Knitting in the style of patchwork: ideas, a master class for beginners

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

Every year, craftswomen-needlewomen create something new in the techniques of sewing, knitting, embroidery, weaving and many other types of creativity. They are not afraid of failure, so they experiment, try to combine different styles and even draw inspiration using ideas from other types of needlework. For example, knitting in the style of patchwork has appeared recently. It was invented by those who like cute little things made of multi-colored pieces combined into one canvas. This is quite painstaking work, but the result justifies all the many hours of work spent on this lesson.

It's all about the flaps

There are only two main ways of knitting: on knitting needles and crochet. And each of them has its own methods of patchwork technique, on the basis of which not only masterpieces for the interior are created, but also garments, bags and more. In this case, two types of flap arrangement are used:

1. Separate parts are knitted, and then connected into one product with a needle or hook. Often this method is used when crocheting.
2. The flaps are gathered together in the process of knitting. Then the edge of onea piece becomes the beginning of another - only the color of the thread changes - or the squares are also made with different patterns.

Many knitters taking their first steps in this type of needlework may find some patchwork techniques difficult. Moreover, finished products sometimes amaze with an abundance of small details. But in every kind of creativity, everything starts with simple steps, and knitting in the style of patchwork is no exception. Therefore, in this article, knitting and crochet workshops are selected specifically for beginners.

How to learn a simple patchwork technique using knitting needles?

The first thing to do is to choose the right threads. They should be approximately the same quality and thickness, at least four colors (the maximum is not limited: it all depends on the author's idea and his skills). Knitting needles should be selected half as thick (although there are exceptions if a very loose knit is needed).

Knitting in a patchwork style according to a pattern of simple squares can be seen in this step-by-step example:

1. For a square with a side of twenty loops, you need to dial 40 + 1 (the last loop is axial, the one that will be in the middle of the square).
2. This pattern is knitted with a regular garter pattern, when all the loops on both sides (wrong side and front) are front.
3. In every second row (for example, only on the front side of the product), a decrease is made along the axial loop: one loop is knitted out of three (axial + one on each side of it). How to do it right: just remove the first loop,then knit one of the front ones, and then simply stretch the removed one through the already knitted loop.

When all the rows are completed, you will get a nice square with a diagonal line in the center. The thread should be cut and fastened with high quality so that the finished product begins to unravel during use or washing. The first piece of knitting in the style of a patchwork is ready.

How to connect the squares in the knitting process?

You can use this principle to impose the required number of pieces, and then connect them together with a hook using a contrasting thread (or neutral). Or you can knit the next flap from the edge of the previous one, getting the finished canvas right away. This way of knitting in the patchwork style will be convenient for beginners - then they will not have problems with the product being skewed or its sides mismatching when sewing parts.

To get the second patch, "growing" from the first, you need to dial 20 loops of a thread of a different color in the usual way, and then from the edge of the first square - another 21, again getting the necessary 41 as a result. Then knitting continues according to the usual pattern, described above until the side of the square is closed. Attach a third to it, if necessary - a fourth, until the required width of the product is reached.

How to make the second row of flaps?

In fact, everything is very simple in knitting using the patchwork technique, although, at first glance, it does not seem so. A simple example is knitting the second strip of squares from multi-colored patches. Howis this being done?

1. On the upper edge of the last square, cast on 20 stitches and add 21 more stitches to them, as at the beginning of knitting.
2. From the resulting number of loops, knit a square according to the general principle.
3. In order to get the second patch, in the second row, the loops are recruited along the upper edges of the nearby squares: the lower and upper side squares - 20 on each side. In this case, an additional axial loop must be knitted from the corner - where the intersection of the corners of the colored squares.

According to this principle, a simple patchwork technique knits a fabric of any size.

Crochet floral motifs

Perhaps for some, patchwork knitting may seem too complicated and incomprehensible. Then you should try crocheting, where you do not need to count the number of loops - because in this technique it is always one. The only negative is that you need to clearly follow the pattern of the pattern if you want to get a beautiful product of the correct geometric shape.

Patchwork crochet flower patterns have many variations that are created by connecting variations from air loops with or without a crochet. Double crochet loops are less commonly used, but for beginners it is better not to use them yet, so as not to get confused.

Afghan or "grandmother's" square

This is an easy patchwork style for beginners who are not too good at combining different types of stitches. Its basis is single crochet stitches mixed with air loops - they give the patterntracery. Now about how to knit an Afghan square step by step:

1. Dial on four air loops and connect them into a ring.
2. Make three more air loops to lift the row and knit three double crochets from each loop. Between each three, leave three air loops.
3. When moving to the next row, knit four more air loops. Then, from the first air loop of the previous row, knit three double crochets and then make three air loops. Now from the third loop of the previous row there are three more double crochets. Thus, a corner of the future square is formed. Next, you need to make one air loop, and then repeat the pattern in mirror image: that is, three columns, three air, three more columns, one air, etc. in a circle.
4. The fourth and subsequent rows are knitted according to the principle of the third: the corners are formed by a combination of double crochets and three air loops on each of their sides. And along the rest of the square, only one air loop is knitted between the triplets of columns.

Then what?

Typically, this patchwork crochet method uses four to seven rows. It all depends on what size the finished product will be: for large blankets you need large squares, and small ones for smaller products. When the required number of squares is made, it remains to connect them together into one canvas, crocheting and contrasting thread.

It is important to connect the corners of each square well, making sureso that there are no distortions, otherwise the product will deform during washing, and all work will go to waste. Very interesting blankets from such squares are obtained if you use different color combinations in each square, knitting a new row in a different color, but at the same time adhering to the overall color composition.

Color spiral

Another crochet in the round looks unusual, but using four threads of different colors at the same time in a simple technique of knitting in a circle with columns with one crochet. In order to understand the principle, one should take four different threads, for example: yellow, blue, red and green. Next step by step:

1. Knit 5-7 air loops from a yellow thread and connect them into a ring. Start tying by making three single crochets. Leaving an elongated loop, add a blue thread and knit the same number of half-columns. Then continue knitting with other colors, each time leaving a loop of thread.
2. Start forming the corners of the future square: with a yellow thread, continue to knit a row in blue, using double crochets (thereafter only they in the whole pattern) reaching its middle. There will be five of them from the second column of the last row and one more from the third. Pull out the loop, continue with a different color - and so on.
3. The next row should be done according to the same principle, not forgetting that five double crochets are knitted at each corner vertex of the squares.

In the process of knitting, the pattern and rows will be clearly marked, and it will become easy to navigate how much to knit to the corner.

It is important to periodically tighten the thread of the loop so that the pattern looks holistic. When the required size is knitted, the threads need to be secured and cut.

Several patchwork ideas

Knitting is a creative process, and crocheting in a circle is especially so. Here you can create completely unique and inimitable squares, circles, polyhedrons and other figures from multi-colored threads, and then combining them together, get another masterpiece. It is interesting to combine large parts with small ones, choosing them so that the overall geometry of the shape is not disturbed.

Color schemes at some point may lose their importance if the focus of the product is on small details, and the common background is a thread that connects them into one. The remnants of threads, small balls, loose old knitwear - everything can be used and give life to a new thing that will decorate the house for a long time, pleasing to the eye.