Stitch produces a fabric that looks equally good on both sides. It is worked on a Tunisian/Afghan hook which looks like a knitting needle with a hook instead of a point on the one end and a stopper on the other. These hooks come in different sizes for use with different yarn weights. For the sample here, I worked each row in a different colour.

You will need:
Yarn in various colours – I used ColourSpun Kid Mohair available from www.colourspun.com
1 x 8mm Tunisian hook

Notes

1. Each row of Tunisian crochet is worked in 2 parts – a cast on row and a cast off row and unlike other forms of crochet, the work is never turned so you will always have the same side facing you.
2. The 1st stitch of every cast on row is always worked into the 2nd vertical bar of the previous cast on row (your final loop of the previous cast off row is in the 1st vertical bar)
3. Every piece of Tunisian crochet starts with a crochet foundation chain, followed by a foundation row. This is always the same.
Foundation Row
Cast on row: Insert hook into the second chain from the hook, *wrap the yarn (from back to front) over the hook and pull through leaving the new loop on the hook; insert the hook into the next chain* repeat from *to* to end
Cast off row: wrap the yarn over the hook and pull through the first loop on the hook;* wrap the yarn over the hook and pull through the first 2 loops on the hook* repeat from *to* until there is only one loop left on the hook.
4. Unless stated differently in the pattern, the closing/cast off part of every row is the same – see the instructions above for cast off
5. The final row of your work will be a cast on row worked in the same stitch as the piece you have made, (for this sample it will be in TKS) but instead of keeping each loop on the hook it will be drawn through the previous loop, leaving only 1 loop on the hook after each stitch is worked.
Final Row
Insert the hook from front to back between the strands of the next vertical bar; wrap the yarn over the hook and pull the loop through 1 loop on hook.
6. TKS Tunisian Knit Stitch
Insert the hook from front to back between the strands of the next vertical bar; wrap the yarn over the hook and pull the loop through leaving the new loop on the hook, repeat for each TKS
7. TDS Tunisian Double Stitch
Wrap the yarn over the hook, insert the hook from front to back between the strands of the next vertical bar; wrap the yarn over the hook and pull the loop through, wrap the yarn over the hook and pull through 2 loops on hook
8. TBS Tunisian Bobble Stitch
Work 3 TDS into the same vertical bar, wrap the yarn over the hook and pull through 3 loops on hook


Instructions
Start with a crochet foundation chain of a multiple of 4 + 5 chain
Work a foundation row
Row 1: TKS; TBS; (3TKS; TBS) to last 2 stitches, 2TKS; close.
Row 2: TKS to end; close
Row 3: (3TKS; TBS) to last 4 stitches, 4TKS; close
Row 4: TKS to end; close
Repeat rows 1 – 4 for pattern.
End with final row.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

ColourSpun In Stitches - Mitred Square



This is the most basic square used in modular knitting. Each square shape is knit by casting on an odd number of stitches then decreasing 2 stitches in the middle of every 2nd (wrong side) row until you run out of stitches.
The size of each square is determined by the number of stitches cast on (and/or picked up) in the beginning. This will always be an odd number of stitches as follows: X +1 + X.
Squares can be knit individually and then stitched together or knit onto each other by picking up X number of stitches and then casting on X + 1

You will need
Yarn of your choice – I used Regia Hand-dye Effect
Knitting needles to suit your yarn

Abbreviations
c/on cast on
c/off cast off
st/s stitch/es
dec. Decrease – slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over
p/up pick up

Instructions

Note Always knit the first stitch of every row through the back of the loop and slip the last stitch purl wise.

For this example X = 20

Row 1: C/on or p/up 41 sts
Row 2: (WS) Work 19 sts; dec.; work 19 sts - 39 sts
Row 3: Work straight
Row4: Work 18 sts; dec.; work 18 sts – 37 sts
Row 5: Work straight
Row6: Work 17 sts; dec.; work 17 sts – 35 sts
Continue pattern as set until 1 st remains, end off.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

ColourSpun In Stitches - Mock Cable


This is a great way to add a cable effect to your knitting without using a cable needle, which makes it quick and easy too.

You will need:
ColourSpun – Yarn of your choice available from www.colourspun.com
Knitting needles to suit your yarn

Abbreviations
C/on cast on
C/off cast off
K knit
K2tog knit the following 2 stitches together
P purl
Sts stitches

Instructions
C/on a number of stitches divisible by 8
Row1: (K3; P2; K3) – to end
Row 2: (P3; K2; P3) – to end
Row 3: Repeat row 1
Row 4: *P3; (K2tog; leave stitches on the left-hand needle; K into the 1st stitch again and slide both off needle); P3* - repeat from * to * to end of row.
These 4 rows make the pattern, knit until your work reaches the desired length.
C/off

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

ColourSpun In Stitches - Tunisian Knit Stitch





Tunisian Knit Stitch produces a fabric that looks very much like knitted stocking stitch but the finished fabric is much thicker, it’s no wonder that so many people consider Tunisian a cross between knitting and crochet. It is worked on a Tunisian/Afghan hook which looks like a knitting needle with a hook instead of a point on the one end and a stopper on the other. These hooks come in different sizes for use with different yarn weights. Each row of Tunisian crochet is worked in 2 parts – a cast on row and a cast off row and unlike other forms of crochet, the work is never turned so you will always have the same side facing you. Just like knitted stocking stitch, Tunisian knit stitch fabric will roll and will need to be blocked when completed.

You will need:
ColourSpun Yarn of your choice – available from www.colourspun.com
1 x Tunisian hook to suit your yarn

Instructions
Start with a crochet foundation chain
Row 1:
Cast on row: Insert hook into the second chain from the hook, *wrap the yarn (from back to front) over the hook and pull through leaving the new loop on the hook; insert the hook into the next chain* repeat from *to* to end
Cast off row: wrap the yarn over the hook and pull through the first loop on the hook;* wrap the yarn over the hook and pull through the first 2 loops on the hook* repeat from *to* until there is only one loop left on the hook.
Row 2:
Cast on row: Insert the hook from front to back between the strands the second vertical bar of the previous row, wrap the yarn over the hook and pull the loop through leaving the new loop on the hook; *insert the hook from front to back between the strands of the next vertical bar; wrap the yarn over the hook and pull the loop through leaving the new loop on the hook * repeat from *to* to end
Cast off row: wrap the yarn over the hook and pull through the first loop on the hook;* wrap the yarn over the hook and pull through the first 2 loops on the hook* repeat from *to* until there is only one loop left on the hook.

Repeat row 2 - (for however many rows you need) then work a row of single crochet to end off.

Darn in ends.

Tunisian knit stitch is ideal for any project that required a thick fabric – cushions, handbags etc.


Tuesday, February 21, 2017

ColourSpun In Stitches - Box Stitch







Using only simple knit and purl stitches, this pattern produces a double sided, textured fabric that is wonderful for scarves and throws.

You will need
ColourSpun Yarn of your choice available from www.colourspun.com
Knitting needles to suite your yarn

Abbreviations
C/on cast on
C/off cast off
K knit
P purl
Sts stitches

Instructions
C/on a multiple of 4 + 2 sts
Row 1: k2, (p2, k2) to end
Row 2: p2, (k2, p2) to end
Row 3: Repeat Row 2
Row 4: Repeat Row 1
Repeat rows 1 to 4 as many times as necessary
C/off

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

ColourSpun In Stitches - Knit Intarsia




It's Valentines month and so I thought you may like a quick little heart to knit into a gift for someone you love. This one uses intarsia, which is easier than it sounds, just make sure you keep your tension even when changing colour.

Also Known as picture knitting, intarsia knitting involves working sections of colour with separate balls or bobbins of yarn to produce a fabric that is only one layer thick as the non working yarn is not carried across the back. Instead, at each colour change the old colour is dropped and the next colour is picked up to work the next section. This means that you will have lots of bits of yarn hanging off your work. To prevent tangles, avoid working with whole balls of yarn; rather wind your yarn off onto bobbins which can hold the yarn not in use close to the work to prevent tangles. When changing colours, to prevent holes forming, drop the old colour and pick the new colour up from underneath the old yarn, wrapping it over the old yarn to hold it in place before continuing to knit. At each colour change, give the yarn a little tug to keep the stitch size uniform.

Intarsia is usually worked flat in stocking stitch from a charted pattern. I photo copy the pattern and place it in a plastic sleeve; then use a permanent marker to draw a line through the rows as they are completed, making it easy to see where I need to pick up the pattern.

You will need:
2 balls of ColourSpun yarn in different colours –colour A (background) and colour B (heart) available from www.colourspun.com
5 knitting bobbins (wooden pegs also work well)
1 pair knitting needles to suit your yarn

Instructions:
Wind 3 bobbins of colour A - 2 quite full and one with only a little on which will be used in the centre at the top of the heart.
Wind 2 bobbins of colour B – 1 full and one with only a little on for one side of the top of the heart.

Cast on 35 stitches
Rows 1 – 4: knit
Row 5: (Wrong side) K3; P29; K3
Row 6: knit
Repeat rows 5 and 6 twenty more times working in colour pattern from graph
Row 47- 49: knit
Cast off purl wise.

Note: The heart pattern starts on row 7.

Darn in ends – keeping colour A in colour A stitches and colour B in colour B stitches to prevent the ends showing on the front of your work.