Knitting Boot Camp

Boot Camp Yarn? Check. Equipment? Check. Patterns? Check. Know-how? Know-how? Ohhh, you don’t quite have that yet, do you? This chapter is meant to be a kind of boot camp for your knitting needs. You’ll learn the basics in how to read and decipher patterns, standard stitches to make simple pieces, and the importance of gauge (no, not in tires). Once you’ve made it through this section, you should be ready to tackle patterns for single-color scarves and even simpler blankets.

Abbreviations

This may be the first time you’ve decided to learn to knit. Maybe it’s the second, third, or fourth time you’ve tried. Many people pick up the tools, yarn, and books to prepare, then get discouraged and never follow through. Why? The biggest turn-off is probably the work and translation involved in reading knitting patterns. If you’ve ever looked at one, you’ll understand why. They’re riddled with abbreviations, shorthand, and instructions that almost seem to be written in a foreign language. Even the beginning knitter can decipher a few of these phrases, but some are so obscure and rarely used that expert knitters have to look back at references to make sure they’re doing the right thing. It may seem like slow-going right now, but soon enough you’ll have the basics of these abbreviations memorized to the point that you’ll be zipping through patterns in no time flat.

In the meantime, print out page 20 and cut along the dashed lines. The chart is the perfect size for a standard index card, so glue it to some cardstock and keep it handy in your knitting bag. For even more durability, laminate the card – you can also add new abbreviations you may come across by using a Sharpie marker. By keeping it close at hand, you’ll be able to ward off those little hiccups that happen when trying to figure out what a pattern means.

You may still have problems reading patterns even after picking up some of the more common abbreviations. To help learn the rhythm of knitting instructions, sit down and write the pattern out as you would read it. Once you’ve “translated” it, compare the longer version to the abbreviated terms in the original pattern. Review it several times before beginning. If you’re still having trouble, rewrite the pattern a second time using the abbreviations, but add the translations in parentheses and force yourself to read both while you knit. Writing everything out may get a little annoying, so use your computer to help you learn. A simple word processor is invaluable since you can make the changes easily and print them out when you’re ready to start knitting. If you come across an abbreviation you don’t know, hop online and do a little research. Message boards and online communities are great places for beginning knitters since they allow you to communicate with other knitters of various levels of expertise. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Sarah Beth Wilkinson
http://www.knittingtips.com
http://www.goodknitting.com