Knitted letters : make personalized gifts and accents with creative typography-based projects

264 Pages·2013·20.13 MB·English

by  Hirst

First published in the United States of America in 2013 by Chronicle Books LLC.
Copyright © 2013 by Quintet Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from
the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.
ISBN 978-1-4521-1572-6 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4521-3954-8 (epub, mobi)
Text: Catherine Hirst
Colorwork charts: Erssie Major
Project designers: Claire Crompton, Liz Gregory,
Catherine Hirst, Meghan Fernandes, Erssie Major,
Carol Meldrum
Designer: Anna Gatt
Photographer: Lydia Evans
Art Director: Michael Charles
Editorial Director: Donna Gregory
Publisher: Mark Searle
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street
San Francisco, California 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com

Contents
Introduction 6
Knitting as a Form of Communication 7
Creating and Customizing Your Own Charts 8
Equipment 10
Knitting needles—straight 10
Knitting needles—double-pointed 10
Needle gauge 10
Stitch holder 10
Safety pins 10
Row counter 10
Stitch marker 10
Pins 10
Tape measure/ruler 10
Scissors 10
Graph paper/stationery 10
Wool/darning needle 10
Reading a Pattern 11
Abbreviations 11
Techniques 12
Gauge 12
Making a test swatch 12
Counting stitches and rows 12
Adjusting gauge 12
Making a Slipknot 12
Casting On 13
The cable method 13
Binding Off 14
Cable bind-off 14
Knit and Purl 15
Knit 15
Purl 15
Shaping Techniques—Increasing 16
M1—Make 1 16
k1f&b 16
Shaping Techniques—Decreasing 17
Sloping to the right 17
k2tog—knit 2 stitches together 17
p2tog—purl 2 stitches together 17
Sloping to the left 17
ssk—slip, slip, knit 17
skop—slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over 18
k2togtbl—knit 2 stitches together through back loop 18
p2togtbl—purl 2 stitches together through the back loop 18
Picking Up Stitches 19
Horizontal edge 19
Vertical edge 19
Seams 20
Mattress stitch 20
Colorwork 21
Stranding or “Fair Isle” technique 21
Stranding one-handed on knit rows or rounds 21
Weaving floats 22
Intarsia 22
Bobbins 22
Joining in a new color 22
Changing colors 23
Reading a chart 23
1 Sans Serif 24
Alphabet Pillow 25
The pattern 25
Letter motif 25
Pillow front 27
Commence Front Chart 27
Pillow back 27
Commence Back Chart 27
Finishing 27
“STOP”Sign Doorstop 29
The pattern 29
Letter motif 29
Front 29
Commence “STOP” Sign Doorstop Chart 29
Back 31
Gusset 31
Finishing 31
Letter Tile Coasters 32
The pattern 32
Letter motif 32
Coasters 32
Commence “VINO” Letter Tile Chart 32
Finishing 34
Felted Pencil Case 35
The pattern 35
Letter motif 35
Front panel 35
Commence Checks Chart 35
Commence “Taxi” Chart 35
Back panel 37
Commence Checks Chart 37
Finishing 37
“Ciao” Mittens 39
The pattern 39
Letter motif 39
Cuff 40
Right mitten only 40
Commence “Ciao” Chart 40
Place thumb 40
Split thumb 40
Shape top 40
Left mitten only 40
Commence “Ciao” Chart 40
Place thumb 40
2 Serif 42
“Domus dulcis Domus” Wall Art 43
The pattern 43
Letter motif 43
Wall Art 43
Commence Wall Art Chart 45
Finishing 45
Bookstore Tote 47
The pattern 47
Letter motif 47
Front 47
Commence Bookstore Tote Chart 47
Front Facing 48
Back 48
Back Facing 48
Finishing 48
Alphabet Baby Blocks 49
The pattern 49
Letter motif 51
Lower border: Make 6 squares for one block 51
Middle section 51
Top border 51
Finishing 51
3 Slab Serif 52
Child’s Initialed Backpack 53
The pattern 53
Letter motif 53
Front 53
Back 55
Straps (make 2) 55
Finishing 55
Lining 55
Letterman Sweater 57
The pattern 57
Letter motif patch 57
Commence Varsity Tote Chart 58
Back 58
Shape armholes 58
Shape shoulders 58
Front 58
Shape Shoulders 58
Shape left side of neck 58
Shape left shoulder 58
Shape right side of neck 58
Shape right shoulder 58
Sleeves (both) 58
4 Stencil 60
“CAFE” French Press Cozy 61
The pattern 61
Letter motif 61
The Cozy 61
Commence “CAFE” Chart 61
Crochet buttonholes 63
Toy Tidy Bag 65
The pattern 65
Letter motif 65
Bag base 65
Back 66
Drawstring channel 66
Front 66
Commence chart 66
Finishing 66
Lady’s “PARIS” Sweater 67
The pattern 67
Letter motif 68
Back and front 68
Shape armholes 68
Right sleeve 68
Shape top 69
Left sleeve 69
Commence Sleeve Letters Chart 69
Finishing 69
Neck edging 69
5 Script 70
“Amour” Heart Pillow 71
The pattern 71
Letter motif 71
Front 71
Commence “Amour” Chart 71
Girl’s Dress 75
The pattern 75
Letter motif 76
Back 76
Shape armholes and divide for back neck 76
Shape back neck 76
Front 76
Commence chart 76
Shape front neck 76
Back neck opening 77
Neck edge 77
Armhole edging 77
Finishing 77
Mobius Twist Scarf 78
The pattern 78
Letter motif 78
Basic twist scarf 78
Finishing 78
6 Ornamental 80
Baby Blanket 81
The pattern 81
Letter motif 81
Border 81
Body of blanket 81
Commence Diamond Chart 81
Commence Baby Blanket Letters Chart 82
Finishing 82
Neckerchief 84
The pattern 84
Letter motif 84
Neckerchief 84