Video Knitting Course: Charts Demystified
Charts are full of symbols that can be confusing and hard to remember. But they also allow you to knit complex patterns easily. With over 7 hours of video, our Charts Demystified video class teaches you everything you need to know about knitting from knit-and-purl, lace, cable, Fair-Isle, Intarsia, double-knitting, duplicate stitch, and Mosaic charts so that you can approach any charted pattern with confidence.
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Video Knitting Course: Video Knitting Dictionary
Baffled by an abbreviation in your pattern? Demos of 30+ abbreviations help you knit correctly.
Definition: Back Loop
The leg of the stitch that is behind the needle. In knitting instructions the back loop is referred to in the abbreviation tbl (through the back loop).
Whichever leg is behind the needle is referred to as the back loop.
Definition: Beginning of Round
The place where you started the round. Usually your tail yarn can be found here.
Definition: Contrasting Color
The color of yarn that is not the main color. Often this is a secondary accent color, but not always. See main color, above.
Definition: Decrease
Combine two or more stitches into one so that your project gets narrower.
Definition: Gauge
“How big your stitches are and how big they should be to make your project come out the right size.
Gauge is measured in stitches per inch or as the number of stitches in 4 in./10 cm.”
Definition: Getting Gauge
Achieving the gauge called for in your pattern. To do so, make a swatch and check your gauge. If it does not match the gauge specified in your pattern, adjust your needle size up or down and knit a new swatch. Repeat this process until your gauge matches the target gauge.
Definition: In Pattern
According to the same stitch pattern you’ve been following.
Definition: Increase
Add more stitches to your needle to make your knitted project wider.
Definition: Knitwise
With the needle going into the stitch from front to back, as if to knit.
Contrast with Purlwise.
Definition: Leg
One half of a loop of yarn on the needle. The front leg is the half closest to the tip of the needle. The back leg is the half furthest from the needle tip.
Contrast this with back loop.
Definition: Main Color
The color of yarn that you or the pattern designer has designated as the main color. This color doesn’t necessarily have to be more dominant in the pattern than any other color. It’s just important to keep straight which one is which, usually by writing it down.
Definition: Multiple (Noun)
The number of stitches in a repeating section of a stitch pattern. Multiples are used to calculate various options for cast-on numbers, so that you can knit a stitch pattern in more than one width.
Definition: Purlwise
With the needle going into the stitch from back to front, as if to purl.
Contrast with knitwise.
Definition: Right Side
The side of your knitting intended to be visible when the project is worn.
Definition: Round (Noun)
The circular row of stitches formed when you work around your stitches one time. Applies to knitting in the round.
Definition: Stitch
A stitch is
- Any loop of yarn that is on your needle or
- Any loop of yarn that was on your needle and is now part of the knitted fabric.
In knitting patterns, “stitch” is abbreviated as “st” and “stitches” is abbreviated as “sts.”
Definition: Turn Work
To flip your knitting so that the other side is facing you. On flat knitting, you have to turn your work after you finish every row. In pattern instructions, “turn your work” is shortened to “turn.”
Definition: Work Even
Work the stitches exactly as they are: knit a knit stitch, purl a purl stitch, and slip a slipped stitch.
Definition: Wrong Side
The side of your knitting intended to be hidden when the project is worn
Definition: Yardage
Yarn length. This can refer to
1) How many yards of yarn a ball of yarn contains or
2) The length of yarn required to knit a project.
Blog Post: Why Gauge Matters and Needle Size Doesn’t
By Liat Gat – Founder / Gauge, Reading Knitting Patterns / December 17, 2010 / 42 CommentsIn knitting as in so many other pursuits, results matter. Whether you use a pattern’s suggested needle size or not, if your gauge is off, your garment won’t fit. The reason for this is because different people knit differently given the same needles.
Read Post »Blog Post: How To Read A Knitting Pattern: Substituting Yarn Fiber and Weight
By Liat Gat – Founder / Reading Knitting Patterns, Yarn / December 14, 2010 / 16 CommentsDon’t let not having the exact yarn called for in a pattern stop you from knitting that pattern! Here’s how to understand the yarn requirements of a pattern, and make substitutions in yarn brands, weight, and fiber.
Read Post »Blog Post: Three Reasons You Must Learn To Read a Knitting Pattern
By Liat Gat – Founder / Reading Knitting Patterns / August 17, 2010 / 14 CommentsLearning to read a knitting pattern is one of the most important things you can do to increase your confidence and enjoyment of knitting. Here are three reasons why learning to read patterns will help you grow as a knitter.
Read Post »Blog Post: How To Read A Knitting Pattern: Size, Measurements, and Ease
By Liat Gat – Founder / Reading Knitting Patterns / December 10, 2010 / 7 CommentsChoosing the right size of garment to knit when you begin your pattern involves understanding how measurements and ease work in knitting. Here’s how to understand the sizing section of your knitting pattern.
Read Post »Recommended Book: Complete Idiot’s Guide to Knitting and Crocheting by Barbara Breiter and Gail Diven
This is the book I used when I learned how to knit. It’s got tons of illustrations, straightforward explanations, and best practices for knitting correctly and understanding what you’re doing. A great starter text.
Buy Complete Idiot’s Guide to Knitting and Crocheting online
