They play a vital role in any knitted fabric. The shape, type and pattern of these stitches add to or take away from the appeal of the finished product. They also determine the quality of the fabric. The stitches produced using knitting machines are generally more even-textured than the ones produced by hand/manually. Some are easier to produce with hand knitting, while the others are easier to produce with knitting machines.
Hundreds of beautiful patterns can designs can be created on cloth with the aid of knitting stitches. These stitches combined with purls can literally create visual effects on cloth. Permutations and combinations in these stitches and purls create fabulous effects on cloth. Purls, stitches and wales combined together, literally create the most interesting patterns and designs ever.
The easiest form of knitting stitches is the stocking stitch. It is used for creating stable fabrics that curl up when one is done with knitting. This type of stitch is usually used in making pullovers, single-colored sweaters, shawls etc.
The striped stocking stitch is a type of stitch whereby a new color can be incorporated in every stitch row. But on a machine, an even number of rows should be knitted before making color changes in the succeeding rows. If a person is hand-knitting, then he/she can create several interesting designs with a ‘striped stock stitch’.
The ‘Fair isle’ patterns of stitches take the process of knitting to an entirely different level. By means of this pattern of stitch, one can incorporate two colors in every row. These stitch patterns can be knitted on machines with patterning devices (electronics, punch cards etc.) or on older models of machine by hand-selection of needles. One can create appealing visual effects of cloth through the Fair Isle stitch.
The ‘tuck stitch’ is a textured pattern that can be created only with the use of a knitting machine. One cannot produce this stitch by means of hand knitting. Either side of the fabric can be used as the right side. This depends on the knitter’s preferences. One can incorporate two or three colors in a fabric with this type of stitch.
The ‘slip stitch’ is a variant of the tuck stitch. It is less textured than the tuck stitch. The slip stitch thus isn’t as appealing as the tuck stitch. One can incorporate one or more colors on a fabric that is knit using this type of stitch.
The ‘knit stitch’, a very common type of stitch is formed by making loops which interweave one another, alternately. When viewed from the knit side of the pattern, the knit stitch will resemble ‘v’ patterns. The ‘purl stitch’, another basic stitch resembles a ‘brick-face’.
The ‘Stockinette stitch’ is one of the most widely used knitting stitches. It consists of alternate rows of knit and purl stitches.
Besides, the aforementioned knitting stitches, there are many and other knitting stitches that add several dimensions to the activity of knitting. In fact, more and more knitting stitches are being incorporated by the day in the world of knitting.
We have beautiful patterns and designs on our sweatshirts, pullovers, shawls, scarves, socks etc, courtesy the enchanting knitting stitches.
Knitting Related Articles
Gone are the days when knitting was all about making monotonous patterns. Today is the age of vibrant and multifarious knit patterns. Knitting truly is conquering new heights with the rise in the number of knitting patterns. In fact, one can create his/her own knitting patterns by applying creativity and imagination.
One can combine knits and purls in an array of ways to form unique knitting patterns. In case of two stitches, the former stitch is called the knit stitch whereas the latter one is called the purl stitch. Both these stitches create a unique effect whereby a particular stitch appears to be a purl stitch from one side of the fabric and a knit stitch from its other side.
The different visual effects created by the knit and purl stitches help in creating several types of designs and patterns. Knit stitches generally look like ‘V’s stacked vertically. Purl stitches look like wavy horizontal lines running across the fabric. Rows of long and short stitches can be created to form interesting knitting patterns. They create an appealing visual effect.
Stockinettes are simple fabrics in which all the stitches are either the knit stitches or the purl stitches. Both these stitches are twisted to create unique design patterns. Right and left plaited stitches create beautiful visual effects. One can knit attractive patterns of jewelry from fine wires of metal by using plaited stitches.
The different types of purls and knits include box stitch, basket weave, garter stitch, moss diamonds, moss panels, rice stitch, seed stitch, parallelograms, windmill, mistake rib, twin rib, triangle squares, triangle ribs, single chevron, close checks, elongated chevron, pavilion, purled ladder, weave, pique triangles etc. All these create interesting 2D and 3D effects on the fabric.
Interesting knitting patterns can be created through several types of stitches. The various types of knitting used for creating beautiful types of patterns include shadow knitting, slip-stitch knitting, fair-isle knitting, drop-stitch knitting, cable knitting, lace knitting, bias knitting etc. All these types make use of purls, knits and wales to create a variety of design patterns.
Each pattern of stitch can be created keeping in mind the stitch multiples required for that particular pattern. A multiple of 7 means that one can cast on a certain number of stitches that are divisible by 7. A multiple of 9+2 stitches means that one can cast a certain number of stitches that are divisible by 9 along with two extra stitches.
Reversible stitch patterns are of two types. In the first reversible pattern, the stitches on the cloth look similar on both its sides. The stitches on the fabric look different when seen from its both sides in the second reversible pattern. These visual effects add interesting dimensions to the fabric. The different types of reversible stitch patterns include layette, diagonal rib, little pyramids, purled ladder, moss stitch, diamonds etc.
Several websites provide information about knitting patterns with beautiful illustrations and step-by-step guides. One can also avail the books and magazines on designs and patterns.
Be it a cute teddy bear or a chic shawl; cozy little mittens or smart cardigans, one can incorporate interesting knitting patterns to add that extra style to the stuff he knits.
Knitting Related Articles
This website uses cookies that are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the privacy policy. By accepting this OR scrolling this page OR continuing to browse, you agree to our Privacy Policy