Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Knit One below Beer Cozy

Once I read the book, Knit One Below: One Stitch, Many Fabrics, I was excited to try out the technique. (See my review of the book.)

Materials Required
  • size 3 dpn (the k1b technique results in a loose fabric, so you will need to use much smaller needles than you would ordinarily be accustomed to. I would say that this fabric looks like it was knit with size 6 or 7 needles)
  • Worsted Weight yarn (I used remnant yarn I had laying in my knitting cupboard)
K1b (Knit one below)
Instead of knitting the stitch off of the left needle, knit into the stitch below the one on the needle, allowing that stitch (and the one on the needle) to drop behind your new stitch. You aren't slipping a stitch, you are just knitting the stitch on the needle together with the one immediately below it.

Pattern
  • Cast on 40 sts (this is the top of the beer cozy)
  • Join in the round. *k2, p1 *repeat for three rows. Make sure when distributing the stitches on the double pointed needles that each needle has an even number of stitches.
  • Follow the chart as follows:
  • K2, K1b twice - across with color in the A column (Eg, Purple)
  • K1b twice, K2 - across with color in the B column (Eg, Black)
  • K2, K1b twice - across with color in the A column (Eg, Purple)
  • K1b twice, K2 - across with color in the B column (Eg, Black)
  • K2, K1b twice - across with NEW A column Color (eg. blue)
  • K1b twice, K2 - across with NEW B column color (Eg, Red)
  • repeat these rows until you have finished the chart or have knit enough for your cozy. You do not need to re-attach the yarns each time you switch if you can handle them getting twisted. (Since the K1b fabric ends up pretty loose, make sure you loosely carry the yarns up the side, or else it will be much tighter than the rest of the fabric.)
  • Begin the decrease rounds with MC
  • note, you may need to adjust the decreases as the gauge is much tighter when you leave the K1b stitches. I personally like the look of the colors extending to the bottom.
  • K3 k2 tog - across (32 sts)
  • k1 round even
  • k2 k2 tog - across (24 sts)
  • k 1 round even
  • k1 k2 tog - across (16 sts)
  • k 1 round even
  • K2 tog - across (8 sts)
  • pull remaining stitches together
  • weave in loose ends
The wrong side of this stitch looks really cool too:



For an illustration of the this technique, check out the How To Knit-One-Below Video published in April, 2010.

This this pattern was created by ChemKnits for your personal or charity use. This pattern is not to be replicated, sold or redistributed without permission from ChemKnits. © 2009 ChemKnits