How to knit a hollow elastic band: tips for beginners

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:35

When a craftswoman decides to knit a sweater, she is faced with the problem of designing the cuffs and neck. A simple ribbing stretches easily and the edge is too flat, and knitting double the length of the element and folding it after is not a good idea, because there is a hollow ribbing. How to knit this element, why it is needed, and what is needed for this, can be found in this article.

What is this?

Hollow elastic band is a part of the product that has a double thickness. It consists of two layers of stocking knitting, fastened together only along the perimeter (for straight knitting) or along the lower and upper edges (when knitting a hollow elastic band with knitting needles in a circle). A feature of this technique is that both fabrics are knitted at the same time, but at the same time the element cannot be called an elastic band, since it stretches exactly the same as the product knitted by alternating rows of knit and purl loops.

Application

Hollow elastic is used when knitting a collar, cuffs, bottom of the product, as well as belts, valves and other elements. If necessary, a traditional elastic band can be inserted inside such parts. In addition, using this technique, you can knit double mittens, hats and scarves. You can beautifully decorate the edge of the cap without a lapel by completing the first 2-4 rows with a hollow elastic band. In this case, the edge will be more voluminous and neat.

Tools and materials

In order to knit a hollow elastic band, both straight and circular, you will need smaller knitting needles than for the main fabric. You will also need a marker for the beginning of the row (for circular) and yarn. Its consumption will be 2 times more than when knitting a simple fabric of the same size.

Flat elastic

And yet, how to knit a hollow elastic band? Simple enough. First you need to dial loops. You can choose any method of dialing, as a rule, each master has his own, the most comfortable one. The number of loops should be twice as many as with a simple knit.

First row: remove the selvedge, then knit all even ones, and remove all odd ones without knitting, while throwing the thread in front of them, as when knitting purl loops. The last loop should always be purl.

Second row: remove the edge, remove even loops, as in the first row, and knit the odd ones with front loops.

Further all odd rows knit as the first, and even - as the second. Thus, those loops that were removed in one row are knitted in the next and vice versa. Importantmake sure that the same loop is not knitted in both an even and an odd row.

If you remove the knitting needles without closing, you will see that the blank has the shape of a pocket.

Elastic band

Knitting a hollow rib with knitting needles in a circle is a little more difficult than a straight version. In this case, you will need knitting needles (5 pcs.) And a marker.

Cast on stitches, divide them into 4 needles equally. To connect them in a circle, you need to get one more additional loop, after which move the first loop from the first to the fourth knitting needle, stretching through the additional one.

Knit the first row as in the straight version, alternating knit and slip stitches.

Second row - odd loops that were removed in the last row, knit purl, and even - remove, placing the thread behind the working canvas.

Next, alternate even and odd rows.

Knitted double hollow elastic in this case looks like a pipe folded in half. If desired, it can be unrolled into a long single-layer sleeve.

Transition

Craftswomen may face another problem of how to close the hollow elastic band.

There are 2 ways to complete the item:

Last row knit 2 stitches together, then close as a simple canvas

If you turn the product over, then on the other hand, closing the loops in the first way will look like this:

Make reductions immediately upon closing. Knit three loops together, throw the resulting loop from the working knitting needle tothe rest, then again knit 3 loops together

Closing loops 3 together from the reverse side also looks quite neat. You can see for yourself:

Also, there may be difficulties with the transition from a simple canvas to an elastic band and vice versa. Since more loops are needed to knit a hollow elastic than a simple knit, it is necessary to double the number of loops for the transition. To increase in the first row, the elastic bands are knitted with facial yarns, and the loops of the base are removed without knitting. To reduce the loops (transition from elastic to the main fabric), it is enough to knit two loops together. If you knit loops without reductions, you can get quite puffy sleeves. Also, do not make any reductions if the hollow elastic turns into a classic one.

To decorate the hollow neckline, it is necessary to cast loops around the perimeter on circular knitting needles, immediately making the required number of additions. In this case, as a rule, the number of loops does not double, but increases by 2/3 or 1/2 of the original. With this set of gates, it will be better to fit to the body. The exact number of loops can be calculated by first knitting a sample and attaching it to the neck. The armhole of the vest is processed according to the same principle.

If you knit two-layer mittens with a hollow elastic band, then when casting on the loops of the thumb, it is necessary to observe as much as possible whether the loops belong to the outer or inner layer so that the junction of the elements is not so obvious.

And how to knit a hollow elastic band so that it is not only double, but also directly elastic? The scheme will be something like this.

Loop number	Edge	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Note
1 row	Remove	L	0	&	0	L	0	&	0	L	&	Expand work
2 row	Remove	0	&	0	L	0	&	0	L	0	&	Expand work
3 row	Remove	L	0	&	0	L	0	&	0	L	&	Expand work
4 row	Remove	0	&	0	L	0	&	0	L	0	&	Expand work

L - knit, I - purl, 0 - transfer the untied loop to the working knitting needle.

So that the elastic does not bulge, but lies flat and compact enough, the column of front loops in the outer layer should be adjacent to the columns of purl loops of the inner layer.

Knitting a hollow elastic band is basic, butoptional skills for working with knitting needles. However, the use of this technique makes the product more stylish and modern.