Fiber Arts Techniques: Knitting

In knitting, a stitch is the basic unit of construction, created by passing a loop of yarn through another loop on the needle.

Knitting needles come in two main types: straight needles, which are used for flat knitting, and circular needles, which are used for knitting in the round.

Casting on is the process of creating the initial row of stitches on the knitting needle, which serves as the foundation for the knitted fabric.

Binding off is the technique used to end a knitted piece by securing the stitches on the needle and preventing them from unraveling.

Increasing is the technique used to add stitches to a row, typically by knitting into the same stitch multiple times or by creating new stitches from existing ones.

Decreasing is the technique used to reduce the number of stitches in a row, typically by knitting two or more stitches together or by slipping stitches off the needle without knitting them.

Knit and purl stitches are the two basic stitches in knitting, and they create different textures and patterns in the fabric.

Knit Two Together (K2tog) is a decreasing technique where two stitches are knitted together as one, reducing the number of stitches in the row.

Purl Two Together (P2tog) is a decreasing technique where two stitches are purled together as one, reducing the number of stitches in the row.

Slip, Knit, Pass (SKP) is a decreasing technique where a stitch is slipped, the next stitch is knitted, and then the slipped stitch is passed over the knitted stitch, reducing the number of stitches in the row.

Pass, Slip, Knit (PSK) is a decreasing technique where a stitch is passed, the next stitch is slipped, and then both stitches are knitted together, reducing the number of stitches in the row.

Knit Two Together, Slip One (K2tog, S1) is a decreasing technique where two stitches are knitted together, and then the next stitch is slipped over the two knitted stitches, reducing the number of stitches in the row.

Slip One, Knit Two Together (S1, K2tog) is a decreasing technique where one stitch is slipped, two stitches are knitted together, and then the slipped stitch is passed over the two knitted stitches, reducing the number of stitches in the row.

Slip One, Knit One, Slip One, Knit One (S1, K1, S1, K1) is a decreasing technique where one stitch is slipped, one stitch is knitted, one stitch is slipped, and then one stitch is knitted, reducing the number of stitches in the row.