Classic Knit Stitch. Garter stitch
Beginner Knitting Lessons, Part 4
At this lesson, we will learn how to make the knit stitches in a classic technique, how to form the side edge of the knitted cloth and create the garter stitch.
After you have finished casting on, pull out one needle. Slip the first (edge) stitch from the left needle on the right one.
Now let’s make the knit stitch.
Classic Knit Stitch
Knit stitches may be made in different ways. A classic method is the most popular one. It allows obtaining the classic stitch with the parallel loops, where the right loop of stitch is located in the front. When knitting classic stitches, be sure to get beautiful patterns with no distortion to your cloth. In fact, the patterns and descriptions in books and magazines are meant for classic stitches. And if the stitch is to be made in other way – it is stipulated separately. So, let’s begin.
Insert the right needle into the stitch through the front loop, from left to right. The working yarn shall stay behind the work.
Catch the working yarn from the index finger from the top down and pull it through the stitch. Slip the stitch of the previous row from the left needle.
Continue working until the end of the row.
The technique of making a classic knit stitch is shown on the pattern:
Working the Side Edge (border)
There are several ways for creating the side edge. They vary in their appearance and techniques. Let’s review the method, which will be the most demanded – creation of a side edge in the form of cable. In this case, the side edge turns out neat and you can easily sew together details of work.
After you have made the first row of stitch, turn your work. As we have already said at the second lesson, if you make a knit stitch, it will be a purl stitch on the reverse side. So, you have the first stitch of the row on your needle – a purl stitch. The first (edge) stitch shall not be worked: slip it and insert the right needle into the back loop of the stitch, from right to left. The working yarn shall be located on the left.
Then continue knit as usual. At the beginning of the next row, slip the edge stitch again. By repeating your row-by-row knitting, you will get the garter stitch. A cloth knitted using this pattern will be flexible and will keep its shape. It looks the same on both sides. Due to these properties, it has been traditionally used for knitting shawls.
Rule: to make a cable edge, slip the first stitch of the raw (if it is a purl stitch) through the back loop of the stitch.
That’s all for today. Continue knitting the cloth with the garter stitches until you feel confident enough and the work becomes smooth and good-looking. Also, try to knit swatches with different size needles and select swatch which suits you the best: the one, that will allow to create the most smooth and beautiful cloth, not too loose but not too tight as well. At the next lesson, we will learn to close the final row of stitches using the main technique.
Important! The main problem of the beginning knitters is too tight working. Relax your hands and shoulder girdle. Don’t hurry up. You should knit your swatch until your stitches slip easily off from the needles and the knitted cloth becomes smooth, soft and elastic. The loop shall embrace the needle but move freely and effortlessly along it.
