The “Holey Grail:” Avoiding Gaps and Holes

Kate Atherley

Sunday AM

This class focuses on tips and techniques for dealing with common holes and gaps in your knitting: why they’re there, how to avoid making them, and how to deal with them if they do happen. We’ll talk about mitten thumbs, underarms in seamless garments, sock gusset pick-ups, necklines, starts and ends of rounds, and more! Bring your questions and holes.

Skill Level: Advanced beginner and up — knitter should be confident with knit and purl

Student Supplies:

4-5mm/US #6-8 needles, and scrap medium-weight yarn; bring your completed homework swatches.

holey grail

Homework:

Materials for homework:

- scrap DK or worsted-weight yarn
- 4.5mm/US #7 needles for working flat
- 4.5mm/US #7 needles for sock knitting as you prefer – DPNs, magic loop, 2 circulars
- 1 removable stitch marker, 2 standard stitch markers
- a darning needle and a length of waste yarn or a stitch
Sample #1: Neckline CO 25 sts. Work 4 rows stockinette stitch, starting with a RS row. Row 1 (RS): BO 7 sts, k to end. 18 sts.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Row 3: BO 3 sts, k to end. 15 sts.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K1, ssk, k to end. 1 st decreased. Repeat the last 2 rows 3 more times. 11 sts. Work even for 9 more rows, ending with a WS row. Bind off. Wash piece and dry flat.
Sample #2: Sock Heel Cuff
Cast on 24 sts. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round. Ribbing round: (K1, p1) to end. Repeat Ribbing round 2 more times.
Knit 3 rounds.

Heel Flap
Row 1 (RS): K12. These will be the Heel Stitches. Turn so that WS is facing. Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 pwise wyif, p11.
Row 3 (RS): Sl 1 pwise wyib, k11.
Repeat Rows 2 & 3 twice more, and
work Row 2 one more time. (8 rows total.)

Heel Turn
RS is facing. Row 1 (RS): Sl 1 pwise wyib, k7, SKP, turn.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 pwise wyif, p4, p2tog, turn.
Row 3 (RS): Sl 1 pwise wyib, k4, SKP, turn.
Row 4 (WS): Sl 1 pwise wyif, p4, p2tog, turn. Repeat Rows 3 & 4 once more. 6 sts rem. Final heel row: Sl 1 pwise wyib, k5. Stop here. Slip the sts to scrap yarn or stitch holders.

Sample #3: Thumb/Sleeve Cast on 15 stitches.
Knit 4 rows.
Next row, place markers for increase (WS): K3, p4, pm, p1, pm, p4, k3. Increase row (RS): K to marker, slip marker, m1r, k to marker, m1l, slip marker, k to end. 2 sts increased.
Following row (WS): Purl.

Repeat the last 2 rows, 6 times more. 15 sts between markers. Stop here. Slip the sts to scrap yarn or stitch holders.

Materials Fee: None