Description ~ Hallelujah Grafting

Are you afraid of grafting (aka Kitchener St)? Do you avoid it, get a book out or say a mantra? Forget all of the aforementioned and take command of all possible grafting situations without any risk of coming unravelled. From an easily removed provisional cast on, to the tips of your sock toes with the aid of waste yarn we can handle it all. Basic stitch-top to stitch-top grafting (shoulders). Learn to follow waste yarn and check for errors. The pros and cons of grafted shoulders.Sock toes, use of the 'toe chimney' to hold the stitches and prevent splitting. Neatening the toe for the best finish.

Materials Needed ~ Hallelujah Grafting

As outlined in the homework section. Bring completed homework.

Homework ~ Hallelujah Grafting

To get the most out of this class, the following swatches will give plenty of opportunity to practice techniques. The swatches are not large but are detailed - please follow the directions carefully. For all swatches use a light colored, smooth (not fluffy or textured ) worsted weight wool yarn (approx 5 sts/ in) and 5 mm (US # 8) needles. Waste yarn should be smooth, contrasting and of a similar weight - cotton is good choice. Ideally use the same Main and Waste yarns for each swatch

• MY: Main yarn.
• WY: Waste yarn.
• K2T: Knit two stitches together.
• SSK: Slip the next two sts, knitwise, one at a time, to the right-hand needle, insert the left-hand needle into both sts and knit them together. This produces a one-stitch, left-slanting decrease known as a 'Slip, slip, knit'.

1. Shoulder Samples
   • Example of top to top grafting.
   • Work 2 of these pieces.
   • Cast on 20 st in MY, work 10 rows of St st., ending with a purl row. Leaving a tail, break off MY.
   • Change to brightly contrasting WY. Work 6 rows of WY in Stocking stitch, beginning with a knit row. Bind off in WY.
2. Sample Sock Toe
   • Rnd 1: Using a set of DPN's, cast on 40 sts and work one knit round. Arrange the stitches as for a sock toe, the first 20 sts on one needle and 10 sts on each of the other 2 needles.
   • Rnd 2: (K1, ssk, k 14, k2t, k1) x 2.
   • Rnd 3: Knit.
   • Rnd 4: (K1, ssk, k 12, k2t, k1) x 2.Continue to work decrease rounds every round until 20 sts remain. Break off main yarn.With WY work 6 rounds of St st onto the remaining 20 sts (no further shaping), bind off in waste yarn.
3. Complex Grafting Across a patterned row
   • Example of bottom to top grafting.
   • Cast on 16 sts in Waste Yarn.
   • Work five rows of Stocking Stitch ending on completion of a knit row.
   • WY row 6: Cut off waste yarn, tie on and purl across the row with a piece of contrasting mercerized cotton, or some other strong slippery yarn of a similar weight. Cut off the slippery yarn, tie on Main color. Use Main yarn for remainder of swatch.
   • Rows 1, 3, 7 (rS): K3, p2, k6, p2, k3.
   • Rows 2, 4, 6 and 8: P3, k2, p6, k2, p3.
   • Row 5 (Cable row): K3, p2, place next 3 sts on DPN at front of work, knit next 3sts, knit 3 fromDPN, p2, k3.
   • Work the eight row repeat as set. Continue in this pattern until more than 6" of the cable pattern is produced, end two rows after last cable. Cut off Main yarn, leaving a tail.