Neat Knitting Techniques

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Discover the best techniques for making your knitting neater and creating the perfect finish.

Completing a project, only to discover irregular tension, untidy joins or a tight cast off can be disheartening and ruin the look of a knitted piece. Neat Knitting Techniques provides a toolkit of essential skills and solutions to common issues, helping you knit in a neater way. Step-by-step photos, diagrams and straightforward instructions illustrate each technique.

Topics covered include:
• Making an accurate swatch
• Different knitting styles
• Selecting the best yarn for your project
• A useful cast-on toolkit, covering eight different methods
• Improving purl stitch problems
• Shaping stitches and positioning
• Fixing issues with knitting in the round
• Working with multiple yarns, including managing ends and creating stripes
• Creating perfect edges, including picking up and grafting
• A cast-off toolkit of six different methods, covering different cast off positions and casting off in the round
• Weaving in ends
• Finishing touches, including sewing up and blocking
• Troubleshooting problems during and after knitting

Dapper Spruce
Deft
Nimble

Dapper Spruce, Deft and Nimble are exclusively available within the book, Neat Knitting Techniques: Creating a perfect finish – available here.

They use multiple techniques from within the book to give you an opportunity to practice new skills. The names of the patterns are all connected to the title of the book.

dapper spruce Pattern Details

Buy the Dapper Spruce yarn kit

Dapper Spruce is a tube cowl using 3 colours of sport weight yarn. It consists of stripes with the possibility to work the 1-row stripes in helical knitting (though this is optional). The textured pattern is simple but looks complex. It uses twist stitches, so no cable needle is needed.

RECOMMENDED YARN

3 colours of sport weight yarn.

MC: 280m [307 yds]

CC1: 236m [259 yds]

CC2: 242m [265 yds]

YARN USED

Fyberspates Stolen Stitches Nua Sport

(50g; 140m [153yds]; 60% Merino Wool, 20% Yak, 20% Linen) sport weight;

MC – 9810 Kitten Fluff; Light Grey; 280m; 307yds

CC1 – 9812 Cafe Flamingo; Magenta; 236m; 259yds

CC2 – 9809 August Storms; Dark Grey; 242m; 265yds

SIZE

One size. Circumference = 42cm [16½”]. Length = 137cm [54”]

GAUGE

22 stitches by 30 rounds = 10cm (4”) in stocking stitch.

24 stitches by 36 rounds = 10cm (4”) in pattern. Check your gauge.

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES

4 mm [US Size 6] – 40cm [16in] circular needles; or size to obtain gauge

Stitch markers x 7

Darning needle

TECHNIQUES USED IN THE PATTERN:

  • Knit
  • Purl
  • Increases (m1l)
  • Decreases (k2tog)
  • Twist stitches (LT, RT)
  • Provisional cast-on
  • Grafting
  • Helical knitting (optional)

The pattern has been professionally tech edited and test knitted.

deft Mitts Pattern Details

Buy the Deft yarn kit

The Deft mitts use a simple knit and purl pattern but the cuff is knitted sideways with a beautifully neat i-cord border. They are ergonomically shaped to fit the hands.

RECOMMENDED YARN

4 ply / fingering weight yarn – 

185 [205, 220, 245]m / 202 [224, 241, 268]yds

YARN USED

Fyberspates Vivacious 4 Ply (100g; 365m [399yds]; 100% merino wool) 4ply/fingering weight; colourway: Pebble Beach;
185 [205, 220, 245]m / 202 [224, 241, 268]yds

SIZE

Small, [Medium, Large, Extra Large]
To fit 18 [19, 20.5, 21.5]cm / 7 [7½, 8, 8½]”/ hand circumference
Finished dimensions = 16.5 [18, 19, 20.5]cm / 6½ [7, 7½, 8]” circumference.

GAUGE

34 stitches by 49 rounds = 10cm [4”] in stocking stitch. 32 stitches by 68 rows = 10cm [4”] in garter stitch. Check your gauge.

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES

2.25 mm [US Size 1] needles for working in the round in preferred method for circular knitting; or size to obtain gauge
Stitch markers x 4
Darning needle

TECHNIQUES USED IN THE PATTERN:

  • Knit
  • Knit through the back loop
  • Purl
  • Increases (m1l, m1r, LLI, RLI)
  • Decreases (k2tog, ssk, p2tog)
  • Picking up stitches
  • German short rows – video tutorial available

The pattern has been professionally tech edited and tech knitted.

Nimble socks pattern details

Buy the Nimble yarn kit

Nimble are pair of toe-up socks in a pretty lace and cable pattern. The heel is a gusset and heel flap for a good fit and available in 4 sizes.

RECOMMENDED YARN

4 ply / fingering weight yarn in a composition suitable for socks – 

For UK Size 5 [US Size 7]
280 [320, 350, 400]m / 306 [350, 384, 438]yds
For UK Size 11 [US Size 12]
310 [355, 385, 440]m / 339 [388, 421, 481]yds

YARN USED

Coopknits Socks Yeah (50g; 212m [232yds]; 75% wool, 25% nylon) 4ply/fingering weight; colourway: Chryso.

SIZE

Small, [Medium, Large, Extra Large]
To fit 18 [20.5, 23, 25.5]cm / 7 [8, 9, 10]”/ foot circumference.
Finished dimensions = 15.5 [18, 20.5, 23]cm / 6 [7, 8, 9]” circumference.

GAUGE

34 stitches by 52 rounds = 10cm [4”] in stocking stitch. Check your gauge. 

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES
2.25 mm [US Size 1] needles for working in the round in preferred method for circular knitting; or size to obtain gauge
(Note: It is difficult to start a toe-up sock on DPNs as the initial rounds are very tight to work on DPNs, preferably work these initial rows on a circular needle and change to DPNs afterwards)
Stitch markers x 2
Darning needle

TECHNIQUES USED IN THE PATTERN:

  • Knit
  • Purl
  • Increases (m1l, m1r, m1p, yo)
  • Decreases (k2tog, ssk, p2tog, k2togtbl)
  • Cables (2/2 LC, 2/2 RC, 2/1 LC, 2/1 RC, 2/1 LPC, 2/1 RPC, 2/2 LPC Special)
  • German short rows – video tutorial available

The pattern has been professionally tech edited and test knitted.

To purchase Neat Knitting Techniques