As I transitioned to life as a designer I began to swatch out everything so I can see what different stitches patterns, decreases, increases, cast ons, bind offs, etc. look like before I use them in a pattern. It is so helpful to compare the results of different knitting techniques side by side.
With that in mind, this post begins a series of lessons and simple block patterns to help you learn, practice and compare a variety increasing methods.
Before You Begin
Each lesson in this series will teach you one or two ways to increase a stitch and will include a pattern for a simple knit block or two.
You can make 1 block to try a new-to-you method, or knit lots of blocks and join them together into a larger piece like a scarf, blanket, poncho... You could knit all of your blocks the same color, or use lots of different colors. Have fun, be creative and enjoy learning.
Materials
- Ewe Ewe Yarns Wooly Worsted (50g/1.75 oz, 95 yds, 80 m)
- addi Natura Bamboo US size 8 (5 mm) DPNs
Also, thanks to Skacel for providing the DPNs used in this series. They are available locally at many yarn shops and online at Makers' Mercantile.
Printable Lessons and Block Patterns
A printable .PDF version of the Knit Inc Sampler Squares Tutorials and Block Patterns is available for purchase in my shop. Pattern purchases allow me to continue creating instructional resources for knitters worldwide.
Casting On
Since all of the blocks in this series are knit in the round, from the center of the square out, two cast ons that work well are:Emily Ocker's Circular Cast On
Invisible Circular Cast On
Binding Off
Squares can be bound off with a traditional knit bind off. To prevent a gap at the corner of the square, after fastening off the bind off, use a yarn needle to pull the tail under both legs of the first bound off stitch, from front to back, then down through the fastened off stitch.
