Jill Wolcott Knits logo

Techniques Library : How to Find a Technique

The Jill Wolcott Knits® Techniques Library is meant to be a resource for knitters. You will find written words, plus drawings, photos, and videos, all designed to help you work knitting techniques. I am fascinated by techniques and I am always looking for the proper technique for any situation.  There are often multiple variations of a single technique and it is used differently situationally.
Techniques Library: Garter stitches

I am always toying with the language I use to describe each techniques to make it clear to knitters and it seems there is always room to improve!  Language in one situation is often not sufficient in another situation, so I may modify the language within a pattern just to be sure it is applicable in that situation.  Where possible, I give all versions so you may choose.

The Jill Wolcott Knits® Techniques Library is meant to give you my version of a wide variety of knitting techniques, but my version is not the only one there is. My techniques library is populated by the techniques I use and want you to use, and it was created using my wording and preferences.  Here is a link to the Menu of Techniques.

Learning New Techniques

I recommend reading the words out loud to yourself recommend when working a technique for the first time.  Take it step-by-step, and don’t worry if it doesn’t completely make sense the first time you try it.  The words will be here in the Jill Wolcott Knits® Techniques Library if you need them again. Of course I am a big fan of practice!

Finding Things In the Jill Wolcott Knits® Techniques Library

I like adding in new things, and as I create new work, I find myself using familiar techniques in different ways. To that end, I have found that it makes more sense to group things, and to give a variety of uses under one topic. For instance, if you go to the knitting stitches together page it has instructions for knitting 2, 3, 4, and 5 stitches together.  If you put k2tog into the search box on any of my web pages, it will search the Jill Wolcott Knits® Techniques Library, and take you to the same page.

Right and Wrong Sides / Public and Private 

Maneuvers in knitting are usually done on the right side of the fabric, also called the public side. This doesn’t mean that things can’t be done on the wrong side, but I try to be consistent to make it is easier to keep track. For instance, if a decrease is called left leaning, it is usually referring to what it does on the right side, unless otherwise specified.  Check a specific technique to be sure. This is a little trick I like:  If you do an SSK (left leaning) and a k2tog (right leaning) then they are paired with a p2tog (to the k2tog) or a p2tog-b to the SSK (or SSP, which I absolutely detest!).  Easy to remember if you pair the easier (p2tog with the easier k2tog) and more difficult (SSK with the more difficult p2tog-b).

Using the Text found in the Jill Wolcott Knits® Techniques Library 

If you are teaching a class, writing a pattern, or otherwise using the techniques in the Jill Wolcott Knits® Techniques Library, please give me credit!  Feel free to send others here to get information.  This is a resource that supports all of my work, and represents a lot of work, so please use it respectfully.

Blog Posts

Save

Save