No matter what your knitting designs require, nature offers plenty of inspiration! Each pattern contains written and charted instructions as well as stitch guides and suggestions for projects you might like to knit.
This collection offers an impressive range of creative stitch patterns spanning cables to cozy textures to colorwork, as well as advanced techniques like entrelac and double knitting.
Cables
Cables add texture and interest to knitting. Cables are created by twisting rows of purl stitches to form the center wale of fabric knitted by cable knitting machines, such as garter stitch. Cables may run perpendicular or across garter stitch; using different lengths of yarn and switching up patterns of knit and purl stitches can alter their appearance further.
Some knitting stitch dictionaries include charts and instructions for various cables. Beyond basic instructions, some books also provide garment and accessory patterns made possible by these stitches – an invaluable source of inspiration for experienced knitters who wish to expand their skill set.
Although many new knitting stitch dictionaries are focused on cable stitches, there are other ways you can get creative with your knitted designs. Try adding colorwork or texture blankets; Andrea Rangel’s AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary features over 200 modern stitch motifs ideal for colorwork as well as valuable information on color theory and yarn selection.
This online stitch dictionary features photos and charted instructions for knitting over 900 different stitches, providing an invaluable resource for learning new stitches on tablets, phones and computers. Plus, its search feature makes finding what you’re looking for fast.
A free online resource, this stitch dictionary enables users to click on each stitch for photos and instructions on swatching it. Its user interface is straightforward and its photos large; instructions clear. In addition, some stitches feature video tutorials for beginners who may benefit from seeing how they’re executed in action.
Knitting Stitch Dictionary: A Visual Guide to Common Stitches and Patterns provides a comprehensive listing of popular knit stitch patterns with descriptions and photos, charts and instructions for each stitch, an explanation of its working principles as well as being available on Kindle. Vogue Knitting’s hardcover book features many varieties of stitches in addition to high quality photos and charts as well as spiral binding for easy flat reading when working on projects.
Lace
Lace is a delicate fabric usually created using fine yarns at an open gauge. With its airy appearance and textural depth-adding potential, lace stitches require more attention but can be very rewarding to work with.
Many lace patterns are presented as charts. This visual depiction shows the front side or right side of fabric and its repeats; charts provide hand knitters with an invaluable aid as it allows them to visually follow a pattern without counting rows or needing a pattern book for reference.
Chart symbols represent various stitches of a pattern and how they’re assembled together, with arrows showing yarnovers and decreases on every row; lines or squiggles across rows indicate yarnovers as they represent new stitch bases; every yarnover requires its own decrease to form part of its foundation, although these don’t need to be completed at exactly the same time or even on consecutive rows.
Reduces include ssk (working a slip stitch then pass the stitch over) and p2tog (slipping two together through the back loops). Both decreases are often combined with increases to keep fabric even. CDD (central double decrease) is another type of decrease; working from the wrong side, it resembles an ssp but leans to the left side.
Lace was once revered as one of the most exclusive fabrics available, due to the intricate process required in its creation. By the eighteenth century, elaborate lace designs could be seen draping women’s collars and cuffs, handkerchiefs, headscarves and whole gowns in extravagant patterns – even people putting down land or farms just to buy one style of lace! Lacemakers were usually children or girls and since laws prohibited foreign laces being imported and worn on American shores they often worked at more than one shop within their town to protect their investments against losing investments made through agricultural or factory jobs or making.
Texture
No matter the project at hand, texture remains an integral component of knitting designs. From sampler afghans and sweater patterns to intricate needlework designs, texture can add depth and dimension. From creating movement in simple knitted tops to adding depth and dimension in chunky blankets – texture gives any knitted piece character. Incorporating textural stitches can give your work its own visual identity that sets your work apart from others.
Ribbing is one of the easiest and simplest stitches to add texture in any project, and with good reason. Ribbing can be completed quickly and easily while adding a slight stretch to fabric, perfect for creating texture in a hat, cowl or cardigan/vest lace stitch adornment or accentuating its beauty. There are various options for increasing or decreasing its elasticity depending on which type of ribbing you work with.
Your choice of yarn can also contribute to creating texture. Heavier weight yarns tend to create more texture, as do natural fibers like wool and alpaca. You can add depth by mixing and matching different stitch patterns – for instance combining ribbing with moss stitch or seed stitch with cables creates an eye-catching design!
Stranded colorwork is an effective way to add texture to knitted designs. There are various forms of stranded colorwork, from traditional Fair Isle and Scandinavian patterns, as well as more contemporary forms using color in unconventional ways. To learn more, check out AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary by Andrea Rangel; she will soon release a sequel which includes even more modern motifs for use with this craft!
Stitch dictionaries can be invaluable tools for knitters of any experience level – from beginners just starting out to expert knitwear designers. Click any of the book images for more information or purchase (we do earn a small commission if you purchase through our affiliate link). What are your favourite stitch dictionaries?
Colorwork
Knitters of all stripes have long been drawn to colorwork for its ability to create images, panels and stripes using two or more hues. There are various techniques for colorwork knitting such as stranded and mosaic knitting – with the latter technique using multiple yarn strands at once to form pictures and panels with high contrast between colors – this requires carrying multiple yarn strands at once with constant dropping and picking up of the different coloured yarns to work with resulting in stunning pieces with vibrant contrast between hues! Stranded colorwork involves carrying multiple yarn strands at once while mosaic knitting involves carrying multiple yarn strands at once to produce intricate and engaging high contrast pieces with fascinating visual depth!
Mosaic knitting, also known as slip-stitch colorwork, is an easier form of mosaic knitting that enables you to achieve its effects without constantly switching colors of yarn strands. This revised edition of a classic stitch dictionary contains 116 new charted designs to add to the original 157. Its reversible nature makes slip-stitch colorwork the ideal choice for garments and accessories where both sides of fabric will be seen at once.
There are countless resources online for learning new stitches, but this dictionary stands out by being particularly straightforward and user-friendly. Each stitch pattern comes complete with photos and written instructions; furthermore, most patterns also feature charts to help navigate them easily – an indispensable resource for both beginning knitters and experienced yarn crafters alike!
This comprehensive stitch dictionaries collection offers hundreds of patterns for cables, lace and texture stitches – essential reading for knitters! Also an excellent gift idea!
Stitch dictionaries provide inspiration and assistance with troubleshooting patterns. Most stitch dictionaries include a troubleshooting section to provide useful solutions when issues arise during knitting a specific pattern. They’re available both digitally and physically at craft stores; in addition, yarn shops may sell these books too!