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Bobble Cushion

YARN MB knit into front, back and front of next st, turn and knit 3, Rowan Handknit Cotton turn and purl 3, turn and knit 3, turn and slip next st, knit 5 x 50gm 2 stitches together then pass slipped st over. (photographed in Thunder 335)

NEEDLES BACK 1 pair 4mm (no 8) (US 6) needles Cast on 86 stitches. Starting with a Knit row and working in st st throughout, continue TENSION until work measures 43cm, ending with right side facing for next 20 stitches and 20 rows to 10cm measured over stocking stitch on row. 4mm (US 6) needles. Cast off.

ABBREVIATIONS FRONT St(s) stitch(es) Cast on 89 stitches. K knit Row 1 (RS): Knit 35, purl 2, knit 1, purl 2, knit 2, purl 2, knit 1, P purl purl 2, knit 2, purl 2, knit 1, purl 2, knit 35. cont continue Row 2: Purl 35, knit 2, purl 1, knit 2, purl 2, knit 2, purl 1, knit 2, patt pattern purl 2, knit 2, purl 1, knit 2, purl 35. rep repeat Row 3: Knit 35, purl 2, MB, purl 2, knit 2, purl 2, MB, purl 2, knit mm millimetres 2, purl 2, MB, purl 2, knit 35. cm centimetres Row 4: Work as row 2. RS right side These 4 rows set pattern. WS wrong side Continue in pattern until work measures 43cm, ending with right g st garter stitch (K every row) side facing for next row. st st stocking stitch (1 row K, 1 row P) Cast off in pattern. foll following alt alternate MAKING UP rem remain(ing) Press as described on ball band. Join three sides of the cushion, using M1 make one stitch (by picking up loop between last and back stitch or mattress stitch if preferred. Place cushion pad inside next st and into the back of this loop) and join last seam. tog together

All right reserved. Reproduction in whole or any part of all material, including illustrations, in this brochure is strictly forbidden. No part maybe reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the copyright owners having been given in writing. The designs in this brochure are copyrighted and must not be knitted for re-sale. Reproduction of this publication is protected by copyright and is sold on the condition that it is used for non-commercial purposes. quantities are approximate as they are based on average requirements. Colour reproduction is as close as printing will allow. First published in Great Britain in 2010 by Rowan Ltd, Green Lane Mill, Holmfirth,West Yorkshire, England, HD9 2DX Internet: www.knitrowan.com Email: [email protected] © Copyright Rowan 2010 www.knitrowan.com How To…

TENSION PURL STITCH

Obtaining the correct tension is perhaps the single factor which This is the second stitch to learn and is abbreviated in knitting can make the difference between a successful garment and a patterns as p. disastrous one. It controls both the shape and size of an article, so any variation, however slight, can distort the finished garment. We Bring your yarn to the front of the work , recommend that you knit a square in stocking stitch of perhaps 5 insert the right needle through the front of the - 10 more stitches and 5 - 10 more rows than those given in the first stitch on the left needle from right to left. tension note. Mark out the central 10cm square with pins. If you have too many stitches to 10cm try again using thicker needles, if you have too few stitches to 10cm try again using finer needles. Pass the yarn, held at the front of the work Once you have achieved the correct tension your garment will around the point of the right needle in an anti- be knitted to the measurements indicated in the pattern. clockwise direction.

Push the needle and yarn through the loop to CAST ON the back and slip the loop off the left hand needle, leaving a new stitch on the right This is the term for the very first stitches you needle. This is the first purl stitch. Complete make on your needles. There are several all the stitches on the needle in this way to methods. The first thing to do is create a slip make the first purl row. knot on your needle.

SIMPLE CAST ON YARN FORWARD

Place the slip knot onto the needle and hold this Bring yarn forward between needles and over needle in your left hand. Hold the yarn and the right needle to form a stitch. other needle in your right hand. Insert the right needle through the loop and pass the yarn around the point.

With the point of the right hand needle, pull KNIT ONE THROUGH BACK OF LOOPS the yarn through the loop on the left needle to Bring yarn forward between needles and over create a new loop which is now on your right right needle to form a stitch. needle.

Transfer this loop onto the left needle and withdraw the right needle. You now have two SHAPING - stitches on left needle. Continue (repeating steps 1-3) until you have the required number of Decreases are made by working two or more stitches together and stitches. is used to shape garments.

KNIT STITCH Simple knit decrease (K2tog) This forms a decrease that slopes to the right. This is the first stitch you learn and is abbreviated in knitting Knit two stitches together by inserting the patterns as K. It creates a simple ridged fabric known as garter point of the right hand needle through two stitch when used on its own. When worked in alternate rows with stitches instead of one and knitting these purl stitch, it forms a smooth textured fabric known as stocking together as for one stitch. stitch. Simple Knit decrease (K3tog) Insert the point of the right hand needle This is achieved by simply passing the right hand needle through through the first loop on the left hand needle, 3 stitches instead of 2 as shown and knitting together as for one from front to back. stitch.

Pass the yarn, held at the back of the work, Simple Knit decrease (k2togtbl) around the right needle point in an anti- This forms a decrease that slopes to the left. clockwise direction, pull the needlepoint and Knit two stitches together but insert the point yarn through the loop on the left hand needle. of the right needle through the back of the stitches and knit both together as for one stitch. Slip the loop off the left needle to complete the first stitch. Continue in this way until all Simple Purl decrease (P2tog) the stitches on the left hand needle have been Insert the needle purlways through two stitches knitted onto the right needle. You have now and purl them together as one stitch. completed 1 row. SIMPLE FINISHING TOUCHES

Knit into the front of the Stitch in the usual There are a number of useful tips and techniques that will help way. But before slipping the old stitch off the ensure a professional finish on your garment. needle, knit into the back of the stitch, forming two stitches on the right hand needle.

MAKING A STITCH When stitching the pieces together, remember to match areas of colour and texture very carefully where they meet. Use a seam stitch This method is different from a simple increase such as back stitch or mattress stitch for all main knitting seams and in that it does not use an existing stitch to join all ribs and neckband with mattress stitch, unless otherwise make another stitch. Pick up the horizontal stated.When you have finished the various parts of the garment, loop between two stitches and work into the they should be pressed. Check the ball band for any pressing back of it to make a stitch as shown to make 2 stitches work into instructions. Pin out each piece of , wrong side front of the loop after first working into back of it. uppermost, on an ironing sheet and check the measurements against the pattern instructions. Then block out each piece by MULTIPLE INCREASE pinning around the edges, to the size required. Lightly press in place, with a clean, damp cloth between the iron and the knitting. This is worked in a similar way to a simple Avoid pressing the as this lessens its elasticity. increase but instead of working just 2 stitches into the first you will work several. In order to increase several times into one stitch you will need to alternate STITCHING between knit and purl stitches. When stitching the pieces together, remember to match areas of colour and texture very carefully where they meet. Use a seam stitch SLIP STITCH such as back stitch or mattress stitch for all main knitting seams and join all ribs and neckband with mattress stitch, unless otherwise Slip one stitch knitwise from your left hand needle on to the right stated. When stitching the pieces together, remember to match areas hand needle then knit the next stitch of colour and texture very carefully where they meet. Use a seam stitch such as back stitch or mattress stitch for all main knitting seams Insert your left hand needle into the front of and join all ribs and neckband with mattress stitch, unless otherwise the slip stitch and pull it over the knitted one. stated.

Pass slip stitch over Pass stitch on the right hand needle over the SEAMS first stitch and off the needle. The majority of garments are made up with a backstitch seam, which gives a tailored finish. For baby garments and delicate fabrics, use a CAST OFF flat seam. For ribbing, use invisible seams. Once you have made your knitted fabric, you will need to finish off the work. This is known as casting off. BACKSTITCH SEAM

Knit cast off Place the two pieces of fabric right sides together, and pin in position. Sew together Be careful when casting off not to do so too tightly. You can use a with a row of backstitches, worked one stitch size larger needle to avoid this, if you wish. in from the edge as shown.

Knit the first two stitches. Then pick up the FLAT SEAM first stitch knitted with the point of the left needle and slip it over the second stitch and off Place the two pieces of fabric right sides the right hand needle, to leave one stitch on together, and pin in position. Sew together the right needle. with loose oversewing stitches, matching ridge to ridge. Now knit the next stitch to give two stitches again on the right needle. Cast off another stitch by repeating step 1. INVISIBLE SEAM/MATRESS STITCH With the right sides of the knitting facing you, place the two Continue to cast off stitch by stitch across the pieces of fabric side by side. Stitch together as shown, working row until only one stitch remains. Break the one stitch from each edge in turn, as shown. yarn, slip the last stitch off the needle and draw the end through. Pull the yarn tight to fasten off. The tail end will be darned in later during making up.