Knitting & Crocheting Guidelines

Appearance and Attractiveness

• Yarn should be appropriate to type of garment
• Proportions correct
• Good color combinations
• Article should be clean
      If it is washed, it should not be shrunk or matted
• Blocking
      Should be smooth ....... not pressed out of shape

Workmanship

• Even stitches and tension
      No dropped, split or slipped stitches
      No twisted stitches
      Not loose or tight in spots, especially in designs
      When carrying colors, work yarn in at least every 3 or 4 stitches
• Casting on or binding off
      Loose enough to be elastic, not too loose or too tight
• Joining yarn - knots are acceptable as long as they are concealed
      Tie new ball of yarn on at end of row, later untie and weave into section
      If splicing, in middle of row be sure no bulky ends are showing.   Weave ends along row on back of stitches.
• No long loops or strings of yarn
      Weave into knitting or seams
      (This applies to knit in pattern also.  Long strips detract from appearance, also catch and pull knitting out of shape)
• Seams
      As inconspicuous as possible
      Smooth....not puckered or bunchy
      Durable....according to type of garment.  Remember there are many different ways to sew or weave a seam
• Reinforcements .... if necessary for appearance and durability of garment perhaps to keep front from curling; to reinforce shoulder seams; to reinforce buttonholes.
      Use grosgrain ribbon down front, sewn by hand or machine
      Lining ... entire or part of garment
• Buttonholes
      Neat
      Durable
          Make by hand with buttonhole stitch. 
                  Use yarn if not bulky -- may split yarn if too heavy.  Use matching thread.
  Make by machine
                  Can be made through year and reinforcement at same time.
                  Can be made separately and caught together by hand.
• Decorative Edges
      If necessary for finish or garment or attractiveness, such as slippers, etc.
      Should be appropriate and neat

You should never let your own personal preferences as to color, weight of yarn and seam sewing enter into the evaluation as such.  Try and be a little more lenient with first year projects since most youngsters have a difficult time just learning the basics in knitting and crocheting let alone making an article.

May 1976