(re-post)
I was trying to identify the stitch in the moebius scarf and thought it was a Tunisian stitch so the amber is my sampling on different size needles.
Well, I realized it wasn't Tunisian (it's Turkish!) but I was reminded of how much I like the Tunisian stitch so decided to feature it here.
Tunisian stitch is a most accommodating stitch – it reminds me a a brook bubbling easily over the needles.
It looks quite different depending on the size of the needles, enough so to add to the delight of the process of doing and observing with the intent the process and not the product.
Cast on an odd number of stitches with some nice needles and worthwhile yarn.
The first row is the wrong side – WS in pattern lingo.
Row 1 Knit one stitch. YO (yarn over: bring the yarn to front of needles as if to purl) and slip the next stitch purl wise (putting needle into the stitch from back to front and sliding it from left needle to right). Now knit the next stitch wyif (with yarn in front which is the usual position for the yarn for a purl stitch but in this case it adds the stitch that is going to be removed with a K2tog in the second row). Continue across row. The directions read as such : WS K1, * (yo, sl next st pwise, knit next st wyif) repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2 Knit into first stitch in back of stitch. Knit two together in back of next two stitches. (K1, K2tog in back of stitches) is how it would be expressed in a pattern. Knit the last stitch on the needle, again through the back.
See what I mean about it being accommodating! You knit the first stitch of the first row and the yarn is then brought forward and sits there calmly while the next stitch whizzes from one needle to the other and the next stitch is knit in one sweeping motion without the yarn having to be put behind the needles first.
What economy of motion! Then the yarn is swept forward again and the dance continues.
With the second row the needle slips more easily into the back of the stitch – again economy – and there is the rhythm of knit into one…..knit into two…..knit into one……knit into two…..etc. And the row was started with a knit one and ends with a knit one. Balanced. Satisfying.
Take a bow, Tunisian Stitch. Exit stage left to the sound of needles clapping.