Good day, friends!
We continue our knitting training. In today's lesson we will look at how to cast on chain stitches with knitting needles. Yes, yes, chain stitches are also found in knitting, but they are knitted differently than crocheted.
Why are air loops needed when knitting? Basically, they serve to expand the knitted fabric by not gradually, but by sharply increasing the number of loops along the edge of the part.
Expanding a knitted piece using a set of air loops
This happens when they knit, for example, a one-piece kimono-type sleeve and add loops for it, starting from the armhole. Or when knitting hat with ears, and start knitting from the ear, and then you need to add loops for the main part of the hat.
Another use of air loops is when making various holes in a knitted fabric, which are made horizontally (loops for a fastener, a hole for the thumb on a mitten, welt pockets, etc.).
In this case, the loops for the hole are first closed, and in the next row, in order to replenish the number of loops, they are completed with air loops. I think it's clear in general terms.
Sometimes chain stitches are also used as the first cast-on row. But this case is rarely used, since it has its drawbacks: with this type of casting, the loops shift slightly and the edge turns out to be insufficiently dense and more stretched.
Now let's take a step-by-step look at how to cast on air loops with knitting needles. I will focus on the case when we need to add loops at the end of the row, or in the middle.
Suppose you are knitting a piece and you need to expand it by adding loops. We do this:
- Step 1. Having reached the end of the row, we put the working thread on the thumb of the left hand and hold it, as shown in the photo:
- Step 2: We point the knitting needle down and pick up the thread lying on the thumb of the left hand from below:
- Step 3: We take out the thumb, and tighten the resulting loop on the knitting needle (slightly).
- Next, repeat steps 1-3 until we have cast on the required number of loops:
After all the air loops are cast on, turn the knitting. We knit air loops crossed facial loops. In subsequent rows we weave these loops into the overall pattern of the pattern with which the part is knitted.
If you need to add loops on both sides of the piece, then do it in the next row at the end of the row. This method seems to me more convenient than when adding air loops before the start of the row (I have seen this method).
If you need to pick up air loops in the middle of a row (for example, for a finger hole when knitting a mitten), we do exactly the same as described above. But here, after casting the required number of air loops, we continue to knit the next loops of the row. And in the next row we again knit air loops with crossed loops.
In this photo you can see how the closed loops for the hole in the previous row are filled in by casting on chain loops in the middle of the row.
I hope, my dears, you were able to successfully deal with air loops. But if suddenly you don’t understand something from this description, ask questions in the comments.
I would be very grateful for your opinion about the lessons. After all, I am compiling them for you, and it is very important for me to know how successful I am and how useful they are for you.
All lessons for beginners can be found at this page.
Knit with joy!
Arinika was with you. See you again!
Air loops in crochet, they form a chain that serves as the starting row of knitting. Air loops are also an element of many patterns. How to knit air loops is shown in the photo: we pinch the initial loop between the thumb and middle finger of the left hand, grab the working thread with a hook and pull it into the loop, then grab the thread again with the hook and pull it into the newly formed loop. So, by sequentially knitting the loops, we get a chain.
Important: When counting chain stitches, the loop on the hook does not count. This loop is called the leading loop. When knitting the next row, the first stitch will be the one that precedes the leading one.
Knit a chain of air loops until it turns out smooth and moderately tight. The chain should not be too tight - then it will be impossible to insert a hook into the loops. A chain that is too loose looks careless.
Chain of air loops - watch the density
At the bottom - the chain is too tight, at the top - the chain is normally tightened.
As already mentioned, the chain serves as the initial row of knitting. The side of the chain that faces you resembles a pigtail. When knitting, the braid loop is crocheted at the front, back or both walls.
It is most convenient to knit the next row on the front wall of the loop, but the first column of the row is always knitted on both walls of the loop so that the edge of the fabric is even and dense enough.
Lifting hinges
In order to get a beautiful side edge of a crocheted fabric, lifting loops are used. A rise stitch (or stitches) are chain stitches at the beginning of a new row of fabric that allow you to rise to the height required to knit the next row. At the beginning of knitting, the number of lifting loops is added to the required number of air loops of the initial chain. The number of lifting loops is different for different columns, since the height of the columns is different: the shortest connecting column, but the double crochet will be much higher. The higher the column, the more lifting loops will be required. If there are not enough lifting loops, the canvas on the sides will be pulled together; extra lifting loops form an uneven side edge of the canvas.
- connecting post (half-column) - no lifting loop required;
- single crochet - 1 lifting loop;
- double crochet - 2 lifting loops.
The counting of lifting loops on a chain of air loops comes from the leading loop (the one on the hook), while the leading loop is not included in the calculation. For example, if the next row is knitted with single crochets, then the first stitch in the row is knitted into the second loop of the chain:
Anyone who has the desire and patience can master the technique of knitting. From this master class you will learn how to prepare for knitting, how to make an air loop using ordinary knitting needles, and why this element is used in knitting. Every woman has knitted items in her wardrobe. In winter, sweaters and scarves keep us warm. Knitted mittens and socks have been familiar to us since childhood and remind many of us of grandmothers, a house in the village and natural cow's milk.
First of all, the needlewoman must prepare for the process. Beginner knitters are better off choosing simple knitwear on two needles. For example, a scarf knitted with an elastic band:
We knit an air loop with knitting needles in a step-by-step master class
There are different knitting needles, you need to select them based on the desired result:
- Straight knitting needles, or knitting needles for straight fabric. Suitable for beginner knitters if the product is not intended to be very wide. Usually have one sharp end and one end with a stop;
- Stocking or sock needles - 5 needles with double-edged ends. Suitable for knitting in the round without a seam, for example for socks;
- Circular knitting needles are knitting needles connected by thick fishing line. They can knit both straight and circular fabric. Also convenient for beginners.
There are knitting needles made of different materials: wood, aluminum, plastic, etc.
Size is the diameter of the spoke. Knitting needles need to be selected to match the yarn. Usually there is a number on the yarn and knitting needles. The most popular size is 3 millimeters. Smaller instruments are considered thin. The thinner the yarn and knitting needles, the longer the product will knit.
To choose the right yarn for knitting, you need to know the color, size, type of product, and wearing conditions.
For lightweight products, cotton yarn, as well as linen and silk, are suitable.
For warm products: scarves, hats, mittens, socks, sweaters, etc., it is better to choose wool and wool blends.
For products intended to be worn on the lower parts of the body, it is better not to use completely natural fiber, as it will quickly lose its shape due to high mobility.
Yarn of different colors for one product should be of the same thickness.
How to hold knitting needles correctly for a beginner?
There are several different ways to hold knitting needles. The main rule here is to make it comfortable for the needlewoman. As a rule, the working (empty knitting needle) is held in the right hand, and the knitting needle with cast-on loops is held in the left. Index fingers are working fingers. The index finger of the right hand will remove the loop, and the index finger of the left hand will hold the thread.
Set of air loops:- The use of air loops.
An air loop is needed to increase the number of loops. With their help you can increase the row. Sometimes air loops are used in patterns. These loops are needed for button holes on items.
- First stitch with knitting needles
Before you start casting on a row, you need to make the first loop.
- We throw the thread over the thumb and index fingers, while the ends of the thread are held by the middle, ring and little fingers. As a result, the thread is a triangle;
- Take the knitting needles folded together. We wind them by the thread between the index finger and thumb. Pull the thread downwards;
- We insert the knitting needles under the side of our triangle that goes from the three holding fingers to the thumb. It turns out that we inserted the knitting needles into the loop;
- We grab the thread from the index finger and pull it into the resulting loop;
- Drop the thread from your thumb and tighten the loop.
- A set of air loops
The air loop is knitted with knitting needles, usually for one instrument.
We take a knitting needle in our right hand, and a knitting thread in our left. We put the working thread on the index finger, holding the end with the middle, ring and little fingers. In this case, the working thread will be the front one. Place the knitting needle from below under the front thread and remove.
If the working thread is the back thread, then place the knitting needle from below under the back thread and remove it.
In this case, the loops turn out different. The casting method depends on which loop the needlewoman will knit above this one in the next row.
This is the easiest way to cast air loops.
Knitting gives the craftswoman a lot of scope for creativity. Nowadays, booties for children are very popular because they look cute and cute. With the help of knitting you can create warm suits and sweaters. Sets of scarves and hats made by yourself look very nice.
Video on the topic of the article
This is the end of the master class on knitting air loops using knitting needles. Before starting work, we invite you to familiarize yourself with a selection of videos on this topic:
Crocheting is a very exciting activity, which only at first glance seems difficult. With a simple crochet hook you can create truly knitting masterpieces! And anyone can learn crocheting.
For those who are just starting to learn to crochet, we offer several lessons on mastering this simple and so necessary and useful craft.
The first thing you need to master when crocheting is tying air loops, another name is a chain.
Crochet chain stitches
A chain of chain stitches is knitted like this:
1) The end of the thread is placed on the index finger. The hook is taken in the right hand so that the hook itself is directed in our direction.
2) The hook is passed under the thread, which is located under the index finger of the left hand. The thread hooks and the hook turns counterclockwise a full turn. The resulting crosshair is held with the thumb of the left hand.
3) The hook is again passed under the thread located on the index finger of the left hand. The thread is hooked, pulled through the crosshairs of the threads and tightened.
After mastering these simple lessons, you will be able to crochet very cute things... Read the lessons on crocheting in the topics: “White crocheted T-shirt top”, “Crocheted openwork bolero”, “Crocheted scarf-stole and mitts” and you will also find many others diagrams and descriptions.
Half double crochet
After mastering the knitting of air loops, which, as a rule, is not difficult, we move on to mastering the skills of knitting half double crochets. The half single crochet is also a basic element in crocheting, which is very often used to decorate the edges of products, connect a chain into a circle or individual parts.
A half single crochet is knitted like this:
1) We already have a chain of air loops. A chain of air loops is placed on the index finger with the front side. Use your thumb to hold the chain and knit an air loop.
2) The hook is inserted into the third loop from the beginning of the row and passed under the thread on the index finger of the left hand. The thread is secured with a hook and pulled through a loop of the chain.
3) Two loops have formed on the hook. The loop on the left side of the hook is pulled through the loop on the right side of the hook. It turns out to be a half single crochet.
Single crochet
1) A single crochet is knitted similarly to a half single crochet. The only difference is that as soon as two loops have formed on the hook, the hook is inserted under the thread on the index finger of the left hand and the thread is hooked.
2) The thread is pulled through two loops and a single crochet is obtained.
3) The second single crochet is worked like this. The hook is inserted into the loop located behind the first stitch and passed under the thread on the index finger of the left hand. The thread is caught and pulled through the loop, resulting in two loops on the hook. The hook is again placed under the thread on the left hand, caught and pulled through two loops. This creates a second single crochet.
Double crochet
1) There is a chain of air loops. Two chain stitches are knitted and a yarn over is made. To do this, the hook is passed under the thread on the left hand and the thread is grabbed.
2) The hook is inserted into the fourth loop of the chain, the thread is grabbed and pulled through it. A loop is formed, a yarn over and another loop.
3) These two loops are knitted like this: the loop and yarn over are first knitted together (the thread is grabbed with a hook and pulled through them), then the two remaining loops are also knitted.
It turns out to be a double crochet.
Half double crochet
A half double crochet works almost exactly like a double crochet.
Only when there are three loops on the hook, all three loops are knitted together at one time. It turns out to be a half double crochet.
We are starting a series of crochet lessons, from which you will learn how to knit basic elements: air loops and chains, half-columns, single crochets, double crochets, etc.
In this article we will look at how to hold a hook, a working thread, how to knit a starting loop and a chain of air loops. Watch the video tutorial at the end of the article.
How to hold a hook.
The hook can be held in two ways: like a pencil
or like a table knife.
Use the method that seems more convenient to you. I usually hold it like a pencil, but when my fingers get tired I change the position.
How to knit a starting stitch.
Before we start knitting and casting on loops, we need to make an initial loop, or rather a knot.
Fold the thread into a loop
we put this loop on the hook so that the working thread is on the index finger, while holding the tail of the thread with the thumb and middle finger,
hook the thread
and pull it through this loop, tighten the knot.
The hook will be inside the loop. This is how we knitted the initial loop.
How to knit air loops.
Make the initial loop (knot) as described above, hook the working thread
and pull it through the initial loop, we get the first air loop. (v.p.)
To obtain subsequent loops, perform the same steps. We hook the working thread
and pull it through the air loop.
This is how we form a chain; it is knitted to the length required to obtain the width of the product we need. When counting the number of loops each air loop counts as one loop, the loop on the hook and the starting loop (knot) are not counted.
A chain of chain stitches forms the basis for knitting the first row, but it does not count as a row. This is what a chain of 10 air loops looks like in the diagram.
The chain of air loops should be knitted loosely, the loops should not be tightened.
How to hold the thread.
If the hook is in the right hand, then the flow of the working thread is controlled by the left hand. It is necessary that the thread is evenly tensioned. We place the thread on the index finger of the left hand, while holding it with the ring finger and little finger. When knitting, hold the chain of chain stitches with your thumb and middle finger.
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