TRIANGLE SHAPES

STITCH OF THE MONTH - January 2013

The triangle shape can be used in a variety of ways when developing new patterns.  It can be used as an edging, an inset in a sweater or skirt, it can be integrated into a geometric or modular design, it can also be knit separately and sewn on as an embellishment or used to create knit jewellery.

To knit a triangle, cast on the desired number of stitches (must be an odd number of stitches).  You will need to have 3 centre stitches for decreasing with an equal number of stitches on either side of the centre.  To calculate this, divide the total number of stitches by 2 and minus 3 stitches = “x” number of stitches to work on each side of the 3-stitch centre decrease.

The following instructions are for the swatches as shown.  The same number of cast on stitches have been used to knit both swatches; however, the end result is different for each method.

Triangle Shape – reduce by 2 sts every other row
The following method creates an elongated triangle with an upward, left-slanting centre stitch (as shown above).
CO 31 sts
Row 1 and all WS rows   Purl
Row 2          k14, sk2p, k14
Row 4          k13, sk2p, k13
Row 6          k12, sk2p, k12
Row 8          k11, sk2p, k11
Row 10        k10, sk2p, k10
Row 12        k9, sk2p, k9
Row 14        k8, sk2p, k8
Row 16        k7, sk2p, k7
Row 18        k6, sk2p, k6
Row 20        k5, sk2p, k5
Row 22        k4, sk2p, k4
Row 24        k3, sk2p, k3
Row 26        k2, sk2p, k2
Row 28        k1, sk2p, k1
Row 30        sk2p
Pull yarn through remaining stitch to finish.

Triangle Shape – reduce by 2 sts every row
The following method creates a narrower, shorter triangle (as shown above).  The 3 stitch decrease that is worked on every row creates a criss-cross spine through the centre of the triangle.  
CO 31 sts
Row 1          Purl
Row 2          k14, sk2p, k14
Row 3          p13, p3tog, p13
Row 4          k12, sk2p, k12
Row 5          p11, p3tog, p11
Row 6          k10, sk2p, k10
Row 7          p9, p3tog, p9
Row 8          k8, sk2p, k8
Row 9          p7, p3tog, p7
Row 10        k6, sk2p, k6
Row 11        p5, p3tog, p5
Row 12        k4, sk2p, k4
Row 13        p3, p3tog, p3
Row 14        k2, sk2p, k2
Row 15        p1, p3tog, p1
Row 16        sk2p
Pull yarn through remaining stitch to finish.

Abbreviations
p3tog   purl 3 sts together
sk2p     slip 1 st, knit 2 sts together, pass slip stitch over