Are you unsure what exactly to do when a pattern says “pick up and knit” stitches? How to make it all look even? Where to pick them up? No worries, my knitting friend! I've got your back. Join me, Romi Hill, as we set up our knitting to make picking up stitches easier to do, and then pick up and knit in all those pesky little places: on the diagonal, perpendicular to your knitting, and along the cast-on edge to knit in the opposite direction!

Using worsted weight yarn with your choice of yarn and needles, complete the following swatches (suggested yarn: sport to worsted weight wool, without a tendency to split)

SWATCH 1 INSTRUCTIONS:

Cast on 20 sts using backwards loop or your favorite loose method.

Row 1: knit 1 through back loop to twist stitch, knit to end of row
Row 2: purl to 1 stitch before end, knit 1 stitch through back loop

Work rows 1 and 2 for a total of 3 inches.

Row 3: knit 1 through back loop to twist stitch, knit to 4 stitches before end, knit 2 stitches together, knit 2 (one stitch decreased)
Row 4: purl to 1 stitch before end, knit 1 stitch through back loop

Work Rows 3 and 4 an additional 11 times: 6 stitches remain.

Bind off loosely. Swatch will be stockinette. One side of swatch will have a one stitch twisted garter edge, and the other side will have a stockinette stitch edge and decreases creating a diagonal edge at the top.

SWATCH 2 INSTRUCTIONS:

Cast on 20 sts using backwards loop or your favorite loose method.

Row 1: knit 1 through back loop to twist stitch, knit to 1 stitch before end, knit 1 stitch through back loop
Row 2: repeat Row 1

Work rows 1 and 2 for a total of 3 inches.

Row 3: knit 1 through back loop to twist stitch, knit to 4 stitches before end, knit two stitches together, knit 1, knit 1 stitch through back loop (one stitch decreased)

Row 4: knit 1 through back loop, knit to 1 stitch before end, knit 1 stitch through back loop
Row 5: knit 1 through back loop to twist stitch, knit to 1 stitch before end, knit 1 stitch through back loop

Row 6: repeat Row 5

Work Rows 3 - 6 an additional 11 times: 6 stitches

Bind off loosely. Swatch will be garter stitch. One side of swatch will have decreases creating a diagonal edge at the top.

Swatches will be used for picking up stitches along sides and along bottom.

Worsted-weight yarn (tip: bring light-colored yarn that doesn’t split), US 5 and 7 needles, homework.