The basic of the free knitting stitches which is the first you will learn when starting knitting on the basis of bead knitting patterns is the garter stitch or knit stitch as it is also called. When you’ve knitted some rows with this stitch and turn it around so that you are looking at the other side of the knitting, you will see purl stitches. Knit stitch and purl stitch are thus almost the same free knitting stitches but are called different thing depending on which side you’re facing. This may be confusing sometimes. But when bead knitting patterns tell you to “purl” stitches you can’t just knit garter stitches and turn the knitting around, that won’t work. The techniques to do these free knitting stitches, a purl stitch or a knit stitch, are a bit different.
When you knit a stitch you hold the yarn behind the stitch work and put the needle through the loop from the front. On the other hand, when you purl a stitch, according to bead knitting patterns, you do the opposite; you hold the yarn in front of the knitting and put the needle through the loop from behind. The one of the free knitting stitches called purl stitches, form lines on the front of the stitch work while the reverse side becomes smooth. If you use knit stitches the front is smooth while the lines appears on the reverse side. Consequently; the free knit stitches and purl stitches are each other’s opposite and in some meaning the same stitch. Nonetheless, it’s important to know the difference between them when you read bead knitting patterns and talk or read about knitting in general. There are both easy knitting stitches are more difficult ones. Here are some different more or less common types of free knitting stitches you can stumble upon in bead knitting patterns:
- Lazy daisy stitch
- Feather stitch Stockinette stitch
- Cable knit
- Peyote stitch
- Box stitch (also called Double seed stitch or Double moss stitch)
- Embossed diamonds
- Moss panels
- Rice stitch
- Spaced checks
- Lace stitches
These free knitting stitches are of a varying degree of difficulty. I haven’t had the time to try all of them out but I’m eager to do it! As you see the names of the free knitting stitches are sometimes more imaginative than describing and you may not at once be able to know what the fee knitting stitches will look like. But there’s no reason to worry; the bead knitting patterns and the knitting stitches instructions will explain this to you. There are lots of free knitting instructions to find on the Internet. Lace stitches, the last one mentioned in the list above, is a group of free knitting stitches appearing among the embroidery stitches. When knitting lace knitting stitches you use small knitting needles and very thin knitting yarn. You can create very delicate bead knitting patterns which is decorative on shawls and other clothing. There are of course a lot more free knitting stitches to try, this was just a sample!