21 Bulky Styles | Bernat Handicrafter | Book No. 51

HINTS FOR BETTER KNITTING

STITCH GAUGE: The term "STITCH GAUGE" is the most important part of all knitting directions, since the sizing of any knitted garment is planned on this gauge. You MUST work to the gauge which is given or your finished work will not be the size indicated in the directions.

TO CHECK STITCH GAUGE: Cast on approximately 20 sts, using the yarn and needles which will be used for the body of your work. Work in the pattern st specified for 3 inches. Bind off all sts. Block this knitted swatch and then, using a ruler as a guide, count the number of sts to 1 inch. If your stitch gauge is MORE sts to 1 inch than that given in the directions, try the next size larger needle and again check your gauge. If your st gauge is LESS sts to 1 inch than that given in the directions, try the next size smaller needle and again check your gauge. The IMPORTANT THING to remember is that the size needle used does not matter as long as your stitch gauge is correct.

GARTER STITCH: Knit every row. It will take 2 rows to make 1 ridge.

STOCKINETTE STITCH: K 1 row, P 1 row alternately when working on straight needles. When working round and round on a circular needle or double point needles, knit every round.

SEED STITCH: On the first row * K 1, P 1, repeat from * to end of row. On all subsequent rows, K over the P st and P over the K st.

RIBBING: On the first row work in the ribbing pattern. On all other rows, K over the K sts and P over the P sts.

TO SLIP A STITCH: Whenever the directions specify a sl st,
always insert the right hand needle in the st to be slipped as if to P, unless otherwise indicated.

MARKERS: When work specifies the use of a marker, use a small round paper clip for this purpose. In working, always slip this marker from one needle to the other.

JOINING YARN: If possible always join a new ball of yarn at the beginning of a row. When it is necessary to join the yarn while working across a row, leave an end about 4 inches long; then work from the new ball of yarn on the next st, also leaving a 4 inch end. After working for 1 inch more, tie these two ends in a square knot, so that the tension will be the same as all other sts. When finishing work, run in these ends on wrong side for 1 inch.

SELECTION OF COLOR: Every woman has her own personal preferences in colors, based on the colors which are most flattering to her and will harmonize with the rest of her wardrobe. For this reason we have not specified any particular colors.

ABBREVIATIONS

knit	K
purl	P
stitch(es)	st(s)
increase	inc
decrease	dec
together	tog
yarn over	y o
slip	sl
slip stitch	sl st
pass slip stitch over knit stitch	psso
double point	dp
chain	ch
single crochet	s c
half double crochet	hdc
double crochet	d c

* — this symbol indicates that the directions immediately fol­lowing are to be repeated a given number of times.
   "Work even" means to work without increasing or decreasing, always keeping pattern as established.