If you knit combined or Eastern Style knitting, where the back leg of the stitch is the leading leg, skip the first two steps.
Step 1: Insert RH needle into the first stitch on the left hand needle and slip as if to knit. Repeat for a total of 7 stitches slipped.
Step 2: Replace 7 stitches on left hand needle, without changing their orientation so the left leg is in the front when you are done.
Step 3: Insert crochet hook through the 7 stitches through the back loops, (don’t forget the yarn over if you are making Twined Vines!).
Step 4: Pull a loop of your working yarn through the 7 stitches (insert the hook from right to left), using the crochet hook and place that loop on the right hand needle. Yarn Over. You’ve now made 2 stitches on the right needle.
Step 5: Reinsert crochet hook through the 7 stitches through the back loops (insert the hook from right to left), pull another loop of your working yarn through with the hook and place on right hand needle. Yarn Over. You’ve now made 2 more stitches on your right needle (for a total of 4 stitches). You’re almost there!
Step 6: Reinsert crochet hook through the 7 stitches through the back loops (insert the hook from right to left), pull another loop of your working yarn through with the hook and place on right hand needle. You will now have 5 loops on your needle from those 7 stitches. Drop the original 7 sts, and if you are working Twined Vines, yarn over and proceed with your row.
I find this much easier than dragging my needle, or crochet hook, across the front of the seven stitches each time I want to make a 5/7 stitch. This technique can also be used in the creation of nupps and any variation of an Estonian Gathered Stitch.
To perform the gathers for the crochet bind-off, put a crochet hook through those sts, using the hook pull loop of yarn through those sts, drop them from needle, then chain st for 10 sts.
About the Instructor: Mary E. Rose
Mary has been knitting for over 40 years.During this time she has discovered that she hasn’t met a knitting technique she didn’t like. As a fearless knitter, she will occasionally call her children over to “see something scary” such as pulling the needles out of a 400 stitch lace shawl, ripping back ten rows and picking the stitches back up, without a lifeline. (But, she does suggest using them, so don’t try that at home.) She believes that things are always easier the second time, so she gets the first time out of the way as quickly as possible, and that with a little practice, you can master any technique.
She currently lives in Central Ohio with her three children, who also craft. She can be found on Ravelry and her blog, or with knitting needles in hand, guarding her stash, whilst knitting a swatch.
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