How To Read Your Knitting & On Breaking Rules

When it comes to knitting, it’s easy to get caught up in the “rules”; the rules of how to construct a garment; the rules of what colors go with what colors; the rules of what fiber to use; so many rules!  And sometimes, those rules are good and needed.  It’s good to place a sleeve opening at the beginning of your underarm, and it’s good to do a gauge swatch and know your numbers.  So no, I’m not saying throw all the rules out the window.  However, we often follow what’s already been laid out, afraid to venture off the beaten path. But knitting, at its heart, is an art form—a way to express yourself and your creativity. Sometimes, we need to remind ourselves to put those rules aside or to bend them just a bit and just experiment.

Think about all the societal norms that seep into our daily lives. They tell us to color within the lines, to follow the crowd, to do things the “right” way. This mindset can sneak into our knitting, making us hesitate to try something new or to break from tradition or to follow an idea we have. But here’s the thing: If it doesn’t work out, you can unravel it and start over. No harm done, and you will probably  learn something valuable in the process.

I recently cast on for a top down, drop sleeve t-shirt.  I wanted a wide type of boat neck.  And, I had an idea about how to construct this garment.  I’ve never seen anyone do what I had in mind, and I thought, maybe for good reason.  I thought, it probably won’t work.  But despite those negative voices in my head, I cast it on anyway.  I had to knit for quite a bit flat back and forth before I could try out my idea for the shoulders and neck, and with every row I kept thinking, this is not going to work, it’s a waste of my time.  But then I’d think, why wouldn’t it work?  It should work?  I’m just going to keep going and if it doesn’t work then I’ll start over.  No harm, just a bit of time well spent learning.  Did my idea work?  It did!  

Knitting is a journey, and part of that journey is embracing the unknown. Just because you haven’t seen it done before doesn’t mean it won’t work. And just because no one else does it that way doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Some of the most beautiful pieces of art are those that defy norms and challenge expectations.

So, pick up that yarn and let your imagination guide you. Try a new stitch, mix unexpected colors, or create your own pattern. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Each stitch is a step toward discovering something new about yourself and your craft.

Remember, knitting is more than just making something to wear or use; it’s a form of self-expression. It’s about bringing a piece of yourself into the world, one stitch at a time. So go ahead, take a chance. Knit outside the lines. Who knows what amazing creations you’ll come up with when you let go of the rules and let your creativity take the lead.

Mastering the ability to read your knitting is a very important and useful tool to have. This skill allows you to link the construction of your project with the fabric forming on your needles, whether you’re following a pattern or creating your own design. You’ll quickly detect and correct issues like dropped stitches, misaligned patterns, or errant cables. Additionally, it frees you from relying exclusively on written instructions or notes, giving you greater independence and confidence in your knitting.

Cultivating a strong knitter’s intuition is crucial. This intuition develops from recognizing that your fabric itself can guide you through completing a project. The best way to build this intuition is through practice, starting with the basics: learning to read knit stitches and purl stitches. These two foundational stitches form the basis for all other knitting techniques.  Ripping back is on of the greatest ways to learn how to read your knitting, especially with lace.  If you have to rip back some lace, have someone read the part of the pattern to you where you have to rip back.  Have them read in reverse order, as you will be unknitting the last stitches you knit first.  As they read the pattern to you, you’ll start to see what a yarn over looks like, of a slip slip knit, etc.  When I worked at my local LYS, this is how I learned to read lace.  When a customer came in needing help with a mistake, I would (with their permission) take their knitting, have them read me the pattern backwards and I would unknit until I reached the point where I could see the mistake they made.  The customer would read yo k2tog(yarn over knit 2 together) and  I could see that there was no yo (yarn over)  as I was tinking (knitting backwards) back.  

Once you learn how to read your knitting, your intuition will kick in and you will often get a “feeling” that something is not right.  That’s when you set  your knitting down and have a good long look (or read) at it.  The more you do it, the easier it will be to recognize what each type of stitch and stitch patterns look like.  For some good resources to begin this journey click here and here. And for lessons I’ve learned form ripping back click here.

Other things I mentioned in the podcast:

My spring and fall mood boards on Pinterest here and here. My Etsy shop here