The Knitting Fiend

Today, I’m going to give you direction to knit “Two-Stitch Check”, a simple slip stitch pattern shown to the left.

Two-Stitch Check is a very simple two color pattern, that can be knit by any one who has mastered stockinette. Some knitters examining the pattern might think the knitter needs to carry two yarns while knitting a row: they don’t. The knitter carries only one strand at a time; the interlacing of the colors is accomplished by slipping.

Here are the directions for the stitch pattern knit back and forth. (My swatch has two extra stitches on each side; these are knit in garter stitch. My directions omit these stitches.)

Two-Stitch Check¹:
Note: If you want a nice flexible fabric, use larger needles than you would for stockinet.

Begin: Cast on a multiple of 4 stitches.

• Row 1: White: Knit.
• Row 2: White: Purl.
• Row 3: Blue: K3, *Sl 2 wyib, k2; repeat from *, end k1. (Slip all stitches purl-wise.)
• Row 4: Blue: P3, *sl 2 wyif, p2; repeat from *, end p1.
• Rows 5 & 6: White: Repeat rows 1 and 2.
• Row 7: Blue: k1, *Sl 2 wyib, k2; repeat from *, end sl2, k2.
• Row 8: Blue: p1, *Sl 2 wyif, p2; repeat from *, end sl2, p2.

I bet beginner want to ask at least two questions: 1) What the heck do “sl 2 wyif” and “sl 2 wyib” mean? and 2) If you only use one color in each row, why does the stitch pattern look like two colors were used when knitting some of the rows?

The answers are related! I’m going to (mostly) address the second question first: Why does it look like you need to carry two colors in some of the rows?

Examine the detail of the stitch pattern shown to the right. Notice I numbered the rows — and I did so twice. You’ll see a column of numbers near the center and one near the left edge of the photo.

Rows 1 & 2 were worked with white yarn. Examine the column of numbers in the center; notice row 1 is at the bottom, followed by row 2. Rows 3 and 4 were worked with blue yarn; notice the blue rows 3 & 4 just above 1 and 2; those were knit carrying only blue yarn.

Now, remember when working row 3 and 4, I worked 2 stitches, then slipped two stitches? That’s why you see groups of two blue stitches separated by two white stitches which one might think were created while knitting the same row. They aren’t; the white stitches were created while working row 2. If you look carefully you’ll see the white stitches looked “stretched” compared to all the blue stitches; you’ll also see these white stitches appear 2 stitches tall.

Now if you think too much (and I tend to) you will wonder: “Why doesn’t the stitch worked on row 2 then slipped twice look 3 stitches tall?” The answer is “Distortion”. If you look at the column of numbers on the left side of the photo, you’ll see that this stitch knit while working row 1 is “above” the row 1 stitch further to the right.

Pretty cool, huh? I’ll let you analyze what’s happening in rows 5-8 to you!

So much for “why it looks that way”. Now, I’ll explain “sl 2 wyif” (i.e. slip 2 with yarn in front) and “sl 2 wyib” (i.e. slip 2 with yarn in back.)

Here’s the easy part: “sl” means slip a stitch. Ok, but that’s not telling you enough. I bet you noticed that when knitting, you insert the tip one way; when purling you insert it a different way? Which do you do? Turns out there are two conventions:
Convention 1: “Always slip stitches purlwise unless told otherwise.”
Convention 2: “Always slip stitches purlwise except when decreasing or told otherwise.

I call the second convention “the evil, nasty convention” and try to remember to use the first one when I write instructions. For this particular example, it doesn’t matter which convention you follow. You clearly aren’t decreasing, so you slip purlwise. To do this, pretend you are going to purl, insert the needle tip, but don’t purl — just slide the stitch over. )

Ok… but what’s with wyif and wyib?

Here goes: “Sl 2 wyif” means “slip 2 with yarn in front”. For the record, “in front” always means the side of the knitting currently facing you.

The instruction “sl 2 wyif” appears in row 4 of this pattern, where you will need to do this: a) notice the yarn is currently in the front of the work — because you just just finished a purl stitch, b) leave the yarn in the front of the work, c) slip 2 stitches purlwise and d) when you are done, notice instruction is to purl — the yarn is already in front– right where it belongs; leave the yarn in front. Purl as required to complete the next instruction.

(By the way, doesn’t this seem like what you’d have done if the pattern had simply said “Sl 2″? Some pattern writers would have edited this down to “Sl 2″ and assumed you know to leave the yarn where you had it. Unfortunately, other knitters think “Sl 2″ with no additional instruction always means sl 2 with yarn in back! So, kind pattern writers will be specific. )

Next: “Sl 2, wyib” means “slip 2 with yarn in back”. When working row 3 of this stitch pattern, this means you: a) notice the yarn is back — because you just finished a knit stitch, b) leave it in back, c) slip 2 stitches purlwise, d) notice yarn is in back– right where you need it to work the next stitch which is a knit; leave the yarn in back. Work the next instruction which is a knit stitch.

Ok, so what’s the point of explaining these two techniques in 4 steps? The point is that steps “a” and “c” require you to notice where the yarn is before you begin slipping. Then, if necessary, the first step of “b” or “d” is to move the yarn where it belongs so you can do the next step.

So, for example, if you’d just worked a knit stitch and the pattern said “sl 2 wyif”, step (a) would be “notice the yarn is in back”. So step (b) would begin with “bring the yarn forward² — passing under the needle tips — just as you bring it forward when getting ready to purl”. Then you could “slip with yarn in front”!

The key is: “slip wyif” and “slip wyib” describe where the yarn is while slipping. You need to put the yarn in the correct position, and only when necessary, passing the strand under the needle tips the way you do when working ribbing.

So, there you have it. An easy and fairly pretty stitch pattern, an explanation of when to slip purlwise, and explanation of wyif and wyib, and a promise to explain “yf” and “yb” a bit more!

1. This pattern, and others using the same technique can be found in Barbara Walker’s First Treasury of Knitting.

2. Notice, I said “yarn forward”? I was motivated to illustrate this stitch to write a complete discussion of the most diabolical term in knitting: “yf” (aka yarn forward). I plan to discuss “yb” (aka yarn back). Yep. I will!