Simply Knitting - UK (2020-05)

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EXPERT ADVICE

double knitting

Tips & tricks

Our quickandeasychecklistoersexpertwaystoget the

best from your double knitting experience

Learningdoubleknittingisalmostlikelearninghowtoknitagain.

Why?Becauseit createsa fabricyouwon’thaveexperienced

before– it’sversatileandcolourful,thickandbouncyandit really

getsyourcreativejuicesflowing.Readourtipsbelowbeforeyou

startandtackleourcoastersonpage 71 foraneasyintroduction.

1

Forneatness,asa beginnertryreducingyourneedlesizefrom

what’srecommendedontheyarnballband.Thiswillhelp

tightenupthetransitionfromfronttobackandcolourtocolour.

2

Alwaystwisttheyarnsattherowedge neatly to prevent

bagginessandholesinthesides.

3

Keepyourtensiona littletighterthanyouwouldfornormal

stockingstitch– thismarkedlyimprovesthefinish.

4

Thefabriccreatedisspongy,doublesidedandbrilliantfor

whenyouneedtohidetheback.Tryit outforcoasters,table

runners,colourworkscarvesorany project where you don’t want to

seethemessierbackworkings.

5

Therearea numberofdifferentversionsofdoubleknitting,

whichdeliverdifferentresults.Oneinparticularisworkedon

longdouble-pointedneedles,whereyouworkonerowinonecolour,

thenthesamerowagaininthesecondcolour.Thedoubleknitting

techniqueoptiononpage 71 waschosentocomplementthe

pattern, but with online research you could find your favourite.

6

Whencastingonyourowndouble-knittingprojectsremember

thatyou’llneedtwicethestitches,ashalfwillbeallocatedto

theotherside.Soif youwantyourproject to be 15 stitches wide

you’llneedtocaston 30 stitches.

7

Doubleknittingfollowsa K1,P1techniquethroughout,the

variationandpatternsappearwhenyouchoosewhatcolourto

doeachstitchin.Makesurethattheyarnsarealwaysintheright

position(eitherinfront, or at the back of the work) for the stitch you

areabouttowork.

8

Doubleknittingistraditionallyworkedinjusttwocoloursso

chooseonesthatoffera pleasingbutstrongcontrast.

9

Doubleknittingisa doubleyarntechnique,andthiscantakea

littlegettinguseto.Havea playaroundwithourcoasterpattern

onpage 71 andchoosea comfortablewaytohandlethedifferent

colouredyarns,somepeopleusea FairIsletechnique,somea

Continental knitting technique, others choose their own way.

1O

Takeit slowly.Doubleknittingisquitea braincruncheruntil

yougetusedtherhythmofwhatyou’reknitting,andit’s

worthputtingintheextratimesothatyouunderstandhowit works

ratherthanjustworking directly from the pattern and keeping your

fingers crossed.

2

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