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Do You Know How to Knit Backwards?

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how to knit backwardsKnitting backwards sounds like a cool trick, but it’s more than that. It can actually be quite useful when working entrelac or short rows or even just narrow rows of knitting where you don’t want to have to take the time to turn your work every few stitches.

This allows you to maintain Stockinette Stitch without turning the work or purling. It’s really a cool thing.

I have occasionally known how to do it, but it’s one of those techniques I don’t do often enough for it to stick with me so I have to look it up every time I want to do it.

This Facebook Live video from Creativebug and Marly Bird is a great demo of how to knit backwards, and it really helps to see someone else doing it rather than just reading instructions for how to do it.

Is this a technique you have ever tried? I’d love to know what you used it for.

[Photo via Creativebug.]

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Comments

  1. I am afraid to do DPNs and sock knitting but his Entralac, I have done. I did it shortly after I learned to knit and I made a backpack. OK I have not ever knit in this manner again but it is not to say I wouldn’t.

  3. Being ambidextrous I thought doing this would be easy. LOL Silly me. It *still* takes practice, as does any new technique.

Have you read?

Fun Tank Top Knitting Patterns

It seems like every summer there’s a new crop of tank top knitting patterns, and what I noticed about a lot of the new releases this year is that they have fun little details that make them a little more interesting both to knit and to wear. 

Like the Sailoress Top from Joji Locatelli, which has a pretty cable worked up the center from and back, with shorter sections of cable work on the shoulders. It uses DK weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes up to a bust circumference of 72 inches/ 158 cm. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. 

Combine lace and cables in an allover pattern on the Mountain Laurel Top from Andrea Gaughan. This sport weight pattern is worked from the bottom up in the count and has 10 sizes. It’s available on Ravelry.

The Vienna Textured Tank Top by Sarah Hatton has wide ribs broken up by eyelets. There’s very little shaping so it’s a pretty easy knit worked in fingering weight yarn. There are nine sizes available and it’s a free download on Ravelry.

Make a tank with a boho vibe perfect for festival season with Mary Beth Temple’s Tropical Sunset Tank Top. Worked in worsted weight cotton yarn, it’s knit from the bottom up in pieces to make it more stable. The coloring changing yarn is perfect for this one, or you can make it solid or work in your own stripes. You can get the XS size free on her blog, and other sizes are available on Ravelry.

Looking for a cropped lacy V-neck top to knit for summer? Jessie Maed Designs has the Sundae Swirl Tank, worked in DK weight yarn in the round with a fun combination of lace and cables. The ribbing under the arms helps give it a great fit. There are six sizes up to a chest measurement of 62 inches/157.5 cm. You can find this one on Ravelry.

How about a tank top with buttons? The Ridge Tank Button Down from Bluebird Pine Shop could double as a vest in cooler weather. This one is made with light fingering weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes. Grab a copy on Ravelry.

An otherwise simple top can be made a little more interesting with the addition of a fun edging, like on Sarah Opie’s Seashell Tank. Worked in fingering weight yarn, it has a whopping 24 sizes and lots of customization options for making it fit the way you want. The edging is crocheted. Learn more on Ravelry.

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