Knitting is no longer considered a boring activity, suitable only for “blue stockings” and their grandmothers. This type of needlework confidently occupies a leading position in the lists of hobbies and crafts around the world. Knitwear creations are not only traditional shawls, socks and mittens: now dresses, coats, jewelry, shoes and even swimwear can be knitted.
For many girls, the motivation for learning to knit is the opportunity to dress their four-legged friends.
Warm clothes in pet stores are expensive, and a skein of yarn, simple calculations and a simple knitting pattern can save several times.
First steps: where to start
Those who want to learn knitting can find a bunch of useful tips. Many pages of women's online magazines are full of photographs, diagrams and step-by-step descriptions of the manufacture of a product.
The lion's share of the success of a knitting project is in the proper selection of yarn. Do not rush to the cheapest samples, arguing that for study this will do. The concept of "quality of the thread" includes a description of the following parameters:
- The percentage of natural and artificial fibers.
- Torsion density.
- The strength of the yarn.
- Uniform texture and dyeing (no thickening of the thread and multi-colored in skeins with the same marking).
- The quality of the natural materials used (plant and animal origin).
Using good yarn, even the simplest knitting scheme will help you create a truly worthwhile item.
Knitting needles and density
At the next stage, you need to choose a suitable tool - knitting needles. They should be selected taking into account the type of product that will be connected by them, and the thickness of the selected yarn. Optimal is the use of knitting needles of the same thickness as the thread (the size in millimeters can be determined by attaching to the ruler). The thickness of the spokes printed by the manufacturer on their packaging is indicated in millimeters.
In addition, the label on almost any skein of yarn gives recommendations regarding the size of the knitting needles. Most beginners, until they get used to holding knitting needles in their hands, often knit too tight. Therefore, it makes sense to choose a needle of a slightly larger caliber than indicated in the recommendations, then when knitting the fabric, the loops will be larger and it will be easier to knit.
Following these tips and choosing simple knitting patterns for beginners, you can quickly achieve tangible results.
Simple
If you have all the necessary materials, you can proceed directly to knitting. As a first product, many experienced knitters recommend choosing a scarf, since its direct fabric does not require complex calculations and manipulations with adding / decreasing loops.
In the category “The simplest knitting scheme for a scarf with knitting needles”, various types of elastic bands definitely win. Their essence lies in the combination of front and back loops. Various other patterns of these elements are also good.
The most common pattern remains 1: 1 gum (one front loop, one wrong loop). However, a scarf tied in such a way may come out too dense and tough, so it is better to consider the possibility of using a 2: 2 elastic band or an English one (including crochets).
How to learn to read knitting patterns
To understand the patterns for knitting is not difficult. On the field marked with cells, there are icons and symbols that indicate each loop that needs to be knitted. One icon can replace one or more loops.
Some symbols have become almost universally accepted, many publications use them in the same interpretation, others may be a personal invention of the circuit designer. In any case, a decryption of symbols is placed near each scheme.
The diagrams show the beginning of knitting, its direction and rapport (a repeating element of each pattern).
The horizontal rows in the diagram correspond to the rows of a knitted fabric. Often, patterns of simple
knitting patterns are limited to the image of only even or odd rows forming the front side of the knitting. In other rows, all the loops are knitted as they see (front or back). But in some complex schemes, the formation of the pattern occurs due to work with all rows of the canvas.
Scarf in one evening
To delve deeper into the knitting process and quickly get a visible result, it is advisable to use bulk yarn. You can take a smooth thread with uniform torsion or choose a “fantasy” thread with thin and wide sections. When using such a yarn, even a simple knitting scheme will allow you to quickly get an interesting fabric.
To knit a scarf, you will need to dial the calculated number of loops and knit a fabric of the required length using the selected pattern.
Work with a sample
The number of loops can be calculated by knitting a sample from the thread that will be used to manufacture the product.
Even if the knit density is indicated on the skein label, this figure is very inaccurate. It depends on:
- the density of the knitting of a particular craftswoman;
- type and size of the selected knitting needles;
- applied pattern.
The resulting sample must be washed, then stretched and pinned to a horizontal surface with pins.
Thus, drying out, the canvas will not sit down and become even. An alternative to washing can be steam ironing with a steam effect, but for beginners this method is not recommended due to the presence of many nuances.
The dried sample is measured, the number of loops and rows per 10 cm (in width and in height) is calculated and how many loops the web should contain.
Avoiding Basic Beginners Mistakes
Even a large-diameter tool, thick yarn and a simple knitting pattern do not guarantee automatic, trouble-free scarf manufacturing. These factors can significantly facilitate the work of the knitter, but a successful result also requires attention, patience and perseverance.
Among the aspects requiring the most diligence, we can list:
- Strict adherence to the scheme (without arrogance and neglect of errors).
- Timely correction of committed inaccuracies (opening and dressing).
- Compliance with the original number of loops.
- Accurate design of the edge of the product.
- Compliance with the same density of knitting of the entire fabric.
- Aesthetic appearance of the first and last rows, as well as the tipped ends of the cut threads.
As for the last point, it is best to thread the ends of the threads into a knitted fabric with a large needle. So they will not knock out even after washing.
Knitting openwork patterns
Having mastered the knitting world, you can begin to manufacture openwork products. This type of knitting involves holes in the fabric. If we are talking about summer things made of cotton or viscose, then the openwork cloth can be almost transparent, consisting of a large number of holes.
Since the recommendations in this article are addressed to beginners, here you should consider simple openwork knitting. Schemes of such patterns necessarily include yarn. Knitted in the back rows, they just form an openwork. Also, a technique appears in which two loops are knitted together.
You can practice on such schemes that offer a solid pattern in combination with small elements of lace, then it’s worth moving on to more complex options.
As well as solid, simple openwork patterns for knitting, patterns and descriptions have reports and repeating elements. After knitting several rows, the craftswoman remembers these elements and almost automatically follows the specified algorithm.
The finished product should be treated in the same way as the sample for calculating the loops (wash, lay out and dry). After these events, the knitting is leveled, the thing becomes soft and takes on the necessary shape.
Gift from the heart
With due attention to the choice of yarn, work tools and the model of the future product, a simple knitting scheme will allow you to create a unique product that will become the favorite highlight of the wardrobe of the knitter. In addition, the popularity of needlework gives added value to handmade gifts. Therefore, even with minimal experience in knitting, you can make great gifts for relatives, friends or loved ones.
Regardless of the type of knitting, hand-made products require specific care: gentle washing with special products in warm (not hot) water, drying in a horizontal position, and avoiding stretching. Compliance with these requirements will significantly increase the service life of knitted items.