Nifty Handmade Knits

The Garter Stitch in Knitting is the simplest of all knitting patterns. It is formed by working every row in the same stitch, either all knit or all purl. If you purl every row, the result is not as smooth or even a surface as knitted rows, so garter stitch usually means "to Knit each row". The end result looks like the example shown above.

*Photo in a Wikipedia article entitled "Basic Knitted Fabrics" and submitted by mollie knits Flickr page.

Stockinette-stitch fabric is very smooth and each column (called a "wale") resembles a stacked set of "V"'s. It is created by alternately knitting one row and purling the next. The knit side is usually called the 'right' side. If the pattern uses the purl side as the right side, it is then called a 'reversed' stockinette stitch.

Because this stitch is so smooth, it's the perfect knit stitch for socks.

*Image courtesy of Creative Commons from Mollie Knits on Flickr and featured on the Wikipedia article "Basic knitted fabrics".

The 'Moss' or 'Seed' stitch in knitting is created by simply alternating between the knit and purl stitches. Along each row, the knitter 'knits one stitch, purls one stitch'. On the next row, the process is done in reverse - 'purl one, knit one'. This creates the pattern that looks like little 'seeds'. This stitch is easy enough for a beginner knitter. The knitted item produced is given a nice texture, as well as an attractive appearance. The 'seed' or 'moss' stitch works well for such items as knitted scarves, hats, and mittens, as well as wraps and throws and baby blankets!

The Basket stitch is produced by Increasing multiples of the Knit 1, Purl 1 combination that creates the Moss (or Seed) stitch. In this stitch, you knit 4, purl 4 across the row, reversing the process ((P4, K4) in the next row on an alternating basis. In the Basketweave variation, knit and purl is done in multiples of 10 (K7, P3).

One of the traditional forms of knitting that is familiar to us is what is sometimes known as the 'Fisherman' Sweater, a bulky garment that has prominent cable patterns on the chest and is best known in it's cream-colored form. It is also known by the name Aran, taking it's name from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland.

The sweaters are distinguished by their use of complex textured stitch patterns, several of which are combined in the creation of a single garment. The sweater usually features 4-6 texture patterns that move down the sweater in columns from top to bottom. Usually, the patterns are symmetrical to a center axis extending down the center of the front and back panel and usually extend down the sleeves as well. The same textured knitting is also used to make socks, hats, vests and even skirts.

Some stitch patterns have a traditional interpretation, often of religious significance. The honeycomb is a symbol of the hard-working bee. The cable, an integral part of the fisherman's daily life, is said to be a wish for safety and good luck when fishing. The diamond is a wish of success, wealth and treasure. The basket stitch represents the fisherman's basket, a hope for a plentiful catch.

*Reference used for some of this information is from the Aran Sweater article on Wikipedia.