Description ~ Bias Knitting Without Prejudice

Knitting on the bias means the pieces are not "straight." This leads to many non-standard shapings and color/textural lines and possibilities. Learn this diverse method of knitting that creates different, dynamic, directional lines easily and its applications. Get the angle on your pieces, try various colors and textures for head-turning work. Mix and match several effects simultaneously. Ideas for trims, accents, and even whole garments will be discussed. Go from easy panels to larger projects. You head will be spinning with new ideas, all without a pattern.

Materials Needed ~ Bias Knitting Without Prejudice

• Light-colored, worsted weight yarns, 3 to 5 different colors, only 50 yds each color necessary.
• Appropriate size needles.
• Slightly smaller double-pointed needles or shorter circular needles.
• Square graph paper, about 8 squares to the inch - at least 2 sheets.
• Colored pencils or markers.
• Scissors & scotch tape.
• Three homework swatches.

Homework ~ Bias Knitting Without Prejudice

• Swatch A: With light-colored, worsted weight yarn, cast on 12 sts. There will always be 12 sts at end of all rows.

  • Row 1 [RS]- k 1, k 2 tog, k 7, inc in next st, k last st.
  • Row 2 [WS]- p across.
  • Change to another color and rep rows 1 and 2.
  • Rep from * until piece measures about 4", ending with a second-color row, bind off with first color.

• Swatch B: With light-colored, worsted weight yarn, cast on 13 sts. There will always be 13 sts at end of all rows.

  • Row 1 [RS]- k 1, inc in next st, k to within 3 sts from end, ssk or skp for left-slanting dec, k last st.
  • Row 2 [WS] - k across.
  • Row 3 - rep row 1.
  • Row 4 - p 1, (p 2 tog, yo) 5 times, p last 2 sts.
  • Rep rows 1 through 4 for patt. Work until piece measures about 4" ending with patt row 4, do not bind off.

• Swatch C: With another light-colored, worsted weight yarn, begin on RS row. Work in Garter St throughout. Cast on 4 sts.

  • Row 1 - k 2, k & P in next st to inc, k last st, 5 sts total.
  • Row 2 - sl first st as if to p, k to within last st, sl last st as if to p.
  • Row 3 - k to within last 2 sts, inc in next st, k last st.
  • Row 4 - rep row 2.
  • Rows 5 thru 16- rep rows 3 and 4, end with 12 sts.
  • Row 17 - bind off first 8 sts, k 1, inc in next st, k last st, 5 sts total.
  • Row 18 - rep row 2.
  • Rows 19 thru 32- rep rows 3 and 4, end with 12 sts.
  • If desired, rep rows 17 thru 32 once more. If not, bind off.