In my personal opinion Readers Digest Knitters Handbook by Montse Stanley should be required reading by anyone that wants to learn to knit, learn more about knitting, be ecouraged by seeing new ways to get designs.....
I can't get over seeing pics of things that were knitted in the 1800's that's still in great shape (considering). It's so surreal to think that something someone knitted that long ago is still around, muchless still beautiful. I am still in awe.
Listed below are my personal notes from the book. All rights reserved to the original author and Readers Digest.
Pg 14- The size of stitches with needles depends upon yarn tension. Length of yarn drawn thru.
pg 15- The stitch size of a fabric is measured by the number of stitches and rows to a given square, normally a 4"x4".
pg 16- when designing, check stitches at 2-3" deep sample check row count later over the partly knitted project.
to measure sample
1-places tape (edge) measure or ruler at least 2 stitches away from left edge and mark with straight pin.
2-keeping tape horizontal, place another pin at 4"
(with fine yarns you can do smaller sample measure 2" with extrememly thick yarns you may need 6-8"
too many stitches go up needle size
too few stitches go down needle size.
stitches in repeat xs 4('")______
width or length of repeat.
pg 19- to know how many stitches in 4", then know how many to get certain width just divide stitches in 4" _______
4(")
yarns affect character of stitches. Never decide on a pattern without first knitting it in the yarn you intend to use.
pg 20- to know whether a stitch is nearly square medium or wide, find out the gauge in 4" divide number of rows__________
number of stitches
under 1-a rare tall stitch
1.0 square
1.1-1.2-nearly square
1.3-1.6-medium
1.7 and over-wide
a chart/graph is done on ratio/graph paper garter stitches in not use square
-Problems-
pg 22- slanted- this may be caused by a very high twist in yarn by continuously twisting stitches-stresses fabric
*uneven fabrics-something is wrong with gauge
pg 42-yarns
basically 2 types
natural-animal or vegetal (cotton i.e) may shrink
man made-fibers, acrylics, etc
blends best of both
pg 43
shrinkage test with sample
cut paper to exact size of sample or photocopy eample
wash/dry block and then compare
elasticity-wool is good
silk, man made, vegetal are not
resilience test-
cut an 8" strand of yarn
stretch it as far as it will go, measure to see how far it stretches release and measure again. Yarn that does not lenghten, or remains stretched w/ these yarns are not resilient. ALWAYS BLOCK SAMPLES
page 44
to check if 2 different yarns are the same thickness use yarn gauge or cut short length of both, link the 2 lengths, twist both well->if a bunp is felt yarn is different thickness
page 45
colors
solid
heather mixtures-are very subtle combination of fibers-dyed & blended b4 spinning
twists-are combinations of piles of different color
ombre-yarns have different shades of the same color appearing at regular or irregular intervals.
pg 46
colorfastness test
1 take white cloth (4") fold cloth and wrap 8-12" of yarn tightly around
wash/dry
unwind yarn. If cloth is still white color is fast.
pg 47
lables have
fiber content
weight
cleaning instructions
approx length in meters (yds)
suggested needle size and gauge
the manufacturers recommend a guague of 24 sts and 32 rows of stockinette stitch. An average knitter will obtain this with 4mm needles then use 3.5mm needles for ribbing.
pg 49 join yarn at end of row
when nearing the end of the yarn to see if theres enough left for another row, (2 rows actually)
fold what is left in half
make slip knot
knit 1st row
if you have reached the knot b4 end of row 1 you won't have enough for row 2.
pg 127
if darts are placed in a regular sequence a curve will form
pg 159
vertical stripes are worked in jacquard if they are narrow and intersia if they are wide
pg 162
intarsia-aka geometric, aka tartan, aka collage, aka patchwork knitting
when changing from 1 color to the other wrap 1st color around 2nd
pg 163
jacquard-aka fair isle, aka stranded aka 2 color, aka double knitting
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