Learning to knit (VI) : Reading instructions and diagrams, part 1

    Before beginning with the stitch pattern collection, I am going to explain you what you can find when you read a knitting pattern. There are a lot of things that can be explained in a pattern, apart from the stitch used. If the stitch they’re knitting a common one, like garter or seed stitch, they will just name it. In the case of being a lace or fantasy stitch, they will explain you how to knit it.

    Sometimes basics and the more common stitches, as well as the stitches used in the patterns, can be found at the beginning of the instructions. You will have to come to this point when reading the pattern.

    I will tell you now different kind of information you can find in the patterns. Maybe you will not find all this information, but that would be not a problem, as you don’t need all these to knit your garment. Likewise, you can find any other information I have forgotten now. If you have any doubt when reading a pattern, ask me.

    I have split this entry in two for you not to get tired reading.

• Difficulty. The difficulty of the work is usually signalled. It can be indicated in writing (easy, medium, hard) or by a graphic scale, usually made of small skeins. The more skeins, the more difficult the work is.

  

  Pattern difficulty

• Size. For the yarn and needles used, the size obtained with the pattern will be indicated. If the instructions are written for different sizes, they will explain how the different sizes are indicated. They usually put the number of stitches, or inches for each size separating them with dashes, bars or brackets.

                       Example: Sizes 3 months (6 months) 9 months

                       Cast on 120 stitches (140 stitches) 160 stitches. Knit for 5 inches (7 inches) 10 inches.

• Materials. The yarn employed will be indicated. Besides the type of yarn, the brand and the name of the trademark. (Nature Medium from DMC, Canada from Katia. Some magazines always use the same brand, or are even edited by a brand). They will also tell us either the yarn weight or the number of skeins needed to finish the work. If any additional material is needed, like a yarn needle or buttons, they will also indicate it at this point.

• Gauge. This information is not always available and is really useful. We are not always using the same yarn as the pattern is using, because we can’t find that specific yarn, or because we like another one. The gauge will tell us the size of a number of stitches and rows knitted with the stitch used. To knit the gauge, you should cast-on 5 to 10 more stitches than needed, and knit 5 to 10 more rows than needed. Then, you measure a centered square (usually 4”x4”, 10x10 cm) and count the stitches and rows used for knitting that square. If you compare the measure of our gauge with the measures given in the pattern, we can adjust the number of stitches to cast-on, or the needles size (or both) for the final measurements of the garment to fit us. If we find that in the 4” knitted we have more stitches than the ones indicated in the pattern, we will have to use thicker needles (and vice versa). Changing the needle size will also change the tension of the garment, so we will have to take this into account. Maybe we would prefer to change the number of stitches in order to maintain a specific tension.

• Stitches to be used. Sometimes different stitches can be employed in different parts of the work. Maybe the finishing is different from the body. They can indicate it here. If the stitches are not the basic ones, they will explain how to knit them. They can be explained in writing or using a diagram. I will explain this in the second part of this entry.

• Directions. Here we will find the instructions to knit the garment. They will tell us the number of stitches to cast-on, the stitch to be used, the number of rows or the number of inches to be knitted with each stitch. Commonly abbreviations are used. They are usually listed at the beginning of the instructions. Although they are conventionally the same, there can be variations that can confuse us. If you want, I will make an entry with the most common abbreviations used.

• Dressmaking and finishing. If you are knitting a garment composed by different pieces, they will tell us here how to join those pieces. We will usually find a drawing with the pieces and their measurements. They will tell us if we just sew the pieces and they will advise how to do it. If any finishing is needed, like a crochet ending once sewed, they will also tell us here. For example, we can knit the collar of a sweater in the different pieces, and then we sew the pieces. Or we can knit the pieces without collar, then sew the pieces, and knit the collar. If blocking is needed, they will also tell us here (blocking…it deserves its own entry).

  

  Pieces drawing and their measurements depending on the size.

    And I think that’s all you can find in a knitting pattern. I will explain how you will find the explanation of the stitches, in writing or in a diagram, in the second part of this entry.

    Will you be able to wait until next week?