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Rcvcrsible Patterns

Open Cast On

ll you want to have thc sanie color facing on both sides ar rhc hottom edge, an open cast on fpage 20) łs the hest and easiest solution. Ił rhis facing łs supposcd to hołd tire knitted piece in a Ktde, like ribbing, the first lew rows until the facing is jomed to-gether can be worked wuh thinner nccdlcs.

Crochet a loose row of cham stitchcs in a contrast yarn in the length as the number of stitchcs rcquircd lor I sidc. Now pick up the stitches Irom the horirontal parts ot the cham stitchcs, on the back, and work in stockmette stitch to a length ot twice the facing length. ending with a purl row.

Undo the cham stitches and catch the open stitches with a thinner cahlc nccdlc. Make surę rhar you have thc same number of stitches. Fold the piece together wrong sidc on wrong sidc. Now continuc according to rhe jacquard rcch-ntque, with 2 colon o!'yarn, and altcmately knit I stitch Irom the front nccdlc in the fint color and purl 1 stitch trom thc back nccdlc tn thc second color.

Double Cast On

The siniplest way of casting on is with both yams, but this is less at-tractive. The only time tlus method is giK\l is it you are working a double scarf, for exaniple. and thc edge will be hiddcn between tnngcs later.

In thc lirst row. for cvcry double cast-on stitch, always knit I stitch in the lirst coku and purl 1 stitch in thc second color.

Chain stitch sclvcdges are worked on both sides. To do this. knit Knh sehedge stitchcs at thc beginning of evcry row together, bul slip them at thc end of cvcry row.

In thc bindmg-off row. thc stitchcs of thc front and back are knitted together.

Selvedge Stitches

No matter ifyou arc knitting a double scarf or a rcvcrsiblc jacket in which thc pieccs havc to be joincd scamlcssly and attracdvcly. you should always work seam sehedge stitches—i.e.. sehedge stitchcs worked in stockincttc stitch. To do this, knit thc sehedge stitch for thc front tn other words, thc first stitch on thc nccdlc—and purl the scl-vcdgc stitch for thc back—i.e., thc second stitch. Then knit the ncxt-to-last stitch—i.e.. thc sclvcdgc stitch for the front—and purl thc last stitch. Work the selvedge stitches tliis way in cvcry row.

Importani: Make surc w hen you tum thc work that thc yarn in thc color ot the first stitch on rhe needle is at thc trom—i.e.« that it dix*s not cross rhe yarn for rhe second stitch. Only in this way will you get the open edge (see phoco I. bek»w) wuh which you can later sew both sides iising incisihle stitch (photo 2. below).

You cannot uvokl Crossing thc yams at thnse plac es where rhe main color changes, or in thc case of smali patterns that reach all thc way to thc edge (such as thc :igzag patiem in the bortom part of thc knitted piece). For verv attractivc edges, you should rry to Iny thc patterns out so that they begin and end approxi-mately 2 t<» ) stitchcs after and bcforc thc sclvcdgc stitch- In our sampie, they are the diamond pattem and chcckercd pattem.

A double cast on and cast off, and Chain selvedge stitches, aro not as attractive.

Ilf the knitted piece is turned at every new row so that the yarn of the first selvedge stitch is on the outside, the edges can be opened up to the first panem stitches.

2 Then you can either sew both sides of the knitted piece together (such as for a scarf) or you can sew the pieces of a cardigan together using invisible stitch.

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