Monica Knits

Earlier this week I was grafting another cabled headband which had both purl and knit stitches, which meant I was grafting "in pattern." For the cabled headband, my preferred method of joining it in the round is with the Kitchener (also called grafting or weaving) stitch, because it creates an invisible join and does not add bulk. When grafting knitted pieces that are "in pattern," a combination of the two basic grafting stitches is used and it is helpful to have a mnemonic to remember which grafting stitch to use and thus reduce confusion. Read more .... for memory aid.

This is the second in a series of articles on inserting beads and sequins in knitting. The first article, Bead Insertion in Knitting, described stringing beads on yarn and purling beads into a 2 x 2 rib stitch ground. This article describes a slip stitch method of inserting beads into a stocking stitch ground. Read more...

Grafting is a versatile technique that produces an invisible join between two stocking stitch pieces. It can be used when lengthening (by inserting rows) or shortening a garment in the middle. If a garment were found to be too long across the center back, you could cut across the stitches, unravel a few rows and then rejoin the two portions by grafting. Read more... to see the grafting stitch used to attach lace trim to a hand towel.

Click on thumbnails to view larger images.

I finally got around to photographing the Knitter's Vest, albeit months after I finished it and started wearing it. I washed it quite a few times and have worn it while knitting and cuddling with the dogs in the evenings. I should have photographed it before I wore it, but you still get the idea. The collar is especially comfortable because it wraps your neck with a soft double layer of knitting (outside plus inner facing) and keeps drafts away. This one is knitted in acrylic, and is a golden honey color--not the most practical color for playing with dark brown haired dogs (short-haired pointers). I use the pockets for carrying things and if I were to make this vest again, I would make the pockets slightly wider and the vest longer.

Click here to read the "Oat Couture Village Vest" review: Knitter's Vest.