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.

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

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.

ColourSpun In Stitches - Slip Stitch Garter

Worked using 2 colours of yarn, this stitch pattern creates a textured pattern on both sides of your knitting.

You will need:
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
S1PW slip next stitch purl wise
YF bring yarn to front of work
YB take yarn to back of work
Sts stitches

Instructions
C/on an odd number of stitches
Row1 & 2: Using colour A, Knit
Row 3: Using colour B and keeping yarn at the back of work, K1; (S1PW; K1) to end
Row 4: Using colour B, K1; (YF; S1PW; YB; K1) to end
Repeat rows 1 – 4 for pattern.
C/off