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Learn to Knit: Garter Stitch Shawl Tab

28th May 2017 Advanced 0 min read
Learn to Knit: Garter Stitch Shawl Tab | Stolen Stitches Tutorials

When you start a top-down shawl you begin at the very center and work increases out from that point. This means that if you start straight from a cast-on, you will have a 'gap' at that spot where you begin working the increases and edging out to each side.


A garter stitch 'tab' is used to effectively cover over this spot and give you a little triangle of knitting to work around. You'll cast on the number of stitches you're working for your edging (typically 3 or so), work several rows and then pick up the bottom stitches and pick up the cast-on stitches.


You can even use a Provisional Cast-On if you want to avoid any seam at the start. In a pattern, it would look like this:

CO 3 sts. Knit 6 rows. Do not turn on final row, rotate corner 90 degrees, pick up 3 sts along purl bumps, rotate corner 90 degrees & pick up 3 cast on sts.

You can see a video of it in action here:

If you want to try this out in a pattern, here are a few that use it:

Penrose Tile  

 

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Carol Feller

We have easy step by step guides/video tutorials on everything from casting on, bind off, short rows, cables and more. Everything is ready for you in bite sized videos of ten minutes or less. What are you waiting for?

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