Knitting

Knittingoneseveral waysturn thread or yarn into cloth (cf weavingcrochet). Unlike woven fabric, knitted fabric consists entirelyparallel coursesyarn. The coursesjoinedeach other by interlocking loopswhichshort loopone courseyarnwrapped overbightanother course (Rutt, 2003). In practice, knittingusually begun by formingbase seriestwisted loopsyarn onknitting needle. A second knitting needlethen usedreach through each loop (or stitch)successionordersnagbightyarnpulllength back throughloop. This formsnew stitch attop ofcurrent walestitches (or loops). Work can proceed inround or by going backforthrows. Knitting can also be done by machines.

The two basic stitchesknit (or "plain")purl (or "wrong"). These two nominal stitchesactually identical, however, beingobversereverse ofsame stitch. A knit stitchformed by insertingneedle infront oflooppullingloopyarn throughformnew loop, whilepurl stitchformed by insertingneedle inback oflooppushingloopyarn throughformnew loop.

If only knits or only purlsused when working backforthrows,resultcalled garter stitch. Alternating rowsknitspurls resultstockinette or jersey stitch,stitch most often usedcommercial garments such as T-shirts. Different combinationsstitches can be usedform ribbing, cables, or other textures.

Typesknitting needles include double-point, straight,circular.

See also crochet, weaving, spinning.

References

• Thomas, Mary. (1938). Mary Thomas's Knitting Book. Dover Publications. New York. (1972 Reprint Edition ISBN 0-486-22817-7)
• Rutt, Richard (2003). A historyhandknitting. Interweave Press, Loveland, CO. (Reprint Edition ISBN 1-931-49937-3)
• Hiatt, June Hemmons. (1988). The principlesknitting: Methodstechniqueshand knitting. SimonSchuster, New York.