KNITTING WITH COLOR

STRIPES

By knitting this swatch you will learn to use color in a basic knitting technique, stripes!

Use some worsted weight yarn, or anything you have, and a needle size appropriate for the yarn. (If you are using worsted weight yarn, use about a 7-9 size set of needles.)

You will need at least two colors for this swatch, but you may use more than one, the choice is up to you!

Cast on 20 stitches with color “A”.

Knit four rows in garter stitch (knit every row). This will be the bottom of the “frame” of your swatch. The garter stitch will keep it from curling. Place a marker, or safety pin on the right side (the side facing you, as you are ready to begin a new row).

Change to color “B” at the beginning of this the right side row.  DO NOT CUT COLOR “A”! Just leave the yarn hanging off to the side.

Work four more rows in color “B”, keeping your beginning and ending 2 stitches in garter stitch as you work stripes of varying widths. Your center 16 stitches will be worked in stockinette stitch (knit on the right side row, purl on the wrong side row). AS YOU WORK THESE 4 ROWS, TWIST YOUR TWO COLORS (the one you are using –B- and the one you are not –A-) at the beginning of every right side row. In this manner, you will “carry” your unused color “up” the side of your swatch.

Now, change back to color “A”. Continue to work your beginning and ending 2 stitches in garter stitch as you work stripes of varying widths.  ALWAYS twist your colors together at the beginning of your right side row. 

When you have finished “playing” with stripes, end your swatch with 4 rows of garter stitch to match the beginning of your piece and end your “frame”.  Bind off.

As you study your finished swatch, notice the difference between the right side and the wrong side where the color was changed!

THE FRONT OF THE SWATCH - STRIPES!

THE BACK OF THE SWATCH - STRIPES!