Knitting Techniques

There are quite a few different knitting techniques that you can apply to your knitting depending on your level of experience and the effect you are trying to achieve.

If you are a beginner, I suggest that once you have mastered the basic knitting stitches and have learned how to cast on and cast off your knitting, that you start with one of the basic techniques.

But don't worry, when you have gained some experience with stocking stitch or garter stitch, there are many more interesting techniques that you can have a go at.

For example, would you like to know more about:

• Aran Knitting

Contary to popular belief Aran knitting is not a knitting style that is centuries old, but was in fact created in the early 1900s in the Aran Isles.

Although the various patterns and cables usually incorporated into an aran jumper do not have any historical or symbolic meaning, aran knitting is a beautiful and unique style of knitting that is popular all over the world.

• Continental Knitting

There are two main methods of knitting, the one used on this site is generally called the English method. The other is the Continential Method of knitting.

The central difference between the two methods is which hand holds or controls the yarn. In English knitting, the yarn is held or controlled with the right hand and the yarn is flicked or 'thrown' over the left hand needle to form the new stitch.

Continental knitters hold the yarn in their left hand, and simply scoop or pick up the yarn with the right needle. Although until now, I have never used this method myself, it seems to be a much faster method of knitting.

• Fair Isle Knitting

Fair Isle is a traditional knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colours.

All of the knitting is plain knitting (stocking stitch) but two or more colors are used to create a pattern in the knitting. Fair Isle Knitting was developed in the Shetland Islands (where my family originally came from a couple of generations ago!)

• Intarsia Knitting
• Simple Lace Knitting

Lace knitting is a style of knitting characterized by stable "holes" in the fabric arranged to create a pattern.

Lacy knitting is considered easier than true lace knitting as you only need to do pattern stitches on the right-side or knit row of the work.

Although eaiser to do that some of the other knitting styles, lacy knitting can be very effective and is often used for garments made for women and children.

• True Lace Knitting

Lace knitting is generally not as fine as other forms of lace. But it is better suited for garments and baby shawls as it is softer and much faster to produce.

True knitted lace will have pattern stitches on both sides of the work (both the knit and purl rows) and are fairly complex. Most knitted lace is knitted using a very fine wool, usually one or two ply.

Definitely not suitable for a beginner!

• Mitered Knitting
• Modular Knitting
• Shadow or Illusion Knitting
• Textured Knitting or
• Two Color Knitting

How about some techniques you can teach your kids?

• Finger Knitting
• French Knitting

French knitting is a style of knitting for kids that most women of my generation fooled around with as kids at school. To do french knitting you need a french knitting tool.

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