A swatch tells you how the yarn will behave when
it's knit up, how it stands to being washed, and
if you've acquired the right gauge. Knitting up a
swatch with a textured pattern is an even better
way to see the yarn's characteristics and test out its
versatility. The basketweave pattern makes a cool
swatch.
The
basketweave
The basketweave pattern uses a repeating
combination of knit and purl stitches. Always keep
in mind that if you "just" know how to knit and purl,
you can do quite a lot!
To practice this same basketweave stitch, grab a ball
of Uptown Worsted, some US7 [4.5mm needles] (or
your preferred needle size for worsted weight yarn),
and work as follows:
Cast on 37 sts, or a number that is a multiple of 8
plus 5.
Row 1 (RS): K all sts.
Row 2 (WS): K5, *p3, k5; repeat from * to end of
row.
Row 3 (RS): P5, *k3, p5; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 4 (WS): Same as Row 2.
Row 5 (RS): K all sts.
Row 6 (WS): K1, *p3, k5; repeat from * to last stitch,
end k1 instead of k5.
Row 7 (RS): P1, *k3, p5; repeat from * to last stitch,
end p1 instead of p5.
Row 8 (WS): Same as Row 6.
pattern makes a
cool swatch
Repeat these 8 ro ws 4 times or until your swatch is
the desired length.
This stitch pattern is so versatile! It lays flat, which
means it can be used for scarves or blankets, and
it's simple enough that you can start to memorize
the pattern after you've done a few repeats. It
would be great for scarves, blankets, children's
sweaters, or home projects like pillow covers or
dishcloths. Give it a try! Or, choose your own stitch
pattern to swatch. The basketweave pattern makes
a cool swatch and it's a great way to get to know
new yarn.
KNITmuch | issue 2
59