Knitty Gritty

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● Knitty Gritty teaches beginners in plain English, so more knitters feel confident about taking that next big step into the world of knitting patterns on their own. ● The author is an experienced knitting teacher, and guarantees that she can teach anyone to knit. ● Photographs show actual knitting projects in action. ● Created especially for absolute beginners, unlike so many of the ‘beginners’ books and patterns on the market these days.

Aneeta also runs Knitting SOS, a free service offering emergency knitting advice to (often frantic) knitters. Knitting SOS is held via a monthy drop-in clinic, telephone, text and email. For more information see: www.knittingsos.co.uk www.acblack.com

£14.99

ISBN 978-0-7136-8542-8

90100

9

780713 685428

A & C BLACK • LONDON

ANEETA PATEL

Aneeta Patel is an artist and knitting teacher living in East London. She has been teaching knitting professionally for several years and holds classes in various locations around London. She specialises in beginners’ knitting, and also runs special events, knitting parties, and group and one-on-one teaching sessions.

KNITTING FOR THE ABSOLUTE BEGINNER

This book is a tried and tested guide for people at the very beginning of their knitting careers, looking for guidance and patterns for projects that they can use to make that first all-important step to ‘Beyond the Scarf’.

knitty gritty

Everyone has heard the mantra ‘Knitting is the new yoga’ but sadly not everyone is lucky enough to have someone to show them the ropes and get them started on their very first row. Without a friend or relative to teach them how to start at the very beginning, often would-be knitters turn to the so-called ‘beginners patterns’ but these can be confusing, difficult to follow, and more often than not written in ‘knit’ rather than English.


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KnittyGritty For the absolute beginner knitter

by Aneeta Patel A&C Black â– London

photography by Peter Schiazza


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PROJECT 12

Manly Scarf This is a variation on the theme of the ordinary scarf. I’ve added a couple of twists to take it away from the image of the granny-knitted present and given it a direct route to modern-man-chic. It is also fun for the knitter as it uses a 2x2 rib which, while it may take a bit longer to knit, makes for great practice in knitting and purling – and it incorporates a funky stripe as well. Choose your colours with care – is the man-in-mind an avid supporter (or loather) of a football team that sports particular colours? Does he have favourite colours, or colours he strictly avoids? A stripe can say so much about a man. Decisions, decisions… Garthenor Organic yarn and 7mm knitting needles used in this image

YOU WILL NEED 200G CHUNKY-WEIGHT YARN This will usually require a 7 or 8mm knitting needle). You need 100g each of two different, carefully chosen colours of yarn, to give 200g in total. 7/8MM KNITTING NEEDLES (Look at the yarn label).

112 | knitty gritty


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Handy HINT K2, yf, P2, yb will create a 2x2 rib The movements of the yarn are not shown in the pattern, as the knitter will know where the yarn needs to be to keep the pattern and stitch count even. But as a beginner you should count your stitches at the end of every row, and if you forget where you are in the middle of a row, go to the stitches that you’ve already knitted (on the right hand needle) and count what you’ve already done: e.g.: “k2, p2, k2, p2… what’s next? Oh yes, k2. Is my yarn at the back? It is? Keep working!”


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ABBREVIATIONS: K = Knit P = Purl St(s) = Stitch(es) YF = Yarn forward 2x2 Rib = knit two stitches, purl two stitches START KNITTING Cast on 28sts

1 Knit 2 sts, Purl 2 sts. Repeat this sequence of k2, p2, to the end of the row.

Weave in your ends vertically on 2x2 rib

Repeat this row for a total of 10 rows. Change to next colour. K2, P2, rib for 10 rows. Change to next colour. K2, P2, rib for 10 rows. Continue this sequence until the scarf has eleven stripes in each colour. Cast off in 2x2 rib. 1

WEAVE IN ALL YOUR ENDS Weave your ends in vertically along the edge of the scarf.

Handy HINT

Knitter’s Notes you Rib Reminder: Remember that when work the of back the at is knit, the yarn you when and you) from (furthest away the work purl, the yarn is at the front of ). body your and dles nee (between the th of Weaving the ends along the leng the g alon than er the scarf, rath of the width, helps retain the elasticity rib stitch.

Casting off in 2x2 rib K1, K1, cast off 1. (Yarn forward. P1, cast off 1. P1, cast off 1. Yarn back. K1, cast off 1. K1, cast off 1). Repeat to end of the row remembering to knit and purl in the same places that you have been throughout the scarf.

PROJECT 12 | manly scarf | 115


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First published in Great Britain in 2008 A & C Black Publishers Limited 38 Soho Square London W1D 3HB www.acblack.com

ISBN-13: 978-0-7136-85428 Copyright © 2008 Aneeta Patel

Aneeta Patel has asserted her right under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work. CIP Catalogue records for this book are available from the British Library and the U.S. Library of Congress. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems – without the prior permission in writing of the publishers.

Cover design: Sutchinda Rangsi Thompson Photography: Peter Schiazza Commissioning Editor: Susan Kelly Printed and bound in China This book is produced using paper that is made from wood grown in managed, sustainable forests. It is natural, renewable and recyclable. The logging and manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin. The author and publisher cannot accept any liability for the use or misuse of any materials or equipment mentioned in this book. Always read any product and equipment instructions and take any necessary precautions.


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