A SHELL BOOK To translate this A5 shell book, FIRST STEPS IN clearly and naturally into your own language. After editing the MT text (i.e. in Word), you can use CTRL+A to select all the English text and delete it from the shell book. Then insert the MT text into the first text GETTING STARTED box and carefully space the text to make it flow properly to each of the other pages. You may need/want to Before beginning work on this shellbook, be sure to set the printer the text is of a consistent size and nature for each page. The only parts of the book which should remain in English LWC are: most of the information on the title page(s), and the type of book label (lower right corner of the cover). Replace the language name placed by name of your language. The

formatting, so To print this A5 shell book pages so that they print out properly for an A5 book with centre fold. You can print every other page on the back of the previous page to have a ready

Remove this “post gray area outside the boundaries of the shell book. To remove it, right click on this post

Language Crafts

MT title First Steps in Knitting

Translated by:

Language

Edition # copies Pub date

ISBN

Publisher’s name Address 3. Between a ‘purl’ and a ‘knit’ stitch Acknowledgments Lay the wool on the needle before working the following stitch. This is known as the ‘wool on needle’ method.

Original text and illustrations adapted from an unknown Other Notes source.

This edition published in Great Britain in 1999 by Wycliffe Associates.

Between two Knit Stitches Between two Purl Stitches Please send one copy of any books you produce to the (Wool over Needle) (Wool round Needle)

Wycliffe Associates address below. A ‘selvedge’ is a name for a finished edge. In patterns, wool is often called ‘’, with the abbreviation ‘y’. ‘Work straight’ means to continue work without increasing or decreasing. Copyright © 2000, WA(UK) K-wise = insert needle as though to knit. L = left. P-wise = insert needle as though to purl. R = right. Permission is granted for non-profit reproduction and Alt = alternate. Beg = beginning. Psso = pass the slipped stitch other use of these materials. over. Patt = pattern. Tog = together. Rep = repeat. Rnd = round.

This is one of a series of Shell Books produced by WA (UK), 7 Conwy Street, Rhyl, Denbighshire, LL18 3ET, UK

16 When joining two bands of colour vertically (from top to bottom) or in solid shapes in a garment, always twist the two colours where they meet. Preface (MT and English) This prevents gaps showing in the work. Increasing for Lacy Type Fabrics - The Over Method

This method makes a hole in the fabric, so use it mainly for lacy type stitches such as for baby clothes and shawls. Make the by laying the wool over or round the right needle before working the next stitch. Use this method along with a where you want an actual increase such as for tiny buttonholes in baby garments.

1. Between two ‘knit’ stitches When you are using the over method between two knit stitches, bring the wool forward and take it over the needle to knit the next stitch. This is known as the ‘wool over needle’ method. The shaded part in the first picture shows how the method has made an extra stitch.

2. Between two ‘purl’ stitches When you are using the over method between two purl stitches, take the wool over and round the needle to the front again ready to purl the next stitch. This is known as the ‘wool round needle’ method. The shaded part in the second picture shows how the method has made an extra stitch.

15 First Steps in Knitting through the stitch and slip the stitch off the needle. Introduction If you have knitting needles and wool, and learn how to knit, you will be Next put the wool needle into the second stitch of the front knitting able to make clothes for yourself and your family, and if you make them needle (as if for a purl stitch), then draw the wool through this stitch, well, you can sell them in the market. If a group of women from the same but let the stitch remain on the needle. village get together, they can help each other to learn, and the results of a pleasant social gathering can be used to provide an income for their Put the wool needle into the first stitch of the back (as families. if for a purl stitch), then draw the wool through this stitch and slip the stitch off the needle. The first part of this book describes simple knitting methods. Practice Next put the needle into the second stitch of the back needle (as if for these until you find them easy, and then you can try the more difficult a knit stitch), then draw the wool through this stitch and let the stitch stitches which are described at the end of the book. remain on the needle.

When you are knitting, keep your hands clean and dry. Keep the stitches Bring the wool forward under the needle and repeat from ** above as even as possible, and be careful not to make them too tight.

Choose the thickness of wool that you need. Thick wool needs thick needles and will produce thick material. For fine work, choose thin wool and fine needles. The thicker the needles, the looser the finished work will be.

You will find it easier if your wool is kept in a ball. If it comes in hanks, get someone to hold the hank loosely on their hands with their fingers outstretched, so that you can pull the wool off and wind it into a loose ball. until you work in all the stitches. When you have finished, loop the

wool back through the fabric to secure it, as if you were darning a hole.

Colour Pattern Knitting

1 14 the Stitches Knitting Sleeves and Legs The first thing to do is to arrange the wool on the needles. This is called

When you want to knit in rounds, such as for sleeves, you will need four ‘casting on’. needles with points at both ends. Divide the number of stitches equally Make a loop for the first stitch. and cast on the same number on each needle. Draw up the last stitch on 1 2 3 the third needle so that it meets the first stitch on the first needle. This forms three sides and is the basis of .

The first diagram shows the division of the stitches. Most circular knitting work uses this cable cast on method. Arrange the needles to make three sides, but be careful not to get the stitches twisted. Then link them together as shown in the second diagram. 1. Wrap the wool round the first and second fingers of the left hand. Now take the fourth needle and join the three needles together. Do this by 2. Place the point of the needle under the front loop then draw the second loop of wool back through the front loop. 3. Withdraw the fingers from the loop and tighten the loop on the needle. This will form the first stitch. After you have made the first loop, continue to use one needle; the left thumb acts as the other (left hand) needle. Hold the wool from the ball in the right hand, and hold the cut end in the left hand. knitting through the first stitch on the first needle. Place a coloured thread Cast on at this point to mark the beginning and end of the rounds. 1. Take a length of wool from the cut end in the left hand and pass this wool round the left thumb. Allow approximately 1 yard (1 metre) of wool for every hundred stitches to hang spare before you make this loop. 2. Place the point of the needle beneath the loop on the thumb, and draw Use this method for joining together two sets of stitches without the join the loop up. being seen. Divide the stitches so that there are the same number of 3. Next, hold the wool from the ball, which you are holding in your stitches on each needle. Have the wool at one end and have the wrong right hand, ready to pass round the point of the needle. sides of each part facing each other, with the right side of the piece to the 4. Wrap the wool from the ball round the point of the needle. Then outside. 1 2 3 Break off the wool, leaving enough to work across the row, and then thread it through a wool needle. (**) Put the wool needle into the first stitch of the front knitting needle (as if for a knit stitch), then draw it

13 2 draw this through the loop on the thumb. 5. Draw up the stitch tightly on the needle. Note that the wool is still round the thumb ready for the next stitch. 1. Knit Stitch Put the point of the right hand needle into the front of the first stitch The Basic Stitches on the left hand needle. Pick up the wool lying at the back of the 4 5 stitch. Then, with a slight twist bring this loop through to the front of the work. Then let one stitch slip off the left needle and leave the other on the right hand needle.

2. Purl Stitch Hold the needles in the same way as for a knit stitch but keep the wool at the front of the work. Put the right hand needle into the first

stitch on the left needle, as you would for a purl stitch. Then take the All knitted fabrics use two basic stitches, known as ‘Knit’ and ‘Purl’. wool over and round the needle. Now take a loop Knit through to the back of the work. Control the work To knit a stitch, place the point of the right hand needle through the front with your thumb as shown in the diagram. Then slip of the first stitch on the left hand needle. Then place the loop round the the stitch off the left needle. needle, and draw the loop through the stitch. Finally drop the stitch off the left needle.

Purl To purl a stitch, keep the wool and the needle to the front of the work. Place the point of the needle through the first stitch then bring the wool round the point of the needle. Finally draw the loop through the stitch and drop it off the point of the left needle. Garter Stitch

3 12 6. Double Purl Decrease

Purl two stitches together and then slip the stitch back on to the left needle. Next, pick up the stitch beyond this one and pass it over and off

Knit Purl

When you ‘knit’ every stitch on every row, it is called ‘Garter Left Double Knit Simple Purl Double Purl Stitch’. Because it is just rows of plain knitting, it is the simplest Decrease Decrease Decrease method of all to do. It forms a ridged surface on both sides of the work. the needle. Return the stitch that had been purled (the one shown shaded Stocking Stitch in the diagram) to the right hand needle. When you ‘knit’ and then ‘purl’ alternate rows, it is called ‘Stocking

Stitch’. It produces a plain smooth fabric on the right side, or the side

that is seen, and a ridged fabric on the wrong side of the work - the An Alternative Way of Knitting side that is not seen. There is another way of knitting which is more difficult to learn, but

which is much faster than the method shown above. Both hands have an Note: In printed patterns, which are instructions on how to make active part to play, so both right-handed and left-handed people can use it; the left hand controls the wool and the right hand controls the moving of the stitch from one needle to the other. It is important to keep an even and regular tension to all stitches. In this method, you hold the needles in front of the work and place both hands over the top. Hold the left needle between the thumb and second finger so that the first finger is free.

Garter Stitch Stocking Stitch 11 4 a specific piece of knitting, a knit stitch is shown as ‘K’, and a purl stitch ‘decrease’ is abbreviated to ‘dec’.) as ‘P’. The number of stitches are also given, so K1, P3, (or K.1, P.3) means ‘knit one stitch and then purl three stitches’. ‘Stocking Stitch’ may 1. Simple Knit Decrease be abbreviated to ‘st st’. Knit two stitches together by putting the point of the right hand needle through Rib and Moss the front of two stitches instead of one, and knit these two together as one When you knit a stitch and then purl one (K1, P1) with an even number of stitch. stitches on every row, what you make is called a ‘Rib’. 2. Left Knit Decrease (First Method) When you K1, P1 with an odd number of stitches on every row, what you Knit two stitches together, but put the point of the right hand needle make is called ‘Moss Stitch’. through the back of the stitches. 3. Left Knit Decrease (Second Method) Casting Off Slip one stitch onto the right needle, then knit one stitch (S1, K1). Pass When you have completed a piece of knitting, you have to finish it off. the slip stitch over the knit one, and off the needle. This is called ‘Casting off’. You can cast off by knitting, purling, or working off a stitch in a pattern. 4. Left Double Knit Decrease

Knit (or purl) the first two stitches. Then pick up the first stitch with the To decrease two stitches, slip one stitch on to the right needle. Then knit point of the left needle and slip it over the second stitch - drop it right off the next two stitches together (S1, K2). Next, pass the slip stitch over and off the needle.

5. Simple Purl Decrease

Put the needle into two stitches as for a purl stitch. Then purl them together as one stitch.

K1,P1 Moss K1,P1 Rib Simple Knit Decrease Left Knit Decrease (1) Left Knit Decrease (2)

5 10 needle, knit into the back of the stitch. By doing this you will form two the needle. Now you have only one stitch on the right hand needle. stitches on the right hand needle. You can use the same method to make a Knit the next stitch to give you two stitches again on the right hand simple purl increase. needle. Then slip the first stitch over the second as before. Continue like this, casting off stitch by stitch until only one stitch remains. 2. Increase between the stitches Break the wool and draw the end through the last stitch. Finally slip the stitch off the needle and pull it up to fasten it off. Do not cast off Pick up a horizontal loop between two stitches, place it on the left needle too tightly. and knit into the back of the loop. Then drop the loop off the left needle and so form an extra stitch on the right hand needle.

3. Invisible Increase More Ideas

Knit Cast Off

Simple Increase Increase between the Stitches When you have become familiar with the basic steps in knitting, you Insert the point of the right-hand needle into the front of the stitch below will be able to make simple clothes and things like blankets for your the next stitch on the left-hand needle. Then knit it. babies, but to make more complicated things, you will need to learn

some more complicated methods of knitting. Decreasing Stitches

Decreasing the number of stitches on successive rows enables you to

shape your work by making successive rows narrower. Work the following methods with the front of the garment facing you. (In patterns, Casting on with two needles

9 6 At the beginning of this book you learnt how to cast on with one needle stitches. and your thumb. There are two methods of casting on using two needles which you might like to learn. Always remember to cast on evenly and Shaping your work not too tightly. One of the first things you will find is that you often need to shape a garment by increasing or decreasing the number of stitches in a row. Chain Edge. This method gives a loose edge to your work. Make a starting loop as if you were casting on with one needle. Now hold this needle in the left hand. Hold the wool from the ball and the second

You can increase or decrease on either end of the row to shape the left needle in the right hand. Now place the right hand needle through the or right hand side, or on both ends at once to shape both sides. loop and pass the wool round the point. Turn the point of the needle and (Increasing may be shown in a pattern as ‘M’ (‘make’), so M1 means then pull a loop through the first stitch. Put this new loop on the left hand ‘Make (increase) one stitch’). needle. Turn the loop so that it lies the right way - see the diagram. Now withdraw the right hand needle. You have now made a second stitch on the left hand needle. Repeat the action until you have the number of stitches cast on that you need.

Increasing Stitches There are three basic methods of increasing stitches. Use either of the for most articles. first two for shaping the side of a garment, and the third for increasing the number of stitches in the middle of a row (known as ‘invisible The method is the same as for Chain Edge except that the right hand increase’). (In patterns, ‘increase’ is abbreviated to ‘inc’.) needle is put in between two stitches instead of through the first stitch. Start with a loop on the left hand needle. Then make a second stitch as 1. Simple Increase was described for the Chain Edge method. To make the third stitch, insert The first way is to make two stitches out of one. Knit into the front of Cablethe right Edge hand. needleThis point method between gives the you first a firm and edge,second and stitches. so is suitable Then a stitch in the usual way, then before slipping the stitch off the left knit a stitch between these two stitches. Do this for all the following 7 8