New to knitting-please help me with my 2nd ever project

#1

I made my first project last week–a scarf. I would like to make this poncho as my next project (unless you all think that it is a bad coice for my second try!):

http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/khs-prettyPoncho.html

I think I could knit it if I just understood the pattern :lol: I have several questions.

  1. What does “row 1 K 2, k into front & back of next st-4 sts.” mean?

  2. If I’d like to use a yarn other than the one suggested in the pattern, how so I know if what I pick is an ok substitute?

  3. Is there anything I am likely to mess up? Any tips before I start?

Thank you so much for your help. I wouldn’t be trying this (or knitting at all for that matter!) if I hadn’t found this forum!

#2

Well I can answer your first question the k into front & back of next st is a type of increase. I believe Amy has a video demonstrating this in the beginning techniques tab and also in abbreviations explained.

-4 sts. is the total amount of stitches you will have on the needle after the increase.

And I think its fine to sub any yarn as long as you have the guage needed for the project.

#3

I didn’t even look at the “Increase” video because I thought the pattern would read “increase” and not “k into front and back” LOL. How do I make sure the gauge is the same? Will the yarn say "14 sts + 17 rows = 4 inches, just like my pattern says? Or am I looking for something else?

Thanks!

#4

The first thing to look for when substituting yarn is the weight of the yarn–worsted, dk, sport, chunky, bulky. As long as that is the same as the yarn called for, you’re just about there.

Homespun is a bulky weight yarn, so you should look for a bulky weight.

The gauge of the pattern is how many stitches you get per inch. If the pattern tells you the gauge is, for example, 3 stitches per inch, and you happen to knit tighter and get 4 stitches per inch, your poncho will be too small. If you only get 2 stitches per inch, your poncho will be too big.

Here is a good article about gauge and measuring a gauge swatch.

#5

Thank you, Ingrid, for the article. I wouldn’t have known to do all that if I hadn’t read it.