This Porthole Eyelet Stands Up to Blocking

It started with turning decreases into decorative elements. 

I love to add texture to knitting. The most common way I do this is with the Showy Decrease. The Showy Decrease strings together a line of decreases that rise up on the face of the knit fabric.

As you can see in the Cassini Shawl shown on the right, they work especially well when running in contrast to a series of color stripes. 

Creating pleats that hold and knitting faux cables are two other fun ways to use this technique. You can find both of these free patterns in our Ravelry store.

Time to switch our attention to increases. 

I was in search of an eyelet with enough gravitas to partner with the Showy Decrease. Specifically, I was looking for a double increase that would send two Showy Decrease lines off in opposite directions, a replacement  for [yo, k1, yo] which tends to bunch.

Here were my goals for this Nuance:

• a highly visible increase
• one that didn’t collapse when knit and blocked
• an increase that could be joined in a series of rows like the Showy Decrease
• a versatile increase that could be used in a variety of ways

Two great tastes that taste better together.

While some of our Nuances, like the Flat I-Cord and Showy Decrease are new, many of the ideas are based on knitting techniques you already know and love. Sometimes I tweak them and sometimes I combine two techniques for a more impactful result.

Here are a few examples: 

• Knotted K2Tog Bind Off which combines the k2tog bind off with a standard psso bind off. 
• The knit 1 back and front increase which reverses the order of the k1f&b for a less intrusive increase.
• The Garter Stitch Seam that turns the 3 needle bind off inside out.

Introducing the Porthole Eyelet

Take a look at the eyelets to the left and see if you think I met my goal to create an eyelet that stands out even after blocking.

First of all, I do love the structured look. You can use this as a stand alone increase but the eyelets look even more dramatic when strung together in a line.

And, as you’ll see in upcoming patterns, I’ve already started to use them in a variety of ways.

So, what 2 techniques did I combine for this concoction? 

Knit 1, yarn over, knit 1 into the same stitch and … knit 1 in the row below. 

That means you will work the double [k1, yo, k1] increase, not into the stitch currently hanging on the needle, but into the hole in the stitch just below it. The stitch that was created when you purled on the prior wrong side row.

You Tube Tutorial Video

Wand to see how it works? Just link to the Knitting Nuances You Tube Channel for our free tutorial video.

Here’s a look at the complete swatch. It illustrates how you’ll be able to see these increases in your knitting. 

This photo may have already given you an idea of how you could use the Porthole Eyelet in patterns you already have … a triangle shawl!

A Triangle Shawl Template

The swatch includes 3 elements I think are important when knitting a triangle shawl.

1. A nice center line increase —>  Porthole Eyelet
2. Pretty non-rolling edges —>  Hatch Stitch Edge 
3. A stretchy decorative bind off —> Knotted K2Tog Bind Off

This tiny swatch is the perfect opportunity to give these new techniques a try. Add your own design elements to the body of the shawl and you can use this template again and again. Want the shawl to increase more quickly? Just add a yarn over or k1b&f inside each 4-stitch Hatch Edge. 

Go grab some needles and give it a try. Not only will you have some fun, when you’re done you will have added three new knitting techniques to your bag of tricks. You’ll  start to spot ways to use them in other patterns and they’ll give you an opportunity to personalize your projects.

Help with the Knotted K2tog Bind Off

This is one of my favorite Nuances. You can read about it in this blog post and find a tutorial video tutorial on my You Tube Channel.

Help with the Hatch Stitch Edge

Take a moment to read the blog post about the Hatch Stitch edge. These 4 Stitches Will Instantly Improve Your Knit Edges. It explains why it works and has a link to our You Tube Channel with a tutorial video for both the Showy Decrease and Hatch Stitch Edge. 

And finally, welcome to the literally hundreds of Knitting Paradise forum readers who joined the blog this week. Once again you have demonstrated how you love knitting techniques. On a personal note, you gave me the morale boost I needed to start blogging again after a necessary but unwanted hiatus to deal with my Lyme. Thank you so much for becoming part of our Nuance community.