|
|
Reading complex Knitting
Patterns
Ever
wanted
to knit one of those
beautiful Irish
knit sweaters but when looking at
the
pattern felt it too hard to comprehend?
Knit-easy
unravels the secrets
The first
set of instructions are for making the individual panels, if you
haven’t
attempted to knit an Irish sweater a good idea is to knit test
swatches following the
instructions for each of the panels,
then when comfortable with
the
techniques move onto knitting the sweater where you will incorporate
each of
the instructions for each panel in each of your rows.
The
Panel motifs
Pattern 1: Tree of Life Multiples of 11
sts.
Row
1: p5, k1. p5.
Row 2:
k5, p1, k5.
Row 3:
p3,c2b (sl1 st on cable needle and leave at back of work, k1, p1 st
from
cable), k1, c2f (sl1 st on cable needle and leave at front of work, p1,
k1 st
from cable needle), p3.
Row 4:
k3, yfwd, sl 1, ybk, k1, p1, k1, yfwd, sl 1, tbk, k3.
Row 5: p2,
c2b, p1, k1, p1, c2f, p2.
Row 6:
k2, yfwd, sl 1, ybk, k2, p1, k2, yfwd, sl 1, ybk, k2.
Row 7:
p1, c2b, p2, k1, p2, c2f, p1.
Row 8:
k1, yfwd, sl 1, ybk, k3, p1, k3, yfwd, sl 1, ybk, k1.
11
stitches and 8 Rows form
the pattern for the Tree of life panel.
Pattern
2: Coiled cable.
Multiples of 14 sts.
Row 1: ybk, sl
1, yfwd, p2, sl 4 sts on cable needle and leave at front
of work, k4, k4 sts from dp needle, p2, ybk, sl 1.
Row 2, 4, 6,
and 8: p1, k2, p8, k2, p1.
Row 3, 5, 7:
ybk, sl 1, yfwd, p2, k8, p2, ybk, sl 1.
14
stitches
and 8 Rows form the pattern used for the
coiled cable panel.
Pattern
3: Popcorn
variation. Multiples of 3 sts.
Row 1: p1, k into
front and
back of next st 5 times, then slip the 2 nd ,
3 rd ,4 th , and 5 th sts over the 1 st st one, p1.
Row 2, 4, 6,
8: knit.
Row 3, 5, 7: purl.
3
stitches
and 8 rows form
the pattern for the Popcorn variation.
Pattern
4: Honeycomb
(center Panel) Multiples of 38
sts.
Row 1: ybk, sl 1,
yfwd, p2, *
c4b [sl 2 sts on dp needle and leave at
back of work, k2, k2 sts from dp needle], c4f [sl 2 sts on dp needle
and leave
at front of work, k2, k2 sts from dp needle] *, rep from * 3 times, p2,
ybk, sl
1.
Row 2, 4, 6,
8: p1, k2, p 32, k2, p1.
Row 3 and 7:
ybk, sl 1, yfwd, p2, k 32, p2, ybk, sl 1.
Row 5:
ybk, sl 1, yfwd, p2, * c4f, c4b, *, rep from * 3 times, p2, ybk,
sl 1.
38 stitches and 8
rows form the pattern for the Honeycomb
central panel.
In
total 94
stitches and 8 rows form
the pattern for the panels which you will use in each and every row of
your
sweater. A
good idea is to write
the instructions for each of the 8 rows that make up the pattern
onto some cards, punch a hole in the top right hand corner of the card
and tie together with some yarn. Each time you complete a row
turn
over the card and start work on the next card.
Let’s
start to knit the sweater.
Sweater
Back:
Create your rib
"Row
1: Using # 5 needles cast on 98 (104, 110, 116) sts. Work
1 x 1 ribbing
for 3”,
ending with a right side Row.
Row 2:
Purl across the wrong side.
"Repeat rows 1 and 2 until rib measures 3” (approx 7-8cm)
finishing
with a purl row."
Change
to #6 needles and start knitting your panels.
"Pattern
Row 1: k2 (5, 8, 11), over next 94 sts establish patterns 1, 2, 3, 4,
3, 2, and
1, k2 (5, 8, 11)."
Card 1 - Row 1
Row 1: K2(5,8,11) then start your panels
- Panel
1 Tree
of life (Row 1: p5, k1.
p5)
- Panel 2
Coiled cable (Row
1: ybk, sl 1, yfwd, p2, sl 4 sts on cable needle & leave at front of
work,
k4, k4 sts from cable needle, p2, ybk, sl 1)
- Panel 3
Popcorn variation(
Row 1: p1, k
into front and back of next st 5 times, then slip the 2 nd , 3 rd ,4 th
, and 5
th sts over the 1 st st one, p1.)
- Panel 4 -
Central Panel
Honeycombe(
Row 1: ybk, sl 1, yfwd, p2, * c4b [sl 2 sts on dp needle and leave at
back of
work, k2, k2 sts from dp needle], c4f [sl 2 sts on dp needle and leave
at front
of work, k2, k2 sts from dp needle] *, rep from * 3 times, p2, ybk, sl
1.)
- Repeat row 1 for Panels 3, 2 then
1 and finish K
2 (5,8,11)
"Pattern
Row 2:p2(5,8, 11), over next 94 sts, p2 (5, 8, 11). Continue working in
pattern
until piece measures 16 (16 ½ , 17, 17) inches.
Repeat rows 1-8 until you reach required length 16 (16 ½ ,
17, 17) inches."
Row 2: P2 (5, 8, 11)
refer
instructions for each of your
panels Rows 2 finish P2 (5, 8, 11)
Row 3: K2 (5, 8, 11)
refer
instructions for each of your
panels Row 3 finish K2(5, 8, 11)
Row 4: P2 (5, 8, 11)
refer
instructions for each of your
panels Row 4 finish P2 (5, 8, 11)
Row 5: K2 (5, 8, 11)
refer
instructions for each of your
panels Row 5 finish K2
(5, 8, 11)
Row 6: P2
(5,
8, 11)
refer instructions for each of your panels Row 6 finish P2 (5, 8, 11)
Row 7: K2 (5, 8, 11)
refer
instructions for each of your
panels Row 7 finish K2
(5, 8, 11)
Row 8: P2 (5, 8, 11)
refer
instructions for each of your
panels Row 8 finish P2 (5, 8, 11)
Remember
there are 98
(104, 110, 116) stitches to each row - 94 of these stitches are the
panels and
8 rows that make up the pattern for the sweater - once you have
completed these
8 rows you will then see your work take shape - these 8 rows are then
repeated
until you have reached the desired length of your sweater.
Additional notes
rows 1, 3, 5 & 7 i.e. the rows you start with a knit stitch
will be
on the right side and rows 2, 4, 6, & 8 i.e. the rows you start
with a Purl
stitch will be on the wrong side.
Special tip when
working patterns with multiple panels and multiple rows use a ruler,
or a "Post it" sticky note and place it under the row/ panel you
are
working on, therefore if you have to put your knitting down midstream
of your rows you will not forget which row/panel you are working on.
(ideally
try and
complete sets of 8 rows before having a break that way you start each
time with
row 1)
Best wishes
and happy Knitting
Anna
|
|
|
