Combined / Combination Knitting

I just realized yesterday, to my despair, that I knit the combined way.

There is a continental way and an English way, but nooo….I have to do it the combined way…

Why to my despair!? you might ask…After all, this way is faster, yes. Too bad all instructions out there are for the other techniques as are all patterns I have…

So, I need to translate every pattern for machine knitting and switch stitches for hand knitting. When knitting is supposed to be something relaxing and simple, it is anything but, at least during the learning process.

I’m trying to figure out how I’m supposed to do a k2tog and a ssk the combined way.

YO seams to be so easy for everyone, that nobody really explains it.

I’m a beginner at hand knitting, I have only made simple stockinette stitches and always under my mom’s supervision during my school years. It seams that with machine knitting I do not bother that much with right slant or left slant decreases, as I find it easier to just move one stitch over the other, and I never twist the stitches, but I’m a beginner at machine knitting too…

For me, the biggest issue with the combined method is decreasing – to the right or left. Here’s some info I find useful:

1. http://www.thedietdiary.com/blog/lucia/378
2. http://www.grumperina.com/table.pdf
3. a quote from a forum:

“here’s a memory trick–a number 2 has a /in it..
and a k2tog results in a decrease that leans to right / just like the number 2

and a SSK or S1, k1, psso –has an S and inside the S is a \ left leaning slant.

so.. if you the pattern calls for a K2tog the pattern is calling for a / Right leaning decrease

and if the pattern calls for a SSK or S1,K1, psso, the pattern is calling for a \ left leaning decrease.”

So it is clearly that I need to reverse k2tog with ssk and the other way around, since all patterns are written for European and Western way…

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_knitting
5. http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knit-stitch?searched=combined&highlight=ajaxSearch_highlight+ajaxSearch_highlight1

From the video above, to do a right slanting decrease (a k2tog standard) with the combined knitting method,

• you slip the two stitches to the right needle one by one,
• then place them back onto the left needle turning them so that their leading edge is to the front (by inserting the left needle point around the front loop into the loop from right to left – twisting the loop).
• After reorienting the stitches you do a standard knit two together (by inserting the right needle, around the front loops, through the second stitch and then the first stitch and draw the yarn through, placing it on the right needle).

So in other words, to my understanding:A K2TOG in combined knitting becomes a slip, slip, twist, twist and then knit through front loops together, inserting needle into the second loop first.

A ssk is just a knit the combined way, through both stitches.

Next, I will have to figure out how to do the eyelets. I have tried yesterday and if I purl the combined knitting way the loop that was produced by a YO in the previous row, I do not end up having a hole…

Anyone knows any other/better/right way of interpreting the patterns for combined knitting, please let me know.

P.S. I’m trying to make the Silk Slip from Knitting Lingerie Style…

Tags: combination, combined, combined knitting, how to, k2tog, knit, knit method, knitting technique, ssk