contents

introduction 2
the basics 4
equipment 8
text and abbreviations 20
stitch gallery 22
index 286
resources 288

Once you have the foundation and a fundamental understanding
of the process, you’re well on your way to creating designs for
yourself and loved ones.
Yarns for knitting
‘Yarn’ is the general term used for strands of fibre, or plies,
which are twisted (spun) together into a continuous thread.
It encompasses both natural (wool, cotton, etc.) and
synthetic fibres as well as smooth and fancy finishes and
varying thicknesses and textures.
Knitting yarns are also used for crochet, but crochet also
frequently uses fine and tightly twisted cotton threads
designed specifically for this craft. Most yarns and threads
used for these crafts are categorized according to a scale of
sizes, or weights. These categories vary slightly in
terminology and size, depending on the country of their
manufacture. Among the standard weights available in
Britain are the following:
2-ply and 3-ply
These are very fine yarns, used mainly for babies’ garments
and for lacy shawls, and are available in white and a few
other colours. (Very fine Shetland shawls are knitted from
4 the basics
the basics
so-called ‘1-ply’ yarn, but this is a misnomer, as at least 2
plies, or threads, are twisted together to form yarn.)
Recommended needle size: 21⁄4 mm–31⁄4 mm.
4-ply (Australia/New Zealand 5-ply)
This lightweight yarn works well for lacy garments and is
available in a wide range of colours and various finishes.
Recommended needle size: 3mm–31⁄4 mm.
Double Knitting (Australia/New Zealand 8-ply)
This is by far the most popular of the standard yarns. It can
be used for babies’, children’s and adults’ garments and is
suitable for most stitch patterns, from lace to heavily-
textured. It comes in a vast range of colours and in many
finishes, from smooth to fluffy and tweed.
Aran (Australia/New Zealand 12-ply)
Somewhat heavier than double knitting, this is the yarn
traditionally used for Aran garments. Formerly available only
in cream, it now comes in other colours as well. It makes
KNITTING CROCHET HOOKS
warm, durable knits, especially if spun from pure wool.

US metric US metric
Recommended needle size: 5–51⁄2mm.
0 2mm
Chunky (Australia/New Zealand 14-ply) 1 2.25mm 14 steel .60mm
2 2.75mm 12 steel .75mm
3 3.25mm 10 steel 1.00mm
These thick yarns are generally used for loose-fitting outdoor

4 3.5mm 6 steel 1.50mm

sweaters and jackets and can have a smooth or brushed
finish. Recommended needle size: 6mm. 5 3.75mm 5 steel 1.75mm
6 4mm B/1 2.25mm
7 4.5mm C/2 2.75mm
8 5mm D/3 3.25mm
Choosing yarns and threads 9 5.5mm E/4 3.5mm
When learning either knitting or crochet, it is especially 10 6mm F/5 3.75mm
important to choose a yarn that feels comfortable in your 10 ⁄21
6.5mm G/6 4.00mm
hands – one that is slightly elastic and neither slippery nor 11 8mm H/8 5.00mm
13 9mm I/9 5.50mm
15 10mm J/10 6.00mm
so highly textured that it will not move smoothly between

17 12.75mm K/10 ⁄2 6.50mm

your fingers. A pure wool double knitting or Aran yarn is 1

ideal for this purpose. 19 15mm L-11 8.00mm

Published knitting and crochet patterns will normally 35 19mm

specify the brand to be used for a project. You can often

substitute a different yarn for the one specified, provided
that you can obtain the same gauge, although substituting a
different type of yarn – a textured yarn for a smooth one –
will obviously produce a different appearance in the finished
item.
When doing your own designing, the only rule
experiment. Try a stitch pattern with different weights and
types of yarn and see the range of different effects you can
create. With practice, you will learn which yarns are likely to
enhance certain stitch patterns, but the occasional happy
surprise will add to the fun of creating a new design.

knit & purl 5

Diamond Brocade 3

Multiple of 8 sts + 1
Drape: good Skill: easy
Row 1 (RS): K4, *p1, k7; rep
from * to last 5 sts, p1, k4.
Row 2: P3, *k1, p1, k1, p5; rep
from * to last 6 sts, k1, p1, k1, p3.
Row 3: K2, *p1, k3; rep
from * to last 3 sts, p1, k2. Size Matters!
Row 4: P1, *k1, p5, k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 5: *P1, k7; rep from * to last st, p1. If you need to select a needle size for an unknown yarn,
Row 6: As Row 4. double your yarn and thread it through the closest size hole
Row 7: As Row 3. on your needle gauge. Whichever hole it fits through the
Row 8: As Row 2. neatest (neither tight nor with gaping spaces around the
Rep these 8 rows. yarn) is the best needle size to do your first swatch with.

6 the basics
Feather Rib
Multiple of 5 sts + 2
Drape: fair
Skill: intermediate
Row 1 (RS): P2, *yo, k2tog tbl,
k1, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 2: K2, *yf, k2tog tbl, p1,
k2; rep from * to end.
Rep these 2 rows.
2 Cable & Rib 1
Multiple of 9 sts + 5
Drape: fair
Skill: intermediate
Row 1 (RS): P2, KB1, p2, *k4,
p2, KB1, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 2: K2, PB1, k2, *p4, k2,
PB1, k2; rep from * to end.
Row 3: P2, KB1, p2, *C4B, p2,
KB1, p2; rep from * to end.
Row 4: As row 2.
Rep these 4 rows.
knit & purl 7
 Trusted by
Harmony Guide Knit & Purl needlecrafters
250 Stitches to Knit for more than
Paperback, 81/2 x 81/2, 272 pages
300 photographs, 50 illustrations thirty years
978-1-59668-056-2
$22.95 US/$28.95 Canada

Harmony Guide Lace & Eyelets The Harmony Guides

250 Stitches to Knit are your one-stop reference!
Paperback, 81/2 x 81/2, 272 pages
300 photographs, 50 illustrations
978-1-59668-057-9 Knit & Purl, Cables & Arans, and Lace & Eyelets
$22.95 US/$28.95 Canada
are the first titles of this new edition of the series.
Whether you’re a designer or a knitting enthusiast,
Harmony Guide Cables & Arans
the Harmony Guides will keep you in “stitches” for
250 Stitches to Knit
Paperback, 81/2 x 81/2, 272 pages
years to come.
300 photographs, 50 illustrations
978-1-59668-058-6 All swatches are shown in contemporary yarns,
$22.95 US/$28.95 Canada beautifully photographed and accompanied by
easy-to-follow charts and instructions.
October 2007

Inside each book you’ll find:

interweave.com
Interweave Press LLC is distributed to the book trade
in the U.S. and Canada by Independent Publishers
Group.
Interweave Press LLC is also the publisher of 13 craft
magazines, including Interweave Knits, Handwoven,
PieceWork, Spin-Off, and Fiberarts.
- More than 250 stitches beautifully and clearly
photographed
- Tips on using the stitches to design your own
creations
- Design consultant Erika Knight brings her con-
siderable market expertise to inform the choice
of classic stitches and to create 25 new stitches
in each book