I just shivered. I mean it. Just now, I literally shivered, and you wanna know why? Because I just cut through a small piece of knitted fabric on purpose!! Yikes! I just STEEKED!
Okay, if you're not familiar with the term "steek" or why that would make me shiver, then let me back up and explain a couple of things.
First, the term steek, in knitting means to cut through a portion of knitting just like you were cutting through fabric. It is intentional, and meant to achieve what the definition implies - to pierce and enclose.
Second, the reason for my shiver was that I have made a New Years Resolution to learn how to steek, and yup, I just did it! I am so proud of myself. I got that same feeling in my sock knitting class in Asheville when I completed a little sock ornament. You probably got that feeling the first time you rode a bike or learned to drive a stick shift. Small for others, but BIG for you!
So tonight, I started this project by locating a pattern and two colors of thread for the sample.
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| fair isle patterns with light and dark yarn |
Then I cast on the specified 25 stitches for the pattern, plus 5 stitches for the steek, or 30 total stitches.
I knit in the round following the pattern and on the 5 steek stitches, knit one light, one dark etc. to make 5 little vertical stripes. The Center Stripe will be cut like unzipping a zipper. Right down the middle.
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| Fair isle sample with steek stripes |
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| The center light stripe is the zipper |
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| Crochet down from cast off edge |
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| And crochet up from cast on edge |
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| Cutting in the ditch |
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| Do you see the ladder stitches? Like teeth between purple lips! |
Finally is the actual cutting of the fabric, and like I said, I literally shivered! Wow, what a cool feeling!
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| Starting to cut was scary! |
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| Its Done! Like a teeny, tiny sweater! |
I must give credit to Elizabeth Zimmermann who always gives me confidence. That's what she's known for. Encouraging knitters for generations to jump in and face your fears.
