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How to Knit the Estonian Nupp Stitch
Learning a new stitch in knitting can be a little intimidating. To tell the truth, much of the
knitting that is done for construction of garments uses only the knit stitch, purl stitch,
decreases and increases for shaping (arm hole, neck, cuffs, etc.) Yarn overs are used
for increasing on top-down raglans and scarves and mostly knit 2 together and SSK are
used for decreases. (We have learned the SKP instead of SSK for the left leaning
decrease because it is used in traditional Estonia scarves and shawls.)
In learning to do traditional or historical knitting there will be new, unusual stitches from
time to time. Even though many of you are new to knitting lace, this really is the next
thing to learn.
After you learn the nupp (pronounced noop) you may or you may not like it. I didn’t at
first, but now, I love it and when I see the symbol for this stitch, my fingers just go into
automatic.
GETTING STARTED:
First of all..... do not become overwhelmed by the amount of information given to learn
this stitch. There are so many references for this stitch and I have chosen those I
believe are the best for the explanation. The stitch is simply a different type of
bobble...a texture stitch which gives a lovely bit of texture to any scarf, shawl, stole, or
garment. But since it seems to baffle many knitters, I want to remove any questions or
problems you may have concerning this little stitch. :)
I am going to give you my step-by-step instructions and show a few pictures at the end
of the post. Then I will also give you references and resources for you to use and refer
to. My reason for this is simple....people learn in different ways and I want to provide
you with as many ways as possible to accomplish this stitch.
We are going to knit a sample swatch that includes the following stitches: knit, purl,
K2tog, YO, and nupp (},&). This swatch is similar to the one used in the video on
Knitting Daily by Nancy Bush. It is a design that is seen in all types of knitting, not just
Estonian. It is called the Lily of the Valley, Maikellukese, Maikel, vine, or just a right
slanting row of YOs and decreases.
This swatch can also serve as your gauge swatch. It has many areas of stockinette
stitch and you can use it to determine the number of stitches you knit to an inch. For
this reason, I suggest using the same size needle you will use for the stole. I am
suggesting a size 6 needle with lace weight yarn for the project.
THESE ARE MY STEPS IN KNITTING A NUPP:
1. You will need to knit loosely for this stitch, so if you have a tight tension, just relax
and take it slowly. If I knit slowly, I can knit as loose as I want.
2. Follow the pattern, cast on 35 stitches. This will be for 4 garter stitches on the right
and left and the 27 pattern stitches. Knit at least 2 garter row at the bottom and then
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knit one row and purl one row. Now you are ready to begin the chart. They will be
purl stitches, except for the garter side border.
3. Row 1 does not have a nupp. K4, PM, K1, K2tog, K6, YO, K1, YO, K1, K2tog, K1,
PM, K2tog, K6, YO, K1, YO, K1, K2tog, K1, PM, K4. Row 2, K4, Purl 27, K4.
Remember to count your stitches to make sure you purled all the yarn overs. Please
remember to make your stitches loose. Not only will this help in making the nupp
stitch, but you will find that K2tog stitches are easier to work if your purl row was not
too tight. And also, the nupp is finished on the next purl row and the stitches need to
be loose.
4. Row 3 is the first row where there is the dk blue symbol for the nupp. It looks like
this: } . This symbol shows 1 stitch becoming 7. The nupp is basically making 7
stitches out of 1 stitch. It is made by knitting and making a YO several times in the
same stitch. So here is Row 3: K4, K1, K2tog, K5, YO, K1, YO, K1, MN (make
nupp). Okay, now here is what you do, knit into the stitch, pull your needle with your
yarn over it to your right, and make this stitch at least 1/2 long...DO NOT SLIP IT OFF
THE LEFT NEEDLE. Now make a YO, (2 stitches on the right needle), knit again into
the same stitch, YO, (4 stitches on the right needle), knit again into the same stitch,
YO (6 stitches on the right needle, now knit into the stitch one more time and NOW
SLIP IT OFF THE LEFT NEEDLE. You now have 7 LOOSE stitches on the right
needle. They will not necessarily look pretty, in fact, they will probably look somewhat
messy.....do not worry about this. Now, continuing with Row 3: K2tog, K1, K2tog, K5,
YO, K1, YO, K1, MN, K2tog, K1. Whewww!!!!!!.
5. Okay, let’s say you have now finished Row 3. We are now ready for Row 4.
Remember you are following the chart from left to right. We are going to do this row
stitch by stitch. This is for 2 good reasons. First, you can re-count your stitches to
make sure you have 4 garter, 27 stitches (I count the nupp as 1 stitch), and end with
4 garter stitches. The other reason is one that I do every time I purl back. I look at
the last pattern row I just knitted to see if I put my yarn overs and decreases in the
correct place. (Yes, I really do this while I knit. I only look at the chart when I knit...it
is my guide, my map for the pattern and I follow it religiously, even on the purl side!!)
6. Row 4: Before beginning this row, “straighten the stitches” by pulling gently down on
the stitches before beginning. This gets all the nupp loops, the YOs, and the other
stitches all lined up and in the correct place on the needle. (Hint: when you are
knitting a large piece, you can just straighten the stitches in one repeat section at a
time if you want.) WS, reading left to right. K4, P1 into a plain stitch (#26), Now P1
into the K2tog stitch, (Notice how I am looking at my stitches to make sure they were
correct from the row below?) Catch Nupp (CN). This symbol looks like this: &. This
symbol show 7 stitches becoming 1. To complete the nupp, you are going to purl
through all 7 stitches at one time. First make sure you nupp loops are separated
from the stitches around it. You do not want to catch one of your knit stitches in the
nupp. {Actually, the nupp is loose enough (??) to sort of stand away from the other
stitches on its own and on one side there is a K2tog.}To do this, place the tip of your
right needle from right to left through the loops....put your needle tip directly against
the left needle and slide it under the loops. Now don’t do anything yet. Slant your
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How to Knit the Estonian Nupp Stitch
work and peak at the left side....pull down slightly with your right needle, this lines up
the nupp loops and if you can see all the way through, you have all the loops, if you
see a thread, it means that you didn’t catch all the loops. You should also count the
loops as you put your right needle through them. You should have 7. Now catch your
yarn as you would for any other purl stitch. CAREFULLY pull the stitch through the 7
loops....make sure you tighten up your tension on your purl stitch. {If the working
yarn slips off the right needle tip, start over. Sometimes, if my nupp loops are messy,
I will just take my right needle and slip them one at a time from left to right and then
slip them all back on the left needle to get them lined up and loosened up.} Now, as
you slip the purled nupp from the left to the right needle, tighten up your tension.
There you have it, a nice little package of loops all tied up with a purl stitch and “pretty
as you please”. To finish this row: P1, P into YO, P1, P into YO, P5, P1 into K2tog,
P1. Then repeat beginning at the stitch marker as described above.
HINT - AN IMPORTANT HINT: You may have to repeat this row many times. Seriously,
even though you go slowly, you may not get it right the first time.
There is an entire article on the internet showing you how it can go wrong. Personally, I
don’t like looking at mistakes, but if you must see it, here is the link:
http://northernlace.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/how-to-knit-nupps/
I have searched many websites and youtube videos for information on knitting nupps.
There are two resources that I suggest. First anything by Nancy Bush. She is the
author of many books about traditional Estonian knitting and I learned to do lace knitting
from her book Knitted Lace of Estonia (I also watched many of the youtube videos
shown at the end of these instructions.) I will give you a link to a Knitting Daily video of
her performing a nupp.
The second resource I came across are pictures and written instructions by Dorothy
Siemens. We will start with her information.
The instructions below are used with permission of Dorothy Siemens. Her website is
www.fiddlesticksknitting.com. She has a lovely website with some other helpful hints.
These are her pictures also.
How to Knit Nupps by Dorothy Siemens:
Those lovely bobbles or “nupps” in Estonian lace knitting can be daunting to work
you’ve never done them before. Here I’ll show you how it’s done. These instruction
show how to create a nupp with seven stitches, but depending on the yarn choice and
pattern directions, it could be more or fewer stitches.
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Step 1: To begin a nupp, insert your needle into the stitch as if to knit. Pull the stitch
through but do not slide it off the needle. Notice how loose the stitch is (this is crucial!).
Step 1: Insert your needle as if to knit a stitch. Pull the stitch through but do not slide off the needle.
Step 2: Now work a yarnover on the same needle. Again, it is very loose. Insert the
needle into the stitch again and pull another loop through, but do not slide it off the
needle. Work another yarnover.
Step 2:Work a yarnover on the same needle. Notice how loose the stitches are.
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How to Knit the Estonian Nupp Stitch
Step 3: Repeat this process another time (stitch and yarnover), then work one last stitch
without the yarnover and slide them all off the needle. You should have created seven
extra stitches from one stitch. It is extremely important to keep these stitches as loose
as possible.
Step 3: Repeat the stitch and yarnover 2 more times, then work 1 last stitch without the yarnover
and slide them all off the needle. There will be 7 extra stitches.
Step 4: Continue knitting the row in pattern. Step 4 shows the nupp on the needle after
you have knit a few more stitches in the row.
On the return row you will purl through all seven stitches, and if they are too tight on the
needle, it will be difficult to accomplish!
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Step 5: To purl through the stitches on the return row, insert the needle purlwise through
all seven stitches. If your loops are loose enough, you should be able to count each
thread as you place it on the needle, making sure you have only the seven stitches of
the nupp, and not an extra stitch or yarnover beside it. Also, make sure the needle is
inserted through the stitch loops and that you haven’t missed any, as these will unravel.
Step 5: Purl through all 7 stitches on the return row. Count each thread as you place it on the needle to
make sure you have only the 7 stitches of the nupps.
Step 6: As you finish each nupp, double-check it to make sure it is secure and that no
loops have been missed.
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How to Knit the Estonian Nupp Stitch
Step 7: If your nupp is loose enough, it will make a nice, puffy little bobble. You’ll find
that as you gain experience knitting nupps, they will become much easier and faster to
do. If you do happen to miss a strand and only notice it later on, simply tie it in.
This happens, one stray loop should not cause you to “tink” or to “rip”. It is easy to fix
and will NEVER show...really.
Step 7: The finished nupp, a nice, puffy little bobble.
Link to Dorothy Siemens instructions:
http://www.fiddlesticksknitting.com/assets/photos/tips/knitting_nupps.pdf
Two videos, one for the traditional way with Nancy Bush video. There is also one done
with a crochet hook. It is not traditional and may look slightly different on your stole.
However, if you get frustrated with the traditional way, this one may be the one for you.
http://www.keep-on-knitting.com/knitting-nupps.html
Read more:
How to Knit Nupps | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_8548406_knitnupps.html#ixzz2KDqH7bFm
These are the best instructions I have seen for the traditional style of knitting a
nupp. It is the one I use and the one I will teach. Nancy Bush teaching the nupp
stitch.
http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2008/11/10/lace-knitting-video-tipfrom-nancy-bush.aspx
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Dragonflylace ‘s Maikel Nupp Design
K, RS; P, WS
MATERIALS:
j
YO
d
K2tog
}
Nupp
&
Complete Nupp
Yarn: lace, fingering, sock weight
Needles: Size 5 or 6 (UK 3.75 or 4.0mm)
You may use other needles to suit your yarn.
Copy of the chart.
Stitch Markers
Life line yarn.
G
Stitch Marker
Cast on 35 stitches, 4 garter sts on each side.
27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
14
&
d
&
}
12
j
jd
d
}
&
d
j
j
d
d
}
&
d
j
j
d
d
}
&
d
j
j
d
d
}
&
d
4
j
j
d
11
j
j
d
9
d
7
d
5
d
3
d
1
&
}
6
13
&
}
8
jd
&
}
10
j
j
j
&
}
j
j
d
d
&
}
j
j
&
d}
j
j
d
d}
d
d
j
j
2
d
j
j
j
j