How to Knit a Wedding Garter
Instead of purchasing a wedding garter from a bridal boutique, wear a hand-knit version. A knitted wedding garter will add a handmade touch to your wedding ensemble and it's a knitting project that even beginning knitters can easily complete. Knitting a wedding garter takes little time and few materials, making it a more economical option than most store-bought garters. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Fingering weight yarn
- U.S. size 2 knitting needles
- Scissors
- Blocking board
- Stainless steel T-pins
- Spray bottle filled with water
- Tapestry needle
- 1/2-inch-wide ribbon
- Fray check
Instructions
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1
Determine the garter wearer's thigh circumference; wrap a measuring tape snugly around the point where you want the garter to rest.
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2
Cast on 14 stitches on U.S. size 2 needles.
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3
Knit the first two stitches in the first row, wrap the yarn over the right needle, knit the next two stitches together and purl the remaining 10 stitches. This is your first wrong side row.
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4
Make a chain of four knitted stitches at the beginning of the next row. Knit the first stitch in the row, then slide the new stitch from the right needle onto the left needle and knit into it. Repeat this twice more to create a knitted chain.
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5
Knit the next two stitches together and pass the first stitch on the right needle over the second stitch on the needle.
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6
Wrap the yarn over the right needle, knit the next two stitches together, and repeat twice more.
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7
Wrap the yarn over the right needle, knit the next stitch, wrap the yarn over the right needle, knit through the back of the next stitch loop, wrap the yarn over the right needle, knit the next 2 stitches together and knit the last stitch. You've completed the first right side row.
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8
Alternate between knitting a wrong side row and a right side row until the garter's length measures 2/3 the total circumference of the wearer's thigh.
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9
Knit one last right side row and bind off. Cut your yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail.
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10
Stretch out the knitted lace garter on a blocking board or any surface into which you can easily stick pins.
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11
Secure the garter into place with stainless steel T-pins. Place pins about an inch apart along the top of the garter, sticking them in place as you stretch out the knitted lace. Pin along the sides and lower edge in the same manner, stretching the garter into shape as you place each pin. The pinned-down garter's length should equal the circumference of the wearer's thigh.
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12
Spray the knitted garter with water until the yarn is damp and allow it to dry overnight.
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13
Unpin the dry lace and thread a tapestry needle with the 6-inch yarn tail.
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14
Bring the edges of the garter to meet one another; the right side should face inward. Sew the knitted garter's edges together using mattress stitch (see Resource).
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15
Weave in loose yarn ends and turn the knitted garter right-side out.
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16
Cut a length of 1/2-inch-wide ribbon. It should measure the circumference of the wearer's thigh plus about 10 inches.
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17
Cut the ribbon's edges at an angle and coat with fray-check to prevent the ribbon from unraveling.
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18
Weave the ribbon through the largest eyelets, which you'll find at the garter's top edge. Start weaving over and under the eyelets at the point halfway between the garter's sewn ends and continue until you've woven through all the eyelets.
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Tips & Warnings
The simple lattice lace pattern featured in this knitted garter is easy to make, but if you're an experienced knitter, you can create a knitted garter with a more complex lace pattern. Look for inspiration at Knitting-And.com, a website that features many historic knitted lace edging patterns.
