Well, this new year has started out a little slowly for me on the blogging front – for that I am sorry. Unfortunately I have been spending way too much time trying to recover my hard drive. As fate would have it, the drive with my backup has stopped spinning and I can’t do a recover from there. It just makes you want to scream! Oh well, I haven’t stopped knitting and have decided it’s time to take a break from that and write a post already – especially if I want to keep my resolution of 4 – 5 per week! So on that note, I have decided on another regular topic to do a post on to replace the two that I have discontinued – textures. This might sound like a strange post topic but I find it fitting for two reasons:
- I intend to do a book on this very topic some time in the future. Yes, I know they’ve been done, but there are so many more now that a new compilation is needed (IMHO).
- I looked back at the reason for this blog, and one of the major ones was to teach and learn. I hope that in doing a regular post on textures I might provide some information you may not have had before (or remembered) and through your feedback I may learn something as well. Let’s go out there and create something that hasn’t been done yet!
So the first texture to start off this topic is probably the first one every knitter learns – the garter stitch. The garter stitch is done by knitting OR purling all of your stitches, although the purling method is not usually used. Since the first stitch most beginners learn is the knit stitch, doing a garter stitch swatch usually follows before they learn the purl stitch. When I am teaching a beginner to knit, I have them do a garter stitch swatch using the knit stitch and then repeat this exercise when they have learned the purl stitch. I then have them place them side by side and look for the difference. There isn’t any of course, except the first ridge caused by the cast on edge.
Even though the garter stitch is probably the simplest of the textures to make, it can be used in a number of ways to produce visually stunning effects. The garter stitch has incredible elasticity along it’s length. This is because if you look at the garter stitch fabric closely, you will see that it is actually a 1×1 horizontal rib fabric. This happens because when you knit on the side facing you (A), you are creating a purl stitch on the other side (B). When you go to side B, you are going to knit, which creates a purl n side A. So side A (and B) is alternating between rows of knit and purl stitches (even though you’re just knitting and purling). The ribbed effect cause the fabric to stay fairly “closed”, so you have to stretch it apart slightly to see the knit row (valleys) being hidden by the purl rows (ridges). So in effect, you can create a ribbed sweater by knitting your sweater sideways in garter stitch! Because of the elasticity lengthwise in garter stitch, it is a great texture to use for a bag or anything that you need to “grow” bit from time to time. After the stress is removed it will snap back into shape right away.
This is in no way the extent of the possibilities with the garter stitch. You can do a multitude of things with it. There is a book by Rita Weiss called 50 Fabulous Knit Garter Stitches that has 50 different pattern stitches you can make with garter stitches. The 50 pattern stitches are Diamonds, Shells, Feather Lace, Criss Cross, Stamen Stitch, Horizontal Bars, Hyacinth Blossom, Lacy Bobbles, Wave Stitch, Clusters, Tri-Color, Haystack, Chevrons, Leafy Lace, Berries, Brioche, Slip and Slide, Lozenges, Lattice, Bluebells, Checkers, Checks and Balances, Climbing Ropes, Traveling Brioche, Plaid, Arrowheads, Open Ribs, Slanting Bobbles, Two-Color Stripe, Diagonal Openwork, Honeycomb, Dotted Lines, Tiny Bobbles, Mesh, Textured Ridges, Cardigan Stitch, Lace Ripple, Eyelets, Zigzag Lace, Polka Dots, Crested Waves, Traveling Eyelet, Openwork, Intermesh, Springtime Lace, Fisherman’s Rib, Vertical Visions, Drop Stitch, Eyelet Columns, and Garter Cockle Shells. While some of these are not for beginners, you are sure to find something in thee that you may not have seen before and/or tickles your fancy. You can look for the book in your library or purchase it from Amazon – click the picture for the link.
Hugzzz 😎