Knitting is the construction of a fabric made of interlocking loops of yarn by means of needles. Hand knitting is a jolting art, the end products of which can be held high as the symbols of flabbergasting love and care for the ones youlove and gift them to.
Knitting can be done with hands or by knitting machines. Hand knitting allied in origin to weaving and to the netting and knotting of fishnets and snares, was apparently unknown in Europe before the 15th century, when it began to be practiced in Italy and Spain. The Scots claimed its invention and also its introduction into France. Hand-knitting needles are of bone, wood, steel, ivory, or celluloid.
Though knitting machines have been there for many years now but only a knitter can tell you the difference she/he feels, when their project is done by hands than when it is done by knitting machines. The love, affection and effort they put in when they hand knit cannot be measured.
The two basic stitches are knit or plain and purl or wrong. These two nominal stitches are actually identical, however, being the obverse and reverse of the same stitch. . It is the variations and combinations of these two stitches that create all the different stitch patterns which are possible in knitting. Typically, a knit stitch is formed by inserting the needle in the front of the loop from a left-to-right perspective and pulling a loop of yarn through to form a new loop, while a purl stitch is formed by inserting the needle in the front of the loop from a right-to-left perspective.
Hand knitting Tools:
The basic tools needed for hand knitting are:
- Knitting needles
- Knitting yarn
- Crochet hook
Once you get a hang of the basic stitches in hand knitting then it does not take you long to knit all different kinds of knitting patterns. The common hand knitting patterns are:
- Garter Stitch
- Stockinette Stitch
- Seed or Moss Stitch
- Box Stitch
Some people might ask, 'why hand knit when a machine can do the job for you'? Well, its because not only is hand knitting about creating fabrics it also happens to be a stress relieving social activity which is cost effective. You can either spend a little or a lot.
You can hand knit while watching TV and even when you are doing absolutely nothing. Your knitting needles and yarns can be your very good companion for life.
Hand Knitting/ Machine Tools:
It is not that knitting machines a form of "cheating"; on the contrary, they hold their place as a different way of accomplishing the same end. Moving the carriage back and forth can almost put you in a trance. It certainly would knit a sweater a lot faster than your hands would. But the sense of accomplishment after knitting a sweater with knitting machine is not the same as when you hand knit. You kind of always end up feeling like the machine did all the work.
Hand knitting is an experience in itself. This is an art which has been passed on from generation to generation and still has not lost its touch and beauty. You should learn hand knitting otherwise you are missing out on something. You would surely love this art.
So, whenever you think you need some instant gratification, pull your hand knitting tools from under your bed every year and start knitting for your loved ones. It surely works!!!!!
