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a garment to the right size, they may have to use larger or smaller needles to compensate for the way they knit naturally. Taking the time to knit a swatch, which is a small square of knitting, will ensure a positive result.

As knitting skills develop, so do knitting vocabularies. Terms like knit, purl, cast on, cast off, gauge, swatch, increase, decrease are all intrinsic to successfully following a pattern. Usually, these terms are written as abbreviations. Knit, for instance, is usually indicated by a simple k. P = purl, inc = increase, dec = decrease, etc. These abbreviations are explained either at the beginning or the end of all patterns and they are fairly universal in the knitting world so once you understand them, any pattern can be easily followed. This system of abbreviations allows patterns to be condensed onto a page or two instead of what could be several! Repeats are also employed to shorten the amount of writing and paper needed for a pattern. Sometimes, though, patterns are graphed and symbols on the graph indicate what stitch is to be used and where. Graphs are a more advanced way of writing patterns and take some time to master.

The dreaded dropped stitch' is the most common hazard for the beginning knitter. A dropped stitch is one that has slipped off the needle and not been picked back up. It won't cause the work to fall apart, but if not fixed it will cause a run, just like in nylons, to form down the length of the fabric. It will also mean that you will not have the right number of stitches and that can be detrimental to the overall outcome, especially if you are knitting a straight piece, like a scarf. It will not be straight! Beginners will do well to stick to simple projects with fewer stitches, like dish clothes, scarves or baby bibs until they are confident and proficient with their knitting.

New knitters will want to avoid novelty yarns like eye-lash or boucl. These highly textured yarns make it hard to see the stitches being worked. It is easy to miss the loops and cause a stitch to drop undetected with them. Beginners will have more success with smooth yarns of medium weight worked on medium sized needles. Likewise, yarns with too little or too much stretch can make it difficult to maintain an even tension and dark colours make it harder to see the stitches clearly.

There are a few accessories that all knitters will benefit from having. A large sewing needle is a must for seaming and a tape measure is indispensible. A means of

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