Double Knitting and New Challenges…

Well, by now some of you are well into the Double Knitting project.  Kudos to you all.  This is a wonderful technique and has many uses…

Thus far, you probably have done simple colors and maybe some color changing, but now I want to open up the world of D.K. in another direction…. (oh and this one is good for crocheters too)…..

The Lattes and Llamas blog found here, has this wonderful Geek A Long project, that started in 2014 and has continued into 2015.  The patterns are all free, and they even have some videos for those who need it.

This project offers charts for both double knit and crochet, and the end result is a fabulous blanket, of varying sizes, depending on how many squares you work up.

This is very much on my to do list, just as soon as I get out of my current projects.

Now, let me assure you, if you can knit, and you can purl, you can absolutely double knit! and charts, they are supper easy to read… fear not! Just open the door and away we go!

Double knitting next steps

Well, bravo to those that started the Double knitting!  I have seen your progress, and so very proud of you all!

Now, we had some stumbles on the 2 different cast on’s and so I thought I would do a short review….

Double Knitting is a technique to create a 2 sided  fabric, usually with the each side being a positive and negative of each other. There is no “right” or “wrong” side and the fabric is thick and squishy.  The sides can be open or closed within the knitting process or seemed after, depending on the knitters choice.

Getting Started:

The 1st, and easier cast on, is to simply hold both yarns together as ONE and do a normal long tail cast on. On the next row, you will knit the first stitch and purl the second across each SET of stitches.  This will set up the 2 sided knitting that is Double knitting. Then continue as per your patten instructions….

The 2nd cast on creates an invisible bottom, or top, edge that is very similar to a toe of a sock.  The cast on is performed in a similar fashion to the long tail, with some basic modifications.  This video shows the technique best.  In written steps it looks something like this:

Holding the 2 yarns in the modified slingshot hold in the left hand, with a slip knot to hold the yarns on the needle in the other hand (Slip knot does NOT count as a pair), swing the needle down under the front yarn, up through the middle and over the back yarn, casting on 1 stitch.

Then swing the needle from the back under both yarns all the way to the front and up over the front yarn and down through the middle casting on the opposite color. You now have 2 stitches, and ONE PAIR.

You repeat this motion to cast on PAIRS of stitches as per your pattern.  When you have cast on all your pairs  you turn the work and make sure the 2 yarns are locked before proceeding. Then proceed the same as the above directions for the first row…..

IF YOU DID THESE CAST ON STEPS IN REVERSE, or backwards… ie, casting on the back yarn first, your stitches will now be mounted backwards and the  NEXT ROW IS DIFFERENT AND CRUCIAL!!!! You will still knit the first stitch and purl the next to set up double knitting, HOWEVER, you will notice the loops are mounted where the leg closer the the tip is the BACK leg. Therefore, to knit this first row, knit and purl through the BACK leg for each stitch.  This reorients the stitches, and creates the invisible edge, all at the same time.  IT IS NOT WRONG, just different!

Ok, now that we got through all the cast on parts and have knitted the first row… you will want to learn all about the edges and how to deal with them. That will be the next post.  For now, slip the first PAIR of stitches on each row and knit and purl away!

Winter and projects

I dont know about you, but the cold locks me up inside and tries to keep me there….

I find myself perusing the latest videos and blogs of other yarners looking for the next great project idea.

Recently one of our members stated that it was time to learn a new skill.  She had been admiring the posts we put on facebook and the one on double knitting spoke up!

So the month of February we will be featuring the skills needed to double knit!

You will need:

• 2, yes TWO, different colored yarns.  I suggest starkly contrasting yarns like black and white to make things easy
• Yarns weight recommended for beginners should be Worsted No. 4 or higher
• Knitting Needles to fit your yarn: Size US 7 or 8 for worsted 9 or 10 for bulky
•  and patience.  This is NOT a complicated skill but it is made to look hard.

If you can do the KNIT stitch, and the PURL stitch, YOU CAN DOUBLE KNIT!

There are several videos out on youtube, and I have linked a few i recommend.

I will say this is NOT a beginner knitters project, rather the level of the basic to intermediate skill.

The only other skill you will need is the ability to read a chart. Ok, dont get all upset, this too is not as complicated as it is made out to be.  Bring your tools and materials and be prepared to be de-mystified Friday night!