Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook (27 page)

2
Knit the stitch.

To weave in yarn from the right hand on the knit side:

1
Put the needle into the next stitch as if you’re going to knit it, but don’t. Wrap the yarn in the right hand around the needle as if you’re going to make a knit stitch—then stop.

2
With your left hand, wrap the yarn around the needle point the way you would for a knit stitch.

3
Now
unwrap
the yarn in your right hand from the needle (go in the opposite direction from the way you wrapped it). Finish making the stitch. You have “caught” the yarn from the right hand, and you may kiss the bride.

To weave in yarn from the left hand on the purl side:

Traditional Fair Isle knitting is worked in the round—meaning, no purl stitches at all, and thus none of the following headaches. However, if you’re not working in the round, you’ll need to learn this. You have my sympathy.

1
Insert your right needle into the stitch as if to purl—then stop. Take the yarn in your left hand, and bring it over the top and across the tip of the right needle.

2
Wrap the yarn in the right hand around the needle the usual way for purl, and make the stitch.

To weave in yarn from the right hand on the purl side:

Okay, this is so mind-warping it gives me a headache. But it can be done with a bit of practice.

1
Put your right needle into the stitch as if to purl—and stop. Take the yarn in your right hand and wind it around the tip of the right needle
in the opposite direction of how you would wrap it to make a purl stitch
. (Ouch!)

2
Wrap the yarn in the left hand around the needle as if you’re going to make a purl stitch.

3
Now
unwind
the yarn from the right hand.

4
Finish the purl stitch. Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.

There’s just no avoiding it, you’re going to have to crochet at some point in your knitting career. So grab some yarn and get hooked up with the few crochet stitches needed in knitting—the chain stitch, single crochet, and crab stitch. You’ll be able to use these to stabilize necklines, add decorative stitching around edges, and create tie cords. But here’s the good news: Crocheting is a lot easier than knitting, so it shouldn’t take you long to learn.