I have been practicing small squares of knitting. Trying to learn the various skills required to make something useful.
This is my first attempt at straight knitting, I knitted both sides and the result is something called a garter stitch. Both sides look the same.
I then tried a square knitting the front side and purling the back side. The result is what is called the stockinette stitch. This is the front side.
This is the back side.
The next piece is ribbed. I knitted two, purled two. Both sides look the same. This is the stitch I did in high school on the caps I made. I also used the decrease stitch on the caps.
My attempt at button holes. I think I will need some help from an expert on this one. The one on the bottom was my first attempt, pretty much a mess. The rest were OK, but hopefully I can learn to do them better.
This is my attempt at increasing, which I did within the piece, and decreasing, which I did only on the edges. I think probably all increasing and decreasing needs to be done along the edges.
The last I just did to see how it would work, since most sweaters have ribbing at the cuffs and bottom edge as well as around the neck. I am very interested to seeing how they do those neck openings and then the neck ribbing!
I now have to learn how to read the patterns, which are very mysterious looking. I assume once I crack the code, I will be fine. I did teach myself to make the caps when I was a teenager and don't remember any help from anyone, just sorting it out on my own. I wonder what prompted that? Thinking back, I have no memory of that idea coming to me, though I certainly remember making a number of caps. Then I quit and haven't picked up knitting needles until now. Now, I am thinking how I can use my knitting in creative ways. I am not necessarily interested in making specific items, although I certainly hope I can make a cap for my grandson for Christmas. My youngest also asked if she might get a sweater made. We'll see!
