The simplest knitting pattern: description, types and recommendations

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:47

Knitting is no longer considered a boring activity, suitable only for "blue stockings" and their grandmothers. This type of handicraft confidently occupies a leading position in the lists of hobbies and crafts around the world. Knitters' 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 to learn how to knit is to dress up their four-legged friends.

Warm clothing in pet stores is not cheap, 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 how to knit 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 particular product.

The lion's share of the success of a knitting project is in the right selection of yarn. You should not rush to the cheapest samples, arguing that this is also suitable for study. The concept of "thread quality"includes the characteristics of the following parameters:

• Percentage ratio of natural and artificial fibers.
• Torsion density.
• Yarn strength.
• Uniformity of texture and dyeing (no thickening of the thread and multicolor in skeins with the same marking).
• The quality of the natural materials used (plant and animal origin).

When using good yarn, even the simplest knitting pattern will create a really worthwhile thing.

Knitting needles and knitting density

The next step is to choose a suitable tool - knitting needles. They should be selected taking into account the type of product that will be connected with them, and the thickness of the selected yarn. It is considered optimal to use 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 needles, printed by the manufacturer on their packaging, is indicated exactly in millimeters.

In addition, the label of almost any skein of yarn gives recommendations regarding the size of the needles. Most beginners, until they get used to freely holding the knitting needles in their hands, often knit too tight. Therefore, it makes sense to choose knitting needles 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.

Elementary simple

If you have all the necessarymaterials, you can proceed directly to knitting. Many experienced knitters recommend choosing a scarf as the first piece, since its straight fabric does not require complex calculations and manipulations with adding / decreasing loops.

In the category "The easiest knitting pattern for a scarf with knitting needles", various types of elastic bands definitely win. Their essence lies in the combination of facial and purl loops. Various other patterns of these elements are also good.

The most common pattern is 1:1 ribbing (knit one, purl one). However, a scarf knitted this way can come out too tight and stiff, so it's best to consider using 2:2 or English rib (including yarn).

How to learn to read knitting patterns

Understanding knitting patterns is not difficult. On the field, marked with cells, there are icons and symbols indicating each loop that needs to be knitted. One badge can replace one or more loops.

Some symbols have already 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 transcript of the symbols is placed next to each scheme.

The diagrams indicate 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 the knitted fabric. Often, schemes of simple patterns for knitting are limited to the image of only even or odd rows that form the front side of knitting. In other rows, all loops are knitted as they see (facial or purl). But in some complex schemes, the pattern is formed by working with all the rows of the canvas.

Scarf in one evening

To delve deeper into the process of knitting and get a visible result as soon as possible, it is advisable to use bulk yarn. You can take a smooth thread with uniform twist or pick up a “fantasy” one - with thin and wide sections. When using such yarn, even a simple knitting pattern 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.

Sample work

The number of loops can be calculated by knitting a sample from the thread that will be used to make the product.

Even if the density of knitting is indicated on the label of the skein, this indicator is very inaccurate. It depends on:

• knitting density of a particular craftswoman;
• type and sizeselected needles;
• applied pattern.

The resulting sample must be washed, then stretched and pinned to a horizontal surface with pins.

Thus, when drying, the canvas will not shrink and will become even. An alternative to washing can be steaming with a steam iron, but this method is not recommended for beginners due to the many nuances.

The dried sample is measured, count the number of loops and rows per 10 cm (width and height) and determine how many loops the canvas should contain.

How to avoid common beginner mistakes

Even a large diameter tool, thick yarn and a simple knitting pattern do not guarantee automatic trouble-free production of a scarf. These factors can greatly facilitate the work of a knitter, but a successful result also requires attention, patience and perseverance.

Among the areas requiring the most diligence are:

• Clearly following the pattern (without arrogance and neglect of mistakes).
• Timely correction of inaccuracies (opening and bandaging).
• Respect the original number of loops.
• Neat finish on the edge of the product.
• Keeping the same density of knitting of the entire fabric.
• Aesthetic appearance of the first and last rows, as well as tucked ends of the cut threads.

As for the last point, it is best to tuck the ends of the threads into the knitted fabric with a large needle. So they won'tbreak even after washing.

Knitting openwork patterns

Having mastered the knitting world, you can start making openwork products. This type of knitting implies the presence of holes in the canvas. If we are talking about summer things made of cotton or viscose, then the openwork fabric can be almost transparent, consisting of a large number of holes.

Since the recommendations in this article are for beginners, simple openwork knitting should be considered here. Schemes of such patterns necessarily include crochets. Knitted in reverse rows, they just form an openwork. A technique also 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 you should move on to more complex options.

As well as solid, simple openwork knitting patterns, diagrams and descriptions have reports and repeating elements. After knitting several rows, the craftswoman remembers these elements and almost automatically follows the given algorithm.

The finished product should be processed in the same way as the sample for calculating the loops (wash, spread out and dry). After these events, the knitting evens out, the thing becomes soft and takes on the necessary shape.

Gift from the heart

With due attention to the choice of yarn, working tools and the model of the future product, a simple knitting pattern will allowcreate a unique product that will become a favorite "highlight" of the knitter's wardrobe. In addition, the popularity of needlework adds value to handmade gifts. Therefore, even with minimal experience in knitting, you can make great gifts for relatives, girlfriends or loved ones.

Regardless of the type of knitting, handmade products need specific care: gentle washing with special products in warm (not hot) water, drying in a horizontal position, avoiding stretching. Compliance with these requirements will significantly increase the service life of knitted items.