#Needlework : Finished square made using 'double knitting' technique and first drawing using a tablet - 261218
After quite a few false starts trialling this technique, I managed to make a coaster measuring 8.5 cm square. The resulting knitted 'fabric' is quite thick so I'm not entirely sure it's suitable for a scarf. I get the feeling it would be a bit stiff unless it's made with thin cotton or just 4 ply yarn.
It was good learning something new - I know it needs some refinement :D
I am hoping to try adding some designs so it's not so 'plain'.
As I pointed out yesterday, this video tutorial was extremely helpful.
@tinygalaxy let me have a go on her new tablet. It's really cool to be able to use a digital medium to make drawings. I have got tonnes to learn still, but I'm pleased with my attempt :D
all work by @cryptocariad
oooh... thick fabric might just be perfect for a cosy scarf, no?
this double knitting looks interesting... so the whole surface is attached to another? It's not just two layers joined at the seams?
A different, but loosely-related, technique for a double fabric: knit half the stitches while slipping half, then repeat by knitting the stitches you slipped before and slipping the one you knit before. This forms a tube. Or, if you knit stitches that would ordinarily be slipped, you join the two layers, a bit like a quilting stitch joins layers of fabric.
The main thing is that you carry the colours together, @googlyeyes. All the stitches together but the colours alternate.
You knit the colour in front of you, but then you have to purl the one that goes on the other side. This happens at the same time.
When you finish the row and you turn your work you will again knit the colour in front and purl the colour at the back.
You don't actually slip stitches, @fiberfrau. You need to knit / purl both one at a time.
The problem I had before was that I wasn't twisting the yarns at the end of the row so I was just knitting two pieces separately.
By twisting you actually achieve the 'flat tube'. This video tutorial clearly showed me how to avoid this.
OK, I was confusing with knitting concentric tubes for socks. Different techniques. So you are knitting the right side of one color and the wrong side of another color at the same time, holding one color in each hand? I think I can visualize it now. Will need to try after I finish some current projects.
I love the look that double knitting gives! I really like the thickness of it. Your cute little coaster reminds me of a magic carpet! 😃
I like the two colors you chose too. Do you have anything in mind that you would add to it? I like it the way that it is, the stitches alone give it its character...oh and of course as do the #googlyeyes!! 👀😆
Thanks, @crosheille... In fact, I nearly referred to my coaster as a 'mug rug' and hence the tufts to finish off the corners :D
That was just a
finallyfinished piece, but I'd like to make some more. As @muscara's picture above shows, you can really create nice pictures. I wanted to make stars or hearts or just polka dots :DIn terms of writing, I think we'd have the problem of 'reversing' the text though so I'm not sure; I need to delve more into the technique.
I also like the colours; I just picked them at 'random', but you can't go wrong with purple ;)
You can do "non mirrored" images in double knitting for letters etc. - but that will tax your brain even more. Normal double knitting is a dual system: a pair of stitches can be Color1/Color2 or Color2/Color 1. If you want to have different patterns there are four possibilities: 1/1, 1/2, 2/1, 2/2. You have to pay much more attention.
I prefer double knitting to lace in matters of intricacy - it's mostly far easier to go back and fix mistakes or dropped stitches. But it's not casual knitting, at least not for the first several thousand stitches.
Here's a picture of how such a pattern is notated:
That diagram looks so impressive, @muscara. Is the chart above from an actual pattern ?
I agree with you about lace knitting. Lace is sort of 'dear' to me as it's one of the first things that I learnt : keep the number of stitches and unravelling whole lengths due to mistakes... More recently I learnt about 'random' lace but I haven't tried it though it sounds fun to just go for it.
It's part of the pattern of a scarf I plan to do :)
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword
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I feel like saying 'when I grow up, I want to knit like that', @muscara, but it's a bit late for that and I keep getting distracted with interesting techniques.
That scarf will look just wonderful and so clever too!
So the yarn described, 'worsted / 10 ply (9 wpi)' would be about a 4 ply ?
The photos show the scarf as not too light but not too thick either.
Thanks for the info !
It's quite a bit thicker - here is a table of yarn weights
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Thank you for the extra info, @muscara ! I still don't know how it looks great if the yarn is thicker...
I love the tuffs and I like that name ‘mug rug’!
I think as you practice more and become better familiar with the technique more ideas will spark.
You definitely can’t go wrong with purple.
Wow - double knitting! That's in my eyes the crown oft knitting because you have to start to think of stitches as pairs and not as single stitches. I use the second edge in the video with a small difference: I knit the second to last stitch instead of slipping it.
And yes, I think double knitting with yarn thicker than 4ply /fingering weight wouldn't work for a scarf or anything like that. But I think if you use slightly thicker cotton yarn you could make great pot holders (trying that is on my bucket list, too).
I found it really interesting how I had to think of purling the other side and not crossing the yarns - but I'd like to start making designs so that's where I'd need to cross them on purpose I guess.
That edge stitch was quite tough to 'conquer', @muscara, and I need lots more practice.
This is definitely a more 'advanced' technique that I see myself making small projects with because I just can't think how I could make something bigger than a hat perhaps.
My first double knitting were simple squares, like a chessboard, 5 stitches and 5 rows each. Then I did some coasters - not too big but a good start with patterns.
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Wow this looks great for your first one!
That looks very cook @muscara... From what I understand you'd then have the same pattern but in reverse on the other side, right ?
Very cool tablet drawing. I have never tried
Thanks, @steven-patrick. It's a bit of a steep learning curve learning to adjust the 'mouse pen', but it was great fun and I make a mini tablet at some point :D
Hehe googlyeyes having fun there @cryptocariad :) love the double knitting coaster and the colours! You are amazing, always trying out new techniques. I will check out the video later.
The digital sketch looks good too :)
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I love learning new things, @marblely 🙂