Conny Jude
The Golden Rules
Work at the correct tension, use the correct yarn and work the stitches as given in the abbreviations.
Tension
The golden rule for successful knitting is to check your tension before commencing work and to make sure that you are knitting at the tension specified in the pattern. To check your tension, you should knit a small test piece at least a few stitches wider and several rows longer, than those specified for the tension over a certain measurement. It should always be worked in the stitch given in the tension paragraph using the recommended needles.
Every knitters tension varies slightly and differs from stitch to stitch. Measure the number of stitches and rows to the number of centimetres or inches given on the pattern. If you have more stitches to the centimetre (inch) you will need to use larger needles and if you have too few stitches you will need smaller ones. A finished garment will only have the measurements given on the pattern, if it is worked at the correct tension.
Yarns
Natural fibre yarns are the most suitable for hand knitting.
Inferior yarns produce inferior garments, regardless of the merits of the design.
Abbreviations
Never assume you know how to work a certain abbreviation, always read the explanation first. Some abbreviations like k. (knit) and p. (purl) are usually the same, but some like m.b. (make bobble) can vary from pattern to pattern.
Work at the correct tension, use the correct yarn and work the stitches as given in the abbreviations.
Tension
The golden rule for successful knitting is to check your tension before commencing work and to make sure that you are knitting at the tension specified in the pattern. To check your tension, you should knit a small test piece at least a few stitches wider and several rows longer, than those specified for the tension over a certain measurement. It should always be worked in the stitch given in the tension paragraph using the recommended needles.
Every knitters tension varies slightly and differs from stitch to stitch. Measure the number of stitches and rows to the number of centimetres or inches given on the pattern. If you have more stitches to the centimetre (inch) you will need to use larger needles and if you have too few stitches you will need smaller ones. A finished garment will only have the measurements given on the pattern, if it is worked at the correct tension.
Yarns
Natural fibre yarns are the most suitable for hand knitting.
Inferior yarns produce inferior garments, regardless of the merits of the design.
Abbreviations
Never assume you know how to work a certain abbreviation, always read the explanation first. Some abbreviations like k. (knit) and p. (purl) are usually the same, but some like m.b. (make bobble) can vary from pattern to pattern.