Stitch Guide

View instructions and diagrams for many popular knitting and crochet stitches.

Knitting Gauge

To check gauge, cast on 30 to 40 stitches using recommended needle size. Work in pattern stitch until piece measures at least 4" (10 cm) from cast-on edge. Remove swatch from needles or bind of loosely and lay swatch on flat surface. Place a ruler over swatch and count number of stitches across and number of rows down (including factions of stitches and rows) in 4" (10 cm). Repeat two or three times on different areas of swatch to confirm measurements. If you have more stitches and rows than called for in instructions, use larger needles; if you have fewer, use smaller needles. Repeat until gauge is correct.

Swatching

Swatching Checklist

Positive and Negative Ease

About Positive Ease, Negative Ease, and Those Pesky Measurements

Blocking

Blocking Tutorial, Part One

Blocking Tutorial, Part Two

Grafting Techniques

Grafting On The Needles

Wraps per Inch

If you substitute or spin a yarn for a project, you can compare the weight of the yarn to the project yarn by comparing wraps per inch. To do this, wrap your yarn around a ruler for on inch and count the number of wraps. If you have more wraps per inch, your yarn is too thin; fewer wraps per inch, your yarn is too thick.

Reading Charts

Unless otherwise indicated, read charts from the bottom up. On right-side rows, read charts from right to left. On wrong side rows, read charts from left to right. When knitting in the round read charts from right to left for all rows.

What does "no stitch" mean?

A "no-stitch" box is just a placeholder; it does not represent an actual stitch. It simply makes room on the chart for an increase or a decrease in the next row/round. Think of it this way: If you decrease a stitch in Row 1, you have one less stitch in Row 2. Charts are boxy and linear, so in order to make the little boxes line up properly (and to keep the roadmap clear so you can visualize the pattern), that "lost stitch" is greyed out in Row 2. (The reverse is also true: If you increase, you will have a new stitch in Row 2 that was not there in Row 1--so Row 1 may need a grey "not-there-yet-but-will-be-soon" placeholder box.) Just skip that greyed-out little no-stitch rascal. Ignore it. "It's just there to make the chart square.".

Cabling Without A Cable Needle

The following are links to online tutorials for this popular technique.

Step-By-Step Photo Tutorial on Bagateller

Grumperina's Photo Tutorials

WendyKnit's Photo Lessons

WendyKnit's Video Tutorial

Measuring Yourself

Measuring tutorial with photos

About Positive Ease, Negative Ease, and Those Pesky Measurements

Using The Clothes You Already Own To Find What Fits You

Miscellaneous Helpful Things

Ripping Back Without Ripping Your Hair Out

After The Frog Pond: Bringing Yarn Back From The Dead

Losing the Ladders (Working on DPNs)

Converting Stitch Patterns For Working In The Round