Contents
Getting Started
- A Different Way of Working Long Stitches
- Increases in the Center-Increase Triangles
- Squaring Off the Sides of Triangles
- Squaring Off the Top of the Center-Increase Triangle
- Leaving Unworked Stitches in the Center-Increase Triangle
- Recommended Tools
- Skill Level
- You Will Need
- Gauge
- Pattern Stitch
- Materials Used in the Featured Shrug
- Sizes
- Finished Garment Measurements
Instructions
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- Step-by-step instructions
- A helpful knitting schematic
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Getting Started
In this project, you’ll experience the wonders that simple center-increase triangles can do for a garment. Also, elongated stitches are used as decorative elements to enhance and open the knitted fabric.
A Different Way of Working Long Stitches
Normally, to create a long stitch, you’d wrap the working yarn around the needle one time in order to pull a new stitch from the old stitch. Then, after pulling the loop through, you would drop the old stitch from the needle.
To create the elongated stitch as it’s used in this project, wrap the working yarn twice (instead of the usual one time) around the needle, and draw both loops through to form 2 stitches on the right needle. After you’ve pulled the double loop through, drop the old stitch from the needle. On the return row, only knit into the first loop of the double wrap, dropping the second loop to form a long stitch.
Increases in the Center-Increase Triangles
These take place at the beginning and center of each row. You can tell which stitch requires the increase by tracking the pair of stitches from the previous row that represent the very centermost point of your row; they’re closely joined because that was the position of increase in the previous row, and both loops emerged from one stitch. You can feel that by tugging on them, and if you flip your work over, you’ll notice that one of the stitches is actually a half-stitch, in that it doesn’t have any “roots” in other stitches, but hangs suspended since it was just added. This is the stitch where you’ll always work the center increase.
Squaring Off the Sides of Triangles
This is done in a way that balances the number of increases to the decreases in each row, so the stitch count remains the same on each row.
Squaring Off the Top of the Center-Increase Triangle
This is generally done in two parts. The row is divided in half and each half is worked separately. Decrease on both ends of each half, until there are 2 or 3 stitches left. Bind off these remaining stitches. Cut yarn. Repeat on the other side, making sure to attach yarn and start knitting at the centermost point.
Leaving Unworked Stitches in the Center-Increase Triangle
This creates a V neckline. This technique is used when the right and left sides of pullovers are worked separately. Stitches are left behind in order to form the “V” neckline, which is later knitted in the opposite direction connecting the two sides (see photo).
Recommended Tools
Good needles can make all the difference in your knitting experience. For silk, cashmere, and mohair, rosewood needles work especially well. Rosewood is softer than bamboo, smooth, and extremely lightweight. These needles have become popular and are available through most yarn shops and online retailers. You’ll find that your hands don’t get tired as easily with these needles, and the yarn stays put without slipping. Because most lace patterns require yarn-over stitches, and because this type of stitch tends to get hung up on the joints of circular needles, be very careful about the circular needles that you select. Make sure to find circular needles that have smooth joins and plastic cords (see photo) that do not fight you.
Skill Level
- Experienced Beginner
You Will Need
- Approximately 520 (780, 1040)yd/476 (714, 952)m silk and mohair/silk blend medium-weight 2-strand yarn
- Circular needles, 5mm (size 8 U.S.) or size to obtain gauge, 24"/61cm long
- Stitch marker
- Stitch holder
Gauge
- 14 sts = 4"/10cm
- Always take time to check your gauge.
Pattern Stitch
Long Stitch
Knit each stitch wrapping yarn 2 times around needle to form 2 loops. On following row, knit into first loop and drop second loop to form elongated stitch.
Long stitch is not worked in any increased or decreased stitches.
Materials Used in the Featured Shrug
- 2 (3, 4) skeins of Artyarn’s Silk Rhapsody, 100% silk and 70% mohair/30% silk blend medium-weight 2-strand yarn, 3-1⁄2 oz/100g = 260yd/238m per skein, in color #137, variegated beige
Sizes
- Small (Medium, Large)
Finished Garment Measurements
- Sizes are indicated here only to suggest how much yarn is needed, but the instructions allow you to customize the wraps to fit all sizes from small through large.
- Bust, about 36 (40, 44)"/91.5 (101.5, 112)cm
- Length, 14 (16, 18)"/35.5 (40.5, 45.5)cm
| 2007 Iris Schreier | Acknowledgments & Disclaimer |
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