When increasing stitches when knitting in fisherman's rib, this is the method I like best.
The increases are made on a right side row, where the knit stitches are worked in the usual way, and all the purl stitches are slipped, with the yarn at the front of the work.
When increasing at the beginning of a row, to keep the edges neat, the first stitch is slipped, the second stitch is a knit stitch, and then the increase is made. The yarn that stretches between the second and third stitches is picked up...
… and in this picture can be seen on the right hand needle...
… then the left hand needle is passed through the front of the picked up stitch, and it is worked as a knit stitch through the back of the stitch.
Here you can see the increased stitch on the right hand needle.
Now the yarn is brought forward and the next stitch is slipped purlwise to continue the rest of the row.
To increase at the end of the row, when three stitches remain, bring the yarn forward and slip the purl stitch.
Next, the yarn between the stitches is picked up, and the increase made in the same way as shown at the beginning of the row.
Then the last two stitches are both knitted.
With the extra stitch at each end of the row, this means that there are two knit stitches side by side on a right side row, and two purl stiches on a wrong side row, until the next increase needs to be made.
The next time it is straightforward. The yarn between the two knit stitches is picked up in exactly the same way as shown above, and knitted through the back of the stitch.
On the next row the new stitch means that fisherman's rib can be worked as normal.
All keen knitters have their preferred way of sewing up the seams. This is the method I shall be recommending in the pattern I shall be posting soon.
Fisherman's rib, because it gives a slightly compressed effect, needing more rows per inch than stocking stitch, calls for slipped stitches at the beginning of each row.
The little cardigans I have been making have all involved playing with colour, alternating two-row stripes, so these instructions include showing how to change yarn from one colour to the other.
In brief, the last stitch of every row is a knit stitch, and the first stitch of every row is slipped knitwise.
This is the back of the work, and the row where I change colour, in this case from orange to green.
First, insert the needle as if to knit the first stitch.
However, the stitch isn't worked, it is just slipped onto the right hand needle.
The orange yarn is taken round to the back of the stitch, and brought round to the front between the needles, and held in place to the left.
Then the green yarn is picked up to work the next stitch, which is a purl...
… and the rest of the row is worked in green. This is a knit one, purl one row, with the last stitch being a knit.
On the next row, slip the first stitch, and keep the yarn at the back of the work ready to knit the next stitch.
This row is the row where the purl stitches are slipped and the yarn carried over the needle. The last two stitches of the row are both knit stitches.
This is the edge of the work, seen from the back. Just inside the edge you can see the two-colour rope effect where the yarns are overlapped (as in the third picture) when changing colour. Also, the actual edge is consistent with the compressed tension of the fisherman's rib, making it easy to sew the seams and pick up stitches for the button band.
xxx
The last few knitted projects I have finished recently have all been in fisherman's rib. I absolutely love the texture, and the effect when alternating stripes of two different random yarns is very pleasing. It keeps me enthralled until well after midnight, and with two nieces having babies within a few weeks of each other this spring, I have been churning out little cardigans at a rate of knots.
I shall soon be ready to post instructions for the cardigan, but before doing so, here are the instructions for the stitch. There is more than one method, but this is the method I prefer.
The first picture shows the back of the work. Essentially, it is knit one purl one rib, but with a slight difference. There is nothing unusual about the purl stitches.
However, for the knit stitches, the needle is not only put through the stitch, but also the yarn that was carried over the needle on the previous row.
On the next row, the knit stitches are worked in the normal way, and the yarn brought forward as if ready to work the next stitch as a purl.
The stitch is not actually worked, it is just slipped from the left to the right hand needle.
Then the next knit stitch is worked. Because the yarn has been left at the front of the work, it has to be carried over the needle, and over the slipped purl stitch, to go round the back to make the knit stitch. This row is very quick to knit, because half the stitches aren't being worked, just slipped.
If you have never tried this stitch before, knit a little sample square. It is really quite easy.
This is my first foray into brioche rib. It is a reversible, two colour stitch, which is thick enough for a tea cosy and ideal for woolly jumpers for winter. I used to stare at the single colour version of this stitch when I was a kid and rack my brains trying to work out how it was done. I never did fathom it out. Then when I saw the two colour version a few months ago I knew I had to find out how to do it. Hooray for Youtube. After watching a few videos and finding that there are different ways of doing it, I settled on the method that I liked best.
Rather than making a high contrast between front and back, I opted for blues. This is the front...
… and this is the back.
I am making a little baby cardigan, using the soft snuggly random blue for the inside and the plain blue for the outside.
I am killing several birds with one stone - using up the wool I have stashed, adding to the reserve supply of presents ready to give to new babies, and working out various problems that might arise on a small project rather than getting myself into a twist on an adult sized project. Just looking at the picture of the tea cosy this morning I have realised that I have to work out a better method for the beginning and end of each row than the one I have been using. The joys of knitting!
There is a frighteningly large stash of wool in my cupboards that I haven't touched for at least thirteen years. Somehow having lively children around the house and knitting didn't mix. Now the children are gone and it is time to clear the house out. It's a gradual process, partly because knitting my way through a mountain of wool will be a lot slower than just passing it on. Also, until now, I didn't have any clear idea of what to make. The solution was to join the knitting group at a local church and see what projects they had. The choice was between baby blankets or twiddle blankets. I opted for the latter.
Rather than knit squares to be made into blankets, I am making a small lap blanket with added interest. The basket weave stitch is quick and easy, has a lovely warm texture, and lies nice and flat. Here is the method. You need an even number of stitches. Instructions are given for a number of stitches divisible by four, with instructions for stitches divisible by two but not four in brackets.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit 2, purl 2 to the end of the row
Row 4: Knit 2, purl 2 (purl 2, knit 2) to end of row
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: Purl 2, knit 2 to end of row
Row 8: Purl 2, knit 2 (knit 2, purl 2) to end of row
Repeat
Now I have finished the knitting and am adding the twiddle factor.
It has been a great thrill getting the knitting needles out again after so many years. My mum taught me to knit when I was six. She wasn't a knitter herself, but she was able to teach me how to knit, purl, cast on and off, and increase and decrease a stitch. After that I was on my own and became a regular at the local wool shop and a tea cosy specialist. Now my knitting ambition is to be a twiddle blanket specialist and avoid the wool shop.
Linking up with Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday.
