Linda Medina Knitting Patterns

To help dispel some of the mystery around knitting patterns, we cover some of the basic and more advanced sticking points below.

Learn to knit quickly and easily

I noticed the letters 'BO' in my child knitting instructions, but I'm really unsure what it means? This is instructing you to 'bind off' and is most commonly seen when working round the collar of a sweater. When binding off, ensure you knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as they face you, and bind off loosely if you want the sweater to fit over your head. This can be achieved by using a slightly bigger needle.

What does "ssk" mean when it appears in my child knitting instructions? SSK is an acronym, standing for slip, slip, knit and is a decrease that verges to the left. Slip two stitches as if to knit one at a time from the left to the right needle. Insert the left needle into the fronts of the two slipped stitches and knit them together.

What is a selvage stitch? A selvage stitch is an empty stitch worked into each side of a garment to allow it to be sewn together, effectively acting as a seam. Selvage stitches can also be used for decorative purposes.

The pattern stitch reads k2, *p1, k1, p2, rep from *, k1. What does that mean? This is just an abbreviated form. It is asking you to knit two stitches, then purl 1, k1, p2 across the row until the last stitch, then k1. More valuable resources on knitting patterns and child knitting are readily available.

Take the time to learn the standard terminology and practice before beginning to knit for your child - you'll definitely reap the benefits of a little hard work in the long run! After some minor research, you can begin knitting for your children, creating high quality, beautifully crafted, durable garments to keep your kids warm and looking adorable!