Tuesday 29 March 2011

A Knitter's Progress


Day Two: Skill + 1UP

There was a project I had been working on within the last few months, and when I briefly looked over it (as I generally do with most patterns) before deciding to tackle it, I didn't see anything that I felt I couldn't "cope" with - then when I actually got down to knitting it, I was bewildered to see it actually called for a 'ssk' which is an abbreviation for 'slip, slip, knit' - help!

What really got me was that I have done plenty of lace knitting and things which involve increasing and/or decreasing but somehow had never actually come across this particular technique...and therefore didn't know how to do it. Minor panic ensued whilst I tried to use logic to work out just quite how exactly one is supposed to proceed.

Turns out it's not actually as obvious as it sounds, since the notation requires you to slip two stitches in a knitwise direction and then knit them together. Queue youtube to the rescue!


A great tutorial, simply explained and demonstrated, really makes all the difference when learing a new technique.

I'm also happy to report that I've started playing around with some cabling ideas in recent weeks and I'm pretty pleased with the results so far:

Crafting 365 Day 260

5 comments:

Mimi said...

See, in my head you have been knitting for years and years and years, probably because I associate you as being one of the knitters from Etsy. Did you begin machine knitting before you started hand knitting?

I have never used a knitting machine, but your projects are so wonderful that I would be tempted if it were not for the price.

Cat McLaughlin said...

It's funny, yeah - I have been machine knitting quite a bit longer than by hand! [If you want to learn about where it all started for me, see my post here.]

I did pick up a heck of a lot in a short space of time whilst working as a Design Consultant for Rowan Yarns though :)

Thanks - I have some smaller, more inexpensive pieces in the pipeline so watch this space!

CrochetBlogger said...

I think it's awesome that you and a few other people added videos to their posts today to show what they've learned!

katiemckinna said...

Very nice photo. glad to hear you've mastered SSK. I admit I was surprised to learn you had knitted lace and not come across it.

Cat McLaughlin said...

@ Katie - yeah, considering I am a bit of a laceaholic, it's a funny one. I must have been subconciously selective! ;)