Earning Your Knitting Stripes
Knitting is a natural when it comes to creating stripes. A stripe is defined as “a line or long narrow section differing in color or texture from parts adjoining”. The needles act as the guardians of the straight line, that crossover point where changes in color or texture can be made. It is up for grabs how to fill in those rows that make up a stripe. The ever-popular horizontal line and color changes are just a start in choosing how to stripe a sweater.
It is quite simple to incorporate stripes of color into an uncomplicated knitting pattern. The more difficult choice is what colors to choose. Once yarns that are compatible in gauge and fiber content are assembled, the next step is to see how the chosen colors will relate to one another when placed in a striped pattern. General rules will apply such as dark lines on pure color will have the tendency to deepen the entire look of the garment. Light areas will appear larger than dark areas. Warm colors will pop out to the eye much more than cool colors.
Woven rugs and fabrics can offer up varied inspiration particularly if they embody a balance of color and stripe thickness to result in an eye-pleasing combination. An hour or two spent flipping through upholstery fabric swatches or wallpaper sample books may result in obtaining a dynamite sequence of striped color.
Stripes can vary by size from the bold stripes of a rugby shirt, which may have three or four large bands of color, to pinstripes and all sizes between. The stripes need not be uniform in size throughout the garment. Increasing or decreasing the size of the stripe by one or two rows and repeating the same sequence of those smaller and larger stripes will definitely add interest.
Stripes can also be distinguished by texture. Rows of garter stitch or seed stitch alternating with plain knitting create an understated stripe when only one color of yarn is used. A few rows of bobbles or of simple lace can create a stripe of interesting effect. Paying careful attention so that the gauge is the same for each chosen stitch pattern will avoid creating an unevenness in the finished measurement. Simple stitches to knit for subtle changes can be found in knitting dictionaries and stitch guides.
The placement of the stripes can also add further appeal. Use vertical or horizontal striping in the ribbing of bands and cuffs. Try a striped collar or pocket to stand alone on a plain-colored background. Begin to work stripes at the start of the garment piece and narrow the stripes to fade into a one-color finish. Stripe one sleeve and leave the other plain. Stripes do not have to remain horizontal. A little trickier to knit, vertical or diagonal stripes add their own flourish. Yarn bobbins will be needed and careful twisting of the yarns at color changeover points will keep your stripes in line.
So to earn your knitting stripes, incorporate several rows or more in your next project. Choose a simple pattern that will easily accept a change of stitch pattern and welcome a color change every few rows. It will all make for a very unique sweater, not to mention the release from guilt knowing that those leftover balls of yarn are being put to such good use.
About the Author
Maddy Cranley is a professional knitwear designer, who has created exclusive designs for knitting and craft magazines, authored and published three books on the subject of creating felt garments and projects from handknitting, and produces an ever-expanding line of maddy laine handknitting patterns. For additional information, see http://www.maddycraft.com
|
|
Safe HERBAL Moth AWAY repellent NON toxic NATURAL repellent $3.99 Protect clothes and storable items from moth damage with Moth Away’s unique herbal formula. Has a fresh, minty…… |
|
|
Beam N Read LED 3 Hands Free Travel Reading Light; for Kindle, Power Outages & More; Batteries Last 120 Hours $18.74 For Personal Light Anywhere, that doesn’t disturb others. It’s a true reading light that works with ALL Kindles, Nooks, and other eReaders (whether naked, skinned, or covered), printed books, PLUS newspapers, loose documents, maps and other material that can’t support a clip-on “book” light. Called the “best Amazon Kindle reading light” and the “best personal reading light we have come across,” by… |
|
|
The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Knitting $16.95 This step-by-step, hand-holding guide to knitting is EASY to watch and makes learning fast and simple. Although this DVD is packed with everything a beginner needs to know, the chapters are bite-sized. Beautiful and clear demonstrations can get you started knitting scarf in only 30 MINUTES._____ There is a companion WEBSITE for the DVD where you can download lots of FREE beginner patterns! Scarv… |
|
|
Knitting: The Baby Surprise Jacket $17.99 One of the most unique and ingenius of all of master knitter Elizabeth Zimmermann’s designs, the Baby Surprise Jacket was introduced in 1968, and has grown in popularity ever since. Meg Swansen takes you step by step through the jacket construction, including:long tail cast on, double decreasing / increasing, adding colors, baby buttonholes, casting off in purl, sewing a seam / darning in ends. … |
|
|
Josie Duggar’s First Shoes $1.99 … |
|
|
Manly Knits $1.99 Real men knit. “Manly Knits” is your guide to real manly knitting ideas. Whether the term “cast-on” is foreign to you, or you’re ready to knit up a full-on skull balaclava, we’ve got great ideas to inspire your next project. Knit yourself a Steve Zissou hat, a giant mustache, a beard warmer, and more with this exciting collection of easy-to-follow knitting patterns. All projects come from Instruct… |
|
|
What’s New, Cupcake?: Ingeniously Simple Designs for Every Occasion $9.50 Product Description The endlessly imaginative duo who turned cupcaking into a national pastime is back, with utterly new, eye-popping creations anyone can make. Create a race-car cupcake, a robot cupcake, or ravishing jewelry cupcakes for a birthday party. Surprise the family with Chinese takeout dinner cupcakes on April Fool’s or serve up a goofy chocolate moose. Captivate Mom with a bouquet of … |
|
|
60 More Quick Baby Knits: Adorable Projects for Newborns to Tots in 220 Superwash Sport from Cascade Yarns $10.19 State-of-the-art yarn! Innovative styles! Irresistible projects! This follow-up to 60 Quick Baby Knits gives budget-minded knitters 60 more inexpensive, time-saving ways to create fabulous baby fashions. Fans of the wildly popular â60 Knitsâ series are already into the lighter sportweight wool, exclusively from Cascade Yarns-and new readers will welcome its many advantages. Projects incl… |
|
|
Vintage Knitting PATTERN to make – Ankle Baby Booties Soft Shoes. NOT a finished item. This is a pattern and/or instructions to make the item only. $6.99 Vintage Knitting PATTERN to make: Infant Ankle Booties “Tweedle-dee” Baby Booties / Soft Shoes / Slippers. Length of foot: 4 inches. Make with Baby Yarn and No. 12 Knitting Needles (Australian). Tension: 9 stitches to 1 inch. (1914) Each Vintage Home Arts pattern comes in an acid-free archival quality sheet protector ready to be placed in a binder. An additional free Vintage Home Arts pattern (our… |
|
|
Handmade Baby Hat and Booties Set – Natural Strawberry-red (100% Crocheted By Hand) This is another Patricia Avenue HONEST HANDMADE CREATION! Feel proud to offer this very special and hard to find baby gift! Hand-wash and spot-cleaning highly recommended…. |