tutorial

tutorial

tutorial – knitting a bobble

Knitting a bobble - a tutorial by La Visch Designs

Bobbles are a lovely way to add texture to a knitting project. I’ve used them myself to add interest to an otherwise rather plain stockinette shawl body in my Moerbei shawl. They’re also rather popular as an extra design element on cabled sweaters. In the basis a bobble is nothing more than a single stitch that is increased to a collection of stitches (usually 3, 5, or 7 stitches), worked back and forth and then decreased back again to a single stitch. There are, however, many ways to go about this.

In this tutorial I will show you a 5-stitch version of a bobble. Read on for more details!

Materials used

Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, a good value, good quality 100% acrylic yarn, here in the color Lime.

Knitting needles: This is a pair of straights that I picked up at the second-hand store when I started knitting, brand unknown.

Knitting a bobble step by step

  1. First, work in your piece of knitting to the point where you want to make the bobble.

    Step 1 of knitting a bobble

  2. Next, insert the right-hand needle into the center of the next stitch on the needle, and work a [k1, yo, k1, yo, k1] increase into that stitch.

    Step 2

  3. Turn you work, and purl the 5 stitches you increased to.

    Step 3 of knitting a bobble

  4. Again turn you work, and knit the 5 stitches you increased to.

    Step 4

  5. Now, pass the second stitch from the tip of the right-hand needle over the first one (the last stitch knitted).

    Step 5 of knitting a bobble

  6. Repeat step 5 another 3 times, until you only have 1 stitch left.

    Step 6

  7. The result: a lovely 5-stitch bobble!

    The result of knitting a bobble

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Thanks to my Patreon supporters for bringing you this freebie! Creating quality patterns and tutorials is a lot of work and resource-intensive. However, I find it important to give you free content like this tutorial. Thanks to the generous support of my Patreon supporters, I can make it happen. Thank you, patrons! Click here to join, or click here to read more about La Visch Designs on Patreon.

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tutorial – working the double knit below increase

Tutorial on working the double knit below increase - by La Visch Designs

Double increases aren’t as commonly used as basic single increases. Nevertheless, they absolutely have their place in the knitter’s toolkit. The double knit below increase is a variation of a lifted increase. Instead of only increasing 1 stitch, however, you’re increasing 1 stitch to 3 stitches.

As you’ll see, the structure of this increase, is very similar to the k-yo-k increase. Rather than placing a yarn over between the two knit stitches, this variation uses a double-knit-below increase centered in the same spot: work a knit-below increase flanked by two knit stitches, all drawn from a single point. The resulting eyelets are subtler and more refined than those created by the classic k-yo-k, while still forming a pretty decorative line. This double increase is symmetrical and quite decorative, and for this reason also a very good choice to use for the central spine in top-down triangle shawls.

Below you can find how to work this increase step by step, so get your materials and follow along!

Materials

Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, a good value, good quality 100% acrylic yarn, here in the color 155 Vintage pink.

Knitting needles: This is a pair of straights that I picked up at the second-hand store when I started knitting, brand unknown.

Working the double knit below increase step by step

  1. Work your way across the row until you’ve reached the point where you want to make the double increase.

    In this case, I want to work the increase in the center stitch of the swatch, where I’ve already worked some rows with increases.Step 1 of working the double knit below increase

  2. First, work a knit stitch in the first stitch on the left-hand needle.

    Don’t let the stitch slide off the needle yet!Step 2

  3. For the middle stitch in the increase, we’re going to knit below the stitch just worked. Do you see the horizontal bar just below it? That’s where to insert your right-hand needle for this next step!

    Step 3 of working the double knit below increase

  4. So, insert your needle, wrap the yarn around, and pull it through to make a knit stitch, one stitch below. Don’t let the original stitch slide off the needle yet!

    Step 4

  5. Then work another knit stitch, this time into the original stitch as you did in step 2.

    Step 5 of working the double knit below increase

  6. To complete the increase, slip the stitch worked off the needle.

    Step 6

The result

Below, you can see the result of working several rows of these increases. First shown from the right side, then from the wrong side of the fabric. Doesn’t it look pretty?

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Thanks to my Patreon supporters for bringing you this freebie! Creating quality patterns and tutorials is a lot of work and resource-intensive. However, I find it important to give you free content like this tutorial. Thanks to the generous support of my Patreon supporters, I can make it happen. Thank you, patrons! Click here to join, or click here to read more about La Visch Designs on Patreon.

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tutorial – all about stitch markers

All about stitch markers - a tutorial by La Visch Designs

In every knitter’s or crocheter’s notions pouch, there’s a small but very useful tool: The humble stitch marker. Whether the design is simple or elaborate, stitch markers are the highly practical tools of the trade. They help you keep track of your work and make it easier to follow pattern instructions accurately. In knitting, stitch markers are usually placed on the needle and move along as you work. In crochet, stitch markers are usually clipped into a stitch and remain in place until you move them. This usually happens when the marked stitch has been worked, and is moved up to the new stitch directly above it, in the new row or round.

Using stitch markers helps prevent mistakes and makes it easier to spot any issues early on. This last one I especially appreciate when working the more complex lace patterning in projects. In this post, I’ll show you the different types of stitch markers, and how to use them in both knitting and crochet. Let’s get started!

Closed stitch markers

Below, you can see a variation of closed stitch markers as found among my notions. They all have in common that they are placed on the knitting needle to mark a shaping point, a pattern repeat or the beginning (or end!) of a round. This type of stitch marker cannot be used in crochet.

Closed stitch markers

Here you can read some of the ways to use this kind of stitch marker:

Marking the Beginning of a Round (BOR): In circular, seamless projects, the BOR marker is placed so that you know when you have completed a full round. It’s best to use a unique marker for the BOR so you don’t confuse it with others that you may have in your project for shaping, for example. In knitting, this marker is placed on the right needle after working the last stitch of the round, so basically in-between the last and first stitches. For this reason it’s also often called the “End of Round (EOR)” marker. I like to use my row counter, suspended from a piece of cotton for this.

Marking increases and decreases: When working projects such as garments or shawls, that require shaping, stitch markers are used to ensure these are performed in the correct place each time.

Separating pattern repeats: For simple pattern repeats or when working lace, cables or colourwork, I often place a marker at each repeat. This allows me to confidently work without the need for constant counting. Also, it enables me to easily spot mistakes in one small, manageable section at a time.

Reminders: At certain points in your knitting, you may need to work a single stitch differently, such as working short rows when you knit the turning stitches together. Use markers to remind you where these are and save time and possible mistakes.

A draw back I’ve noticed of this type of stitch marker, is that they tend to catch the yarn. This, in turn, makes the tension a bit looser in the area of the marker than in other places in the fabric. I’m a pretty loose knitter, so anything that makes the tension even more loose is not something I want.

This is the reason that I prefer the looped yarn variety of closed stitch marker: Just tie a bit of yarn into a loop, and you’re good to go! I match the weight of the yarn for the stitch marker with the yarn used in the project. Not only have these stitch markers enough give in the part that goes around the needle to prevent tension issues. The tails also make it possible to determine the correct place of the stitch marker, even if the loops of the knitting slide over the loop of the stitch marker. Also nice: If you lose one, you can easily make new stitch markers with just a small piece of waste yarn!

Looped yarn stitch markers

Locking or removable stitch markers

Removable stitch markers like the ones below, are generally used to clip onto a particular stitch. Because of this, they can be used in both knitting and crochet. If the needle size is small enough, you can also slide them onto a knitting needle. In that case, they work just like a closed stitch marker. The bulb pins shown in the lower right corner are a budget-friendly alternative. They offer a simple alternative for other ,usually more expensive versions of removable stitch markers.

Removable stitch markers - completely closing

There are various ways to use this kind of stitch marker. In crochet many uses are similar to those mentioned above for the closed stitch markers. For both knitting and crochet, you can think of the following:

Using a locking stitch marker to mark stitches for later: There are times when a pattern tells you to do something, but not right away. Think of things like the start of a round, or where increases or decreases will happen a few rows further on. In those cases, you can place a locking stitch marker right in the stitch itself. When you get to the relevant row, you can simply trace the stitches upward to find the exact spot. It’s a lovely way to keep knitting or crocheting without breaking your rhythm. Especially in larger projects or when working in a spiral, like with amigurumi.

Keeping track of rows without constant counting: If you find yourself losing track of rows or rounds (and honestly, who doesn’t?), locking stitch markers can really help. Just place one every 10 or 20 rows. That way, you always have a quick visual reference, and you don’t have to count everything over and over again.

Marking points for neat seaming: When working pieces separately that will be joined later, it can be tricky to line everything up just right. By placing locking markers at the points that need to match, you give yourself little guides to follow when seaming. It makes the finishing much easier and helps keep everything nice and tidy. This is exactly what you’re seeing below in this picture of a cardigan I made.

Flat lay view of the sleeves of a blue garment being seamed together using the crochet method. Bulb pins are being used to align the edges.

Catching and securing dropped stitches: A dropped stitch doesn’t have to be a disaster. Just catch the loop with a locking stitch marker to stop it from unraveling further. You can then fix it at your convenience, without worrying that things will get worse in the meantime. I had this happen once while blocking a lace shawl. A thread snapped, where I must have knit into the fluff of the kid silk. Anyway, I secured it with a bulb pin, and repaired the hole when the shawl came off the blocking mats.

Keeping your work safe when putting it down: This one is especially relevant for crochet. If you need to put your project aside or take it with you, it’s a good idea to secure the live stitch with a locking marker. It only takes a moment, and it helps make sure your work is exactly as you left it when you pick it up again!

Removable spiral stitch markers

The stitch markers you can see above, are a special variation of the locking stitch marker. They are often called spiral or split-ring stitch markers. These stitch markers are easy to recognize by their open, spiral-like shape. They’re not fully closed, with just a small overlapping gap. Because of this, they can be slipped in and out of stitches very quickly. This makes them particularly popular for crochet, where you often need to move markers around as you work. That said, they can also be quite useful in knitting, especially because they can be inserted, and removed very easily. I use them often when knitting a garter stitch tab for a new shawl!

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tutorial – making a loop buttonhole

Making a loop buttonhole - a tutorial by La Visch Designs

A loop buttonhole is one of those small finishing details that can completely change how polished your project looks. Instead of working a buttonhole into the fabric itself, you create a simple loop right at the edge. It removes the need to plan out your buttonholes while still knitting or crocheting your project. In other words: It’s perfect for cardigans, cuffs, keyhole openings, or anywhere you want a flexible, decorative closure.

In this step-by-step photo tutorial, I show you how to create a neat, loop buttonhole along the edge of your work using a darning needle. The same effect could however also be achieved by crocheting into the loop. Ok, get your things, and follow along!

Materials used

Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, a good value, good quality 100% acrylic yarn, here in the color Lime for the swatch, and Vintage Pink for the buttonhole loop.

Darning needle: Hiya Hiya Darn It Yarn Needle, or any other tapestry needle.

Working the loop buttonhole step by step

  1. First, make sure you have your darning needle threaded with the yarn you want to use for the buttonhole loop.

    The buttonhole loop can be attached to any side of a piece of knitting or crochet. In this tutorial, I will be attaching it to the bind-off edge of this swatch.Step 1 of making a loop buttonhole

  2. To start, I insert the darning needle from bottom to top through both loops of one of the stitches on the edge. Pull it through for a bit.

    Step 2

  3. Next, insert the darning needle from top to bottom through both loops of another of the stitches on the edge.

    I skipped 1 stitch, because I though that would give me a nice size for a buttonhole. You can leave less or more room between the 2 points as needed for the size of the buttons you intend to use.Step 3 of making a loop buttonhole

  4. Pull the yarn through until you have a loop of the desired size for your button.

    The loop kept flipping up, so I used the darning needle to hold it down for the picture.Step 4

  5. Repeat steps 2-4 a couple of times. This gives a sturdier buttonhole. The number of times, depends on the thickness of your yarn, as well as on the desired size of the loop.

    I changed the orientation of the edge, because this proved to be easier to work.Step 5 of making a loop buttonhole

  6. Next, take your darning needle, and insert it from bottom to top into the loop.

    Step 6

  7. Pull the yarn through almost, but not entirely all the way. Now take the darning needle and insert it top to bottom through the loop that your working yarn has formed.

    Step 7 of making a loop buttonhole

  8. Pull it all through, and tighten the knot you have created. Make sure to push it right next to the fabric of the piece you’re attaching the buttonhole to.

    Step 8

  9. Repeat steps 6-8 as often as needed to completely cover the loops of yarn made in steps 2-5.

    Step 9 of making a loop buttonhole

  10. To finish, you can thread the yarn through the buttonhole loop, back to the start. Tie a knot, and weave in the ends.

    The result of making a loop buttonhole


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Thanks to my Patreon supporters for bringing you this freebie! Creating quality patterns and tutorials is a lot of work and resource-intensive. However, I find it important to give you free content like this tutorial. Thanks to the generous support of my Patreon supporters, I can make it happen. Thank you, patrons! Click here to join, or click here to read more about La Visch Designs on Patreon.

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tutorial – working the stretchy yo bind-off for 1×1 rib

Working the stretchy YO bind-off for 1x1 rib - a tutorial by La Visch Designs

This bind-off is very similar to regular “binding of in pattern”, take a look at the tutorial for 1×1 rib that shows you the principal of it. The main difference with the stretchy yo bind-off, is that it adds a yarn over for every purl stitch of the ribbing. As such, it’s less stretchy than a bind-off that includes a yo after every stitch, but much more stretchy than a regular ribbing bind-off that doesn’t include one. I really like to use this one for ribbing on sleeve cuffs, the hems of sweaters etc. It really doesn’t matter if your piece is in regular 1×1 rib, are a twisted one using (k tbl, p1). It doesn’t flare out as much as, for example, the Russian bind-off does.

Let’s get started!

Materials used

Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, a good value, good quality 100% acrylic yarn, here in the color Vintage Pink

Knitting needles: This is a pair of straights that I picked up at the second-hand store when I started knitting, brand unknown.

The stretchy yo bind-off for 1×1 rib step by step

In patterns, you may see the following instruction for this bind-off:
K1, *yo, p1, then grab the 2nd and 3rd sts, and pass them both over the st just purled, k1, insert tip of the left-hand needle into second stitch on the right-hand needle, pass this stitch over the stitch just knit*; rep ** to end, yo, p1, then grab the 2nd and 3rd sts, and pass them both over the st just purled.
Below, I’ll show you step by step how this looks like in knitting!

  1. To start, take the piece of knitting you want to bind-off.

    In this case, I’m using a swatch in [k1 tbl, p1] rib.Step 1 of working the stretchy YO bind-off for 1x1 rib.

  2. Knit the first stitch on the left-hand needle.

    Step 2

  3. Next, work a yarn over by wrapping the yarn around the needle.

    Step 3 of working the stretchy YO bind-off for 1x1 rib.

  4. Next is working a purl stitch.

    Depending on your knitting style, it may help to secure the yo of the previous step with your right index finger while you work the purl stitch.Step 4

  5. Insert the tip of the left-hand needle into the second and third stitches on the right-hand needle….

    Step 5 of working the stretchy YO bind-off for 1x1 rib.

  6. … and pass them over the purl stitch.

    Step 6

  7. Knit the first stitch on the left-hand needle.

    Step 7 of working the stretchy YO bind-off for 1x1 rib.

  8. Insert the tip of the left-hand needle into the second stitch on the right-hand needle….

    Step 8

  9. …. then pass it over the stitch just knit.

    Step 9 of working the stretchy YO bind-off for 1x1 rib.

  10. Continue working steps 3-8, ending with a repeat of steps 3-6 for the last purl stitch in the rib (assuming you started with an even number of stitches!).

    To bind-off the last stitch you end up with, just break your yarn, and pull it through.Step 10

The result

Do you see how lovely this bind-off follows the shape of the ribbing?

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Thanks to my Patreon supporters for bringing you this freebie! Creating quality patterns and tutorials is a lot of work and resource-intensive. However, I find it important to give you free content like this tutorial. Thanks to the generous support of my Patreon supporters, I can make it happen. Thank you, patrons! Click here to join, or click here to read more about La Visch Designs on Patreon.

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tutorial – knitting the yarn over bind-off (version 2)

Knitting the YO bind-off (version 2) - a tutorial by La Visch Designs

In this tutorial I show you how to work a second version of the yarn over bind-off for stockinette. Remember, the thing that all yarn over bind-off have in common, is that they all use an extra yo somewhere in the bind-off sequence to give the edge some extra stretch. Where they differ, is how that yo is treated within the bind-off repeat. The one I’m showing in this tutorial is one I really like, because it gives decent stretch without a lot of flare at the edge. Ok, grab your things!

Materials used

Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, a good value, good quality 100% acrylic yarn, here in the color Lime

Knitting needles: This is a pair of straights that I picked up at the second-hand store when I started knitting, brand unknown.

The yarn over bind-off step by step

In patterns, you may see the following instruction for this bind-off:

*K1, yo, k1, insert tip of the left-hand needle into the first and second stitches on the right-hand needle, pass them over the third stitch*; repeat *-* to end.

Please note, that when I mentioned “first” or “second”, I mean the stitch that was knit first or second, not the location relative to the tip of the right-hand needle. Below, I’ll show you step by step how this looks like in knitting!

  1. To start, take the piece of knitting you want to bind-off, and knit the first stitch on the left-hand needle.

    In this case, I’m using a swatch in stockinette stitch.Step 1 of knitting the yarn over bind-off - version 2

  2. Next, work a yarn over by wrapping the yarn around the needle.

    Step 2

  3. Next, knit the new stitch nearest to the tip of the left-hand needle.

    Step 3 of knitting the yarn over bind-off - version 2

  4. Insert the tip of the left-hand needle into the first and second stitches on the right-hand needle, and pass them over the third (last knit) one.

    Step 4

  5. Continue working steps 1-4 to the end.

    To bind-off the last stitch you end up with, just break your yarn, and pull it through.The result from the RS of knitting the yarn over bind-off - version 2

As you can see in the last picture above, this bind-off has barely any flare to it. When seen from the wrong side, the result looks like this:

The result from the WS of knitting the yarn over bind-off - version 2
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Thanks to my Patreon supporters for bringing you this freebie! Creating quality patterns and tutorials is a lot of work and resource-intensive. However, I find it important to give you free content like this tutorial. Thanks to the generous support of my Patreon supporters, I can make it happen. Thank you, patrons! Click here to join, or click here to read more about La Visch Designs on Patreon.

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tutorial – knitting the yarn over bind-off (version 1)

Knitting the YO bind-off (version 1) - a tutorial by La Visch Designs

The thing that all yarn over bind-off have in common, is that they all use an extra yo somewhere in the bind-off sequence to give the edge some extra stretch. Where they differ, is how that yo is treated within the bind-off repeat. The one I’m showing in this tutorial is not really the one I prefer, because it has significant flare at the edge. That said, it’s a good one to know. In a couple of weeks, I’ll share a different yarn over bind-off for stockinette with you. Let’s get started!

Materials used

Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, a good value, good quality 100% acrylic yarn, here in the color Lime

Knitting needles: This is a pair of straights that I picked up at the second-hand store when I started knitting, brand unknown.

The yarn over bind-off step by step

In patterns, you may see the following instruction for this bind-off:

K1, *k1, insert tip of the left-hand needle into the first stitch on the right-hand needle, pass this stitch over the second stitch, yo, grab the first st, and pass it over the yo*; repeat *-* to end.

Please note, that when I mentioned “first” or “second”, I mean the stitch that was knit first or second, not the location relative to the tip of the right-hand needle. Below, I’ll show you step by step how this looks like in knitting!

  1. To start, take the piece of knitting you want to bind-off, and knit the first stitch on the left-hand needle.

    In this case, I’m using a swatch in stockinette stitch.Step 1 of knitting the yarn over bind-off - version 1

  2. Next, knit the new stitch nearest to the tip of the left-hand needle.

    Step 2

  3. Insert the tip of the left-hand needle into the first stitch on the right-hand needle, and pass this stitch over the second one.

    Step 3 of knitting the yarn over bind-off - version 1

  4. Next, work a yarn over by wrapping the yarn around the needle.

    Step 4

  5. Insert the tip of the left-hand needle into the first stitch on the right-hand needle, and pass it over the yarn over.

    Step 5 of knitting the yarn over bind-off - version 1

  6. Continue working steps 2-5 for every stitch you encounter.

    To bind-off the last stitch you end up with, just break your yarn, and pull it through.The result from the RS of knitting the yarn over bind-off - version 1

As you can see in the last picture above, this bind-off has quite some flare to it. Reduce the amount of flare by repeating steps 1-5 instead of 2-5. However, this would also reduce the stretchiness. When seen from the wrong side, the result looks like this:

The result from the WS of knitting the yarn over bind-off - version 1
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Thanks to my Patreon supporters for bringing you this freebie! Creating quality patterns and tutorials is a lot of work and resource-intensive. However, I find it important to give you free content like this tutorial. Thanks to the generous support of my Patreon supporters, I can make it happen. Thank you, patrons! Click here to join, or click here to read more about La Visch Designs on Patreon.

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tutorial – the sl3-k1-p3sso right-leaning centered decrease

The sl3-k1-p3sso right-leaning centered decrease - a tutorial by La Visch Designs

Recently, I shared with you how to work the slightly left-leaning sl2-k2tog-p2sso decrease. Of course, there is also a centered triple decrease that’s slightly right-leaning: The sl3-k1-p3sso decrease! This abbreviation is short for slip 3, knit 1, pass 3 slipped stitches over. The result is a tidy, symmetrical-looking line that subtly favors one side. In this tutorial, we’ll walk step-by-step through how to work the sl3-k1-p3sso decrease. Let’s pick up our needles and see how to work this decrease!

Materials

Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, a good value, good quality 100% acrylic yarn, here in the color Tea Rose.

Knitting needles: This is a pair of straights that I picked up at the second-hand store when I started knitting, brand unknown.

Working a sl3-k1-p3sso step by step

  1. First, work your way across the row until you’ve reached the point where you want to make the decrease. In this case, I want to work the triple decrease 5 stitches in after the garter stitch edge.

    Step 1 of working the sl3-k1-p3sso decrease

  2. Next, insert the tip of the right-hand needle into the first 3 stitches at the same time as if to knit.

    Step 2

  3. Pass these stitches to the right-hand needle.

    This step changes the orientation of the stitches, influencing how they appear when the decrease has been finished.Step 3 of working the sl3-k1-p3sso decrease

  4. Now knit the next stitch.

    Step 4

  5. To finish the triple decrease, we will be passing the initially slipped stitches over the knit stitch. First, insert the left-hand needle into those 3 stitches….

    Step 5 of working the sl3-k1-p3sso decrease

  6. …. then pass them over the other stitch.

    The result of working the sl3-k1-p3sso decrease

The result

The below pictures show how it looks after 2 more decrease rows have been worked. First from the right side, then from the wrong side of the fabric. Please note that in order to have any subsequent decreases line up correctly, any new decrease has to be started 2 stitches before the stitch on top of the resulting one from the previous decrease. And that’s all there is to it!

Multiple sl3-k1-p3sso decreases as seen from the RS
Multiple sl3-k1-p3sso decreases as seen from the RS
Multiple sl3-k1-p3sso decreases as seen from the WS
Multiple sl3-k1-p3sso decreases as seen from the WS
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Thanks to my Patreon supporters for bringing you this freebie! Creating quality patterns and tutorials is a lot of work and resource-intensive. However, I find it important to give you free content like this tutorial. Thanks to the generous support of my Patreon supporters, I can make it happen. Thank you, patrons! Click here to join, or click here to read more about La Visch Designs on Patreon.

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tutorial – the k4tog bf decrease

The k4tog bf decrease - a tutorial by La Visch Designs

As part of this stitch pattern that I encountered, there was also this “k4tog bf” decrease. The abbreviation stands for “knit 4 stitches together back front”. It’s a new to me way to reduce the number of stitches from 4 to 2 stitches. Of course, you could also just combine a k2tog and your choice of a left-leaning decrease, take for example the skp decrease. However, the k4tog bf decrease looks quite different, so it really has its place. And that stitch pattern I encountered it in? I will post it soon!

Below you can find how to work this decrease, so get your materials and follow along!

Materials

Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, a good value, good quality 100% acrylic yarn, here in the color Lime.

Knitting needles: This is a pair of straights that I picked up at the second-hand store when I started knitting, brand unknown.

Working a k4tog bf step by step

  1. First, work your way across the row until you’ve reached the point where you want to make the decrease. In this case, I want to work the decrease over the 4 stitches in the middle of the swatch.

    Step 1 of working the k4tog bf decrease

  2. Next, insert the tip of the right-hand needle into the first 4 stitches at the same time as if to knit through the back loop. This is easier when using very sharp needles. I also find it helps to pull the fabric below the 4 stitches down a bit, to open up the loops that are on the needle.

    Step 2

  3. Wrap the yarn around the needle…

    Step 3 of working the k4tog bf decrease

  4. …and pull it through the stitches you inserted the right-hand needle in.

    Step 4

  5. Next, we’re going to work the “front” part of the decrease. Insert the tip of the right-hand needle into the first 4 stitches at the same time as if to knit. Again, this is easier when using very sharp needles or pulling the fabric down a bit, to open up the loops that are on the needle.

    Step 5 of working the k4tog bf decrease

  6. Wrap the yarn around the needle…

    Step 6

  7. …and pull it through the stitches you inserted the right-hand needle in.

    Step 7 of working the k4tog bf decrease

  8. To finish the k4tog bf decrease, slip the original stitches off the left-hand needle.

    Step 8

The below picture shows how it looks after 2 more decrease rows have been worked over the center 4 stitches in the swatch. Below it, you can find another picture showing the wrong side of the swatch.

The result of working the k4tog bf decrease - from the RS
The result of working the k4tog bf decrease – from the RS
The result of working the k4tog bf decrease - from the WS
The result of working the k4tog bf decrease – from the WS
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tutorial – the sl2-k2tog-p2sso left-leaning centered decrease

The sl2-k2tog-p2sso left-leaning centered decrease - a tutorial by La Visch Designs

In knitting, as in life, many paths can lead to the same beautiful result. When it comes to shaping your fabric with decreases, there are often several ways to achieve a similar visual effect, each with its own subtle character. The sl2-k2tog-p2sso decrease (short for slip 2, knit 2 together, pass 2 slipped stitches over) is one of those methods that produces what’s called a centered triple decrease. Despite the “centered” label, this particular decrease leans just a touch to the left. The result is a tidy, symmetrical-looking line that subtly favors one side.

In this tutorial, we’ll walk step-by-step through how to work the sl2-k2tog-p2sso decrease. And if you find yourself preferring a version that leans ever so slightly to the right; don’t worry! A companion tutorial for that variation will be coming soon. Ready? Let’s pick up our needles and see how this decrease works its magic.

Materials

Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, a good value, good quality 100% acrylic yarn, here in the color Tea Rose.

Knitting needles: This is a pair of straights that I picked up at the second-hand store when I started knitting, brand unknown.

Working a sl2-k2tog-p2sso step by step

  1. First, work your way across the row until you’ve reached the point where you want to make the decrease. In this case, I want to work the triple decrease 7 stitches in after the garter stitch edge.

    Step 1 of working a sl2-k2tog-p2sso decrease

  2. Next, insert the tip of the right-hand needle into the first 2 stitches at the same time as if to knit.

    Step 2

  3. Pass these stitches to the right-hand needle.

    This step changes the orientation of the stitches, influencing how they appear when the decrease has been finished.Step 3 of working a sl2-k2tog-p2sso decrease

  4. Over the next 2 stitches, we will be working a k2tog decrease. To do so, we first insert the right-hand needle into the 2 stitches as if to knit.

    Step 4

  5. Wrap the yarn around the needle…

    Step 5 of working a sl2-k2tog-p2sso decrease

  6. …and pull it through the stitches.

    Step 6

  7. To finish the k2tog decrease, slip the original stitches off the left-hand needle.

    Step 7 of working a sl2-k2tog-p2sso decrease

  8. To finish the triple decrease, we will be passing the initially slipped stitches over the stitch that was left after working the k2tog. First, insert the left-hand needle into those 2 stitches….

    Step 8

  9. …. then pass them over the other stitch.

    The result of working a sl2-k2tog-p2sso decrease

The result

The below pictures show how it looks after 2 more decrease rows have been worked. First from the right side, then from the wrong side of the fabric. Please note that in order to have any subsequent decreases line up correctly, any new decrease has to be started 1 stitch before the stitch on top of the resulting one from the previous decrease. And that’s all there is to it!

The sl2-k2tog-p2sso left-leaning centered decrease from the RS
The sl2-k2tog-p2sso left-leaning centered decrease from the RS
The sl2-k2tog-p2sso left-leaning centered decrease from the WS
The sl2-k2tog-p2sso left-leaning centered decrease from the WS
Patreon logo

Thanks to my Patreon supporters for bringing you this freebie! Creating quality patterns and tutorials is a lot of work and resource-intensive. However, I find it important to give you free content like this tutorial. Thanks to the generous support of my Patreon supporters, I can make it happen. Thank you, patrons! Click here to join, or click here to read more about La Visch Designs on Patreon.

tutorial – the sl2-k2tog-p2sso left-leaning centered decrease Read More »