Techniques

The following are techniques and abbreviations you will often find in my patterns:

Casting On:
  • “knitting on” cast-on method: Insert RN into st on LN and work just as you would if you were knitting it, but do not pull st off needle– instead, place new st onto left needle. You can learn more about this technique here.
Binding Off:
  • Three Needle Bind Off: With the right sides of the two pieces to be seamed facing each other, insert a 3rd needle into the first stitch on both needles. Knit these two stitches together (one stitch is now on the 3rd needle). Do this one more time so there are 2 stitches on the 3rd needle. Lift the first stitch over the 2nd stitch and off the needle to bind off. Continue until all stitches are bound off and one stitch remains on the 3rd needle. Cut the yarn and pull the tail through the last stitch.
Decreasing:
  • ssk: Slip the next 2 sts knitwise one at a time. Insert LN into front of both sts and k them together (1 st dec’d)
  • k2tog: Knit next 2 sts together (1 st dec’d)
  • skp: slip 1 st knitwise, k1, pass slipped st over (1 st dec’d)
  • Decrease Bind Off: *k 2 sts together through the back loop, return this st to the left needle; repeat from * until 1 st remains. Cut yarn and pull through last st to secure.
Increasing:
  •  YO: yarn over (bring yarn to front of work)
  • m1-R: With LN pick up strand in between 2 sts from back to front. Knit into front of this st with RN (1 st inc’d)
  • m1-L: With LN pick up strand in between 2 sts from front to back. Knit into back of this st with RN (1 st inc’d)
Underarm Divide:
Other Techniques
  • Wrap & Turn WYIF: With yarn in front, slip next st purlwise onto RN, move yarn to back of work, return slipped st to LN, move yarn to front of work, turn work
  • Wrap & Turn WYIB: With yarn in back, slip next st purlwise onto RN, move yarn to front of work, return slipped st to LN, move yarn to back of work, turn work
  • Knitting wraps as you reach them: After a series of short rows is complete you will be instructed to work across the row, “knitting wraps as you reach them.” This means that when you reach the stitch that was wrapped (during the “wrap and turn”), you insert the right needle first into the wrap, and then into the stitch itself, knitting the two together.
  • Purling wraps as you reach them: After a series of short rows is complete you will be instructed to work across the row, “purling wraps as you reach them.” This means to when you reach a stitch that was wrapped (during the “wrap and turn”), you insert the RN into the wrap from back to front, place it onto the LN, then purl the 2 sts together
  • I-cord: Using one double-pointed needle (dpn), cast on the number of sts as instructed in the pattern. Knit to end. Instead of flipping work over like you usually would to work the next rw, slide the sts to the other end of the needle and knit the rw again. Continue in this manner until instructed length is reached.
  • Switching Colors Every 2 Rows: When instructed in pattern to switch colors every 2 rows you do not have to cut the yarn each time. Simply keep one of the colors hanging while you work the other. When it’s time to switch, carry the yarn that has been hanging up the side of your work, giving a little tug (but not too tight as that will cause bunching)
 Elizabeth Zimmerman Phony Seam Technique:

This technique is used in my pattern Freeport and allows you to create a fake seam in a seamless garment. You can learn more about it in Elizabeth Zimmerman’s book “Knitting Without Tears.” Here is an explanation as well as photos:
a) When instructed in pattern (on a WS row):*k to marker, remove marker, flip work over so RS of work is facing you, slip “seam st” off right needle, remove next marker
b) Unravel “seam st” all the way to bottom, right above cast on row
c) Put a crochet hook through the first unraveled row at the bottom
d) Hook the 2 above unraveled rows through the first
e) Hook the 1 above unraveled row through it
f) Continue in this manner, hooking 2 unraveled rows, then 1 unraveled row through the seam stitch until you reach the top, pm on right needle, slip stitch onto right needle. Place 2nd marker on right needle. Flip work over, sm, knit the seam st; then repeat from * (a-f) once (to complete the phoney seam st on the other side), k to end