Decoding PSSO: How to Pass Slipped Stitch(es) Over

Hi people,

Today I'm glad to talk about one of the most useful technique for knitting: psso.

Psso, a.k.a. Pass slipped stitch over.  By taking it literally, what we know is that there is one slipped stitch involved.  What we don't know is how many stitches follow the slipped stitch. 

Well, that's exactly why psso, though easy to do, also easy to become tricky.  Oh...mystery...

But don't panic.  Let's decode psso together by taking a look at some examples.

Sometimes there may be one stitch that follows the slipped stitch .  What should we do as the instruction goes like <sl1, K1, psso>?  This means after slipping one stitch, knit 1 stitch, then pass the slipped stitch over the knitted one.    Well then, in this case,  how many stitches are involved?  

The answer is 2.  Good job.  

Sometimes there may be 2 stitches that follow the slipped stitch.  e.g. <sl1, K2, psso>.  In this case, you have to pass over two knitted stitches with your slipped stitch.  And in this case, three stitches are involved.  Hope you get the idea by now.

Certainly there are more combos that requires psso in the world.  But still, all you need to know is to follow instruction carefully.  

And now we talk about HOW to do psso. (finally.....^____^ll)


Some key points you need to bear in mind while doing psso:

1. Pick up the slipped stitch by inserting the LEFT needle 
2. The left needle goes from 7 o'clock position to 1 o'clock position. 
3. Pass the picked-up stitch over whatever on the right needle from RIGHT to LEFT 
4. Keep what follows the slipped stitch remain on the right needle.   DON'T DROP it (or them) .

It might seem a bit complicated.  But in actuality, no....I did a YouTube tutorial for psso to  have the above main points carried out.  For this demonstration,  I use the <sl1, K1, psso> combo. 

As psso can be part of whole lots of varieties.  That's why it's essential.  A perfect exercise that cry for psso is Op. 11.   

I hope the content of this blog as well as the video will become handy for you.  Questions?  Feel free to leave comment here or on fb page.

HAPPY KNITTING  

Daisy Cloche: Book Review on Literary Knits

Hi people,

What a good day! Just checked out several knitting relevant books from public library.  Literary Knits is one of them.

Speaking of literature, I found out I've only read a few of the inspirations of this pattern collection.  Call of the Wild and Wuthering Heights are two of them.  By clicking the titles, you will be linked to Project Gutenberg and can start reading instantly.

Back to Literary Knits.    What I love most about this book is the clear explanation of the overall structure of the patterns.  The author spends a lot of pages to get the reader understand the whole process of knitting, reinforced by pictures and texts.  With large fonts and sufficient amount of photos to explain, everything is cleared up. Yo Ho!   Some advanced skills like 2-color Latvian braid and making interior pockets are well instructed, you won't get lost.    Thanks to the author, Kikol Lohr, there are also useful tips and tricks provided too. They may become handy for my design too.  

By now you should understand: none of patterns included in this collection is for beginner knitter.   Well, if you are a beginner, please check for something easier like 

Look at the beautiful cloche.  Oh Daisy... "Her voice is full of money".  I haven't read the Great Gatsby novel, but I've watched the Robert Redford version movie.  Will watch the latest one too.  

Besides the Daisy Cloche, Katherine's Bed Socks inspired "hauntingly" by Wuthering Heights is my fav.  Well, mainly because I'm a big fan of the book.  

One more thing I love about the author is her willingness to share what she knows.  There is a section called iKnit where the author talks about some apps she uses with iPad.  Very interesting.

To sum up, Literary Knits is a very well structured knitting pattern collection aims for novel lovers and intermediate knitters who is already quite knowledgable about knitting.  

Before finishing this blog, I'm more than happy to tell you that EatingLemonKnitKnitKnit Facebook page is on now!  

Go read! Go knit!

Op. 11 Hat Pattern

Yo Ho Knitters,

I'm so kind I finally finish this cute hat with an very interest pattern.  

The one you see in the picture is actually no. 2 of it.  I did something differently with the top, and ended up knitting with 3 balls of yarn.   Still, it was not very satisfying.   So I just kept it subtle and started it all over again.  

If you are a fast knitter, you can probably finish this hat within a day.  Learning from my own experience, I would recommend you to count the number of stitches for every row.  I know it's annoying.  But trust me.  It definitely worth spending the time.  

Skills needed for knitting Op. 11 hat are: knit, purl, psso, M1, k2tog, yo, sl 1, knitting in round, cast on, bind off.  I will soon do a tutorial for psso for your convenience.  

Although this hat knitted with Bobby Blue color, Op. 11 is suitable for both boy and girl.  

Op. 11 hat pattern is now available on Ravelry and Etsy.  

HAPPY KNITTING

Bobby Blue 100% Merino

Hi Knitters,

I'm so happy to have a chance to try my hands on the very popular Malabrigo yarn.  This skein is a 100% merino yarn.  So SOFT..... Now I know why people love this yarn so much.

The softness of this yarn makes me decide to knit on a stitch pattern that I didn't do before, something suitable for intermediate knitters, requires k2tog, yo, sl1, and psso....Sounds chanllenging?  I promise you will totally immerse yourself into knitting with this yarn.  

Among the various choices of color, I picked the one I love so much, Aqua.  But the yarn company  cutely name it Bobby Blue. Funny.

But before knitting, I need to make the skein into a ball.  Honestly, I hate doing it!!!!!

Almost forgot to mention:  This yarn is kettle dyed.  
Anyway, Op. 11 hat is on the go! Go go Bobby!!!

HAPPY KNITTING

Op. 10 Scarf Knitting Pattern

Hi Knitters,

Op. 10 scarf knitting pattern is now available!!! Hurrah!!! Please feel free to check it out on Ravelry and Etsy.

I tried to make a sharp contrast, in terms of the density of the pattern, of this kid-sized scarf: first with intense stitch and the second half with some simple lace patterns.

Op. 10 is good for knitters who wants to challenge themselves to become an intermediate knitters.  Yeah...by learning more techniques, you will have more fun knitting.  Op. 10 is apparently a good choice.  I enjoyed knitting this scarf so much.   Techniques you need to know:  cast on, bind off, knit, purl, yarn over, k2tog, skp, slip stitch.  

 And of course, as I told you before,  I love the Sublime yarn.  Kiss kiss kiss....

Obstacles? Yes.  Posing the scarf for photography was not easy. It gave me headache.  How to make this scarf look good?  How to show this beautiful scarf its best to the public, and make people fall in love with it even though  they cannot touch it at the moment?   And with reference of some knitting pattern collection, I finally got relieved by placing the scarf on a piece of floral cloth in dark background color.  Hope you like it.

HAPPY KNITTING