Knitting is quite unique.  When you knit, you are creating a piece of knitted fabric but you are also creating the shape for the finished item at the same time -the knitted fabric that you create isn't cut into shape afterwards. Therefore it is essential to learn how to shape a piece of knitting.

These are the commonly used techniques for shaping your knitting. Using these techniques, and the basic stitches, you can progress from simple unshaped items like a scarf or a cushion cover, to a simple shaped item like a hat, and finally to absolutely any project of your choice.

 

Buy Knit Knack Knitting Tutorial on CD ROM to learn how to knit and video demonstration of this technique.

 

Increasing

Learn how to shape your knitting and create a sloping edge by making new stitches during your knitting.  You will need this technique in future so that you can make the correct shaping for the project you are working on e.g. sleeves for garments.

 

Simple Increase

This is the simplest technique for shaping your work by increasing the number of stitches in your knitting and is the most commonly used increasing technique. 

 

Make One (m1) Increase

This is a commonly-used technique for making new stitches in your knitting to shape your work. You might find it slightly more challenging at first but it uses an important technique (i.e. through back of loop/tbl) that you will need in future if you wish to progress to more advanced knitting, so practise to master it.

 

Buy Knit Knack Knitting Course on CD ROM for just £11.99 full information and video demonstration of this technique.

Decreasing

Learn how to shape your knitting and create a sloping edge by reducing the stitches during your knitting. You will need this technique in future so that you can make the correct shaping for the project you are working on e.g. the crown of a hat; shoulders and necklines for garments.

 

Simple Decrease

This is the simplest technique for shaping your work by reducing the number of stitches in your knitting and is the most commonly used decreasing technique. 

 

Buy Knit Knack Knitting Course on CD ROM for just £11.99 full information and video demonstration of this technique.