Pavilion - Hello Knitting!: Simple knits to have you in stitches

In this book we aim to introduce you to the versatility of the craft of knitting. Whether you are a relative beginner or an experienced crafter looking to broaden your range of skills, you should be able to find a project here that will inspire you to take up your needles and cast on. The projects include some small-scale, simple pieces that are quick to make, such as the elegant Beaded jewellery (, which incorporates a number of different techniques to gorgeous effect. We have also tried to offer a variety of projects that will fulfil different purposes, whether you want to make some stylish accessories for yourself, knit some bootees to keep a special babys feet warm or make an eye-catching piece of dcor for your home. This book features a wide variety of inspiring techniques for you to master. In this section we review the basics, such as casting on, casting off and making the main stitches, and then go on to introduce more advanced skills such as cables and colourwork.In this book weve gathered together projects that are fun and inspiring and that will introduce you to a variety of versatile techniques.

Before you start stitching, here are a few things to consider.

Each project specifies what sort of yarn you need to complete the item. Often you will be able to substitute the yarn for one that you already have or would prefer to use. Just bear in mind what the purpose of the project is. For a garment or accessory such as the you could use an economical yarn such as a synthetic fibre, and be bold and experimental with the colour choices. Your main equipment will, of course, be your knitting needles. Most of the projects in this book use standard straight needles, but some of them require you to knit in the round using double-pointed needles or a circular needle.

You will also need a cable needle (a double-pointed needle with a kink in it) to make the ). Other useful tools are a tapestry needle (a blunt, large-eyed needle) to weave in ends and join seams; a measuring tape to check the size of work in progress; and scissors to cut the yarn. Any other specific tools or materials that are required are listed at the start of each project.

Whether you are a beginner seeking guidance or an experienced crafter in need of a reminder, in this section we set out the basic techniques you will need to start tackling the projects in this book. The very beginning getting your first loop of yarn onto the needle! Wind the yarn around two fingers twice. Insert a knitting needle through the first (front) strand and under the second (back) one. Pull the back strand through the front one to form a loop.

Holding the loose ends of the yarn with your left hand, pull the needle upwards to tighten the knot. Pull the ball end of the yarn again to tighten the knot further.

There are many possible ways to cast on (that is, to get the required number of stitches on the needle to be able to start knitting the first row); here and overleaf we explain two commonly used methods. Make a slip knot 100cm (40in) from the end of the yarn. Hold the needle in your right hand with the ball end of the yarn over your index finger. *Wind the loose end of the yarn around your left thumb from front to back.

Insert the point of the needle under the first strand of yarn on your thumb. With your right index finger, take the ball end of the yarn over the point of the needle. Pull a loop through to form the first stitch. Remove your left thumb from the yarn. Pull the loose end to secure the stitch.

This method of casting on requires two needles. This method of casting on requires two needles.

Make a slip knot about 10cm (4in) from the end of the yarn. Hold this needle in your left hand. Insert the right-hand needle through the slip knot. Wrap the yarn over the point of the right-hand needle. Pull a loop through the slip knot with the right-hand needle. Place this loop on the left-hand needle.

Gently pull the yarn to secure the stitch. Insert the right-hand needle between the slip knot and the first stitch on the left-hand needle. Wrap the yarn around the point of the right-hand needle. Draw a loop through and place this loop on the left-hand needle. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until the required number of stitches have been cast on.

Hold the needle with the cast-on stitches in your left hand, with the loose yarn at the back of the work.

Insert the right-hand needle from left to right through the front of the first stitch on the left-hand needle. Wrap the yarn from left to right over the point of the right-hand needle. Draw the yarn through the stitch, thus forming a new stitch on the right-hand needle. Slip the original stitch off the left-hand needle, keeping the new stitch on the right-hand needle. To knit a row, repeat steps 1 to 4 until all the stitches have been transferred from the left-hand needle to the right-hand needle.