Mixing It Up Some More ... Easy Knit, Purl Combinations

So when you've gotten to the point that you can easily recognize a knit stitch or purl stitch, then its time to try some more knit purl combinations.  There are thousands of stitch patterns to try out and going through pattern stitch collections will provide plenty of inspiration.

Barbara Walkers collection of stitch dictionaries are a great resource when you want to start practicing different stitch patterns.



If you are very visual, you might want to take a look at:

Here you will find lots of colorful pictures of the different stitch patterns in this dictionary and a pretty good explanation of chart reading.



If you are eager to try a simple knit, purl stitch combination, here is an easy basket weave baby blanket pattern for you to start with:

Finished Measurements:

Approximately 24 ½ x 27 ½

Materials:

•  600 yards worsted weight yarn

•  One 29 “ long size 8 circular needle 

•  Stitch Markers

•  Row counter

Note:  You will be working flat, the circular needle is used to accommodate the larger number of stitches

Gauge:

In basket weave pattern, using size 8 needles:

19 stitches and 32 rows = 4”

Pattern Stitches:

Seed Stitch (multiple of 2)

Row 1:  (RS) *k1, p1; rep from * to end.

Row 2:  knit the purl sts and purl the knit sts.

Repeat row 2 for seed stitch pattern.

Basket Weave (multiple of 8 + 2)

Row 1:  (WS) Purl.

Row 2:  k2, *p6, k2; rep from * to end.

Row 3:  p2, *k6, p2; rep from * to end.

Row 4:  Repeat row 2.

Row 5:  (WS) Purl.

Row 6:  p4, *k2, p6; rep from * to end.

Row 7:  k4, *p2, k6; rep from * to end.

Row 8:  Repeat row 6.

Repeat rows 1-8 for basket weave pattern.

Abbreviations:

k = knit     p = purl     rep = repeat     sts = stitches     WS = wrong side     RS = right side    

  

Directions:

Bottom Border:

Cast on 116 sts.  Do NOT join, work back and forth on circular needle in seed stitch for 2”.

Blanket Body:

(WS) Work in seed stitch across 9 sts, place marker, work row 1 of basket weave pattern over next 98 sts, place marker, work in seed stitch across last 9 sts.  Keeping first 9 sts and last 9 sts in seed stitch pattern, repeat rows 1 – 8 of basket weave pattern over center 98 sts until piece measures 25 ½” from the beginning, finishing with row 5 of basket weave pattern.  Do NOT bind off.

Top Border:

(RS) Work in seed stitch across all sts, removing markers.  Continue in seed stitch until top border measures 2”.  Bind off in pattern.