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Fixing Mistakes in Shadow Knitting

It has been awhile since I developed a new class. Shadow knitting has been on my list of potential new classes. The technique is relatively easy — achievable by beginners who can work stockinette and garter stitch. The design potential is significant, especially in the hands of someone like Steve Plummer.



In the process of making my own designs, I needed to make some after-the-fact edits. Steve said it wasn't difficult. He was right! Since shadow or illusion knitting is just knits and purls, all you have to do is ladder down and latch it back up correctly. This isn't as difficult as it sounds, since the fabric is two-row stripes. It is easy to read the chart and determine whether you need two stitches in stockinette (knit, knit) or two stitches in garter (knit, purl). So easy, I shot video.


Ideally you want to pause, evaluate, and make changes before binding off. Having access to live stitches is key.

What happens if you finished something months or years ago and added an edging, making it difficult to pick out the bind-off? You'll need a small piece (about a foot, not a yard or meter) of matching yarn.

  • Look for a stripe of mostly stockinette above the offending stitches.
  • Snip one stitch in that stockinette row.
  • Unpick sideways, placing live stitches on needles.
  • Ladder down and latch back up to make changes, as needed.
  • Graft the unpicked row back together as best you can.
  • Use the extra piece of matching yarn to duplicate stitch and graft closed the hole left by the snipped stitch.

Making adjustments isn't difficult or time-consuming. I hope you'll give shadow/illusion knitting a try!

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