Family & Consumer Science
Pre-fair Skills Contest
Guidebook
KNITTING &
CROCHETING
Hood River County
Updated: March 2016
Contents
2 | Introduction
3 | Knitting Skills Contest
7 | Crocheting Skills Contest
Introduction
Skills contests are a great opportunity for youth to demonstrate skills they have learned in their
current skill level of the project. Participants will be judged, receive a ribbon, and be eligible for
premium money from the county fair.
Note: These contests no longer exist at the state level, so participation is limited to the county
level only.
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Knitting Skills Contest
Contest Rules
1. 4-H members enrolled in knitting projects are eligible to enter.
2. These contests are offered at the county level only. Participants will be judged, receive a
ribbon, and be eligible for premium money from the county fair. No participants will
advance to the state level.
3. Each member should bring:
 One pair size 8 knitting needles
 4 ply yarn
 Row counter, if needed
 Scissors
 Needles for hiding yarn ends
 One double pointed needle (for Phase 5 only)
Skill Levels*
Knitting 1 - Phase 1
4”x 4” square using garter stitch
Knitting 2 - Phase 2
4”x 4” square using stockinette stitch
Knitting 3 - Phase 3
4”x 4” square using ribbing stitch
Knitting 4 - Phase 4
4”x 4” square using caterpillar stitch vertical
Knitting 5 - Phase 5
4”x 4” square using cable stitch
Knitting 6 - Phase 6
4”x 4” square using two colors
Knitting 7 - Phase 7
4”x 4” square using lace pattern
Basis for Scoring
Work Habits
35
Skill
35
Finished Product
30
Clean appearance, organized, good posture, uses equipment
properly
Follows directions, uses proper equipment, uses proper
knitting techniques
Looks neat, correct procedure used, proper tension
Total Possible Points 100
*
See the following section, Knitting Contest Squares, for detailed instructions
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Knitting Contest Squares
Phase 1 – Garter stitch square
Materials:
Size 8 needles
4 ply yarn
Gauge:
4 stitches = 1 inch
7 rows = 1 inch
Instructions: Cast on 20 sts. Work piece in garter st. (knit every st.) until piece is square. Bind
off.
Phase 2 – Stockinette stitch square
Materials:
Size 8 needles
4 ply yarn
Gauge:
4 stitches = 1 inch
5 rows = 1 inch
Instructions: Cast on 20 sts. Work piece in stockinette st. (knit one row, purl one row), until
piece is square. Bind off.
Phase 3 – Ribbing
Materials:
Size 8 needles
4 ply yarn
Gauge:
4 stitches = 1 inch
5 rows = 1 inch
Instructions: Cast on 20 sts. Work piece in ribbing of K 1, P 1, until piece is square. Bind off.
Phase 4 – Caterpillar stitch vertical (pattern st.)
Materials:
Size 8 needles
4 ply yarn
Gauge:
4 stitches = 1 inch
5 rows = 1 inch
Instructions:
Cast on 18 stitches.
Rows 1, 3, 5: *K 3, P in back loop of next st.; K 2*, repeat across row.
Rows 2, 4, 6: *P 2, K in back loop of next st.; P 3*, repeat across row.
Rows 7, 9, 11: *P in back loop of next st. K 5*, repeat across row.
Rows 8, 10, 12: *P 5, K in back loop of next st*, repeat across row.
Repeat these 12 rows until piece is square. Bind off.
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Phase 5 – Corded cable rib
Materials:
Size 8 needles
4 ply yarn
Double pointed needle
Gauge:
4 stitches = 1 inch
6 rows = 1 inch
Instructions:
Cast on 18 stitches.
Rows 1 & 3: *P 6, K 6*, Repeat across ending with P 6.
Rows 2, 4, & 6: *K 6, P 6*, repeat across ending with K 6.
Row 5: *P 6, sl next 3 sts. onto a dbl pointed needle and put in back of work, K 3, K 3 sts from
dbl pointed needle*, repeat across row ending in P 6.
Repeat these 6 rows until piece is square. Bind off.
Phase 6 – Colors Square
Materials:
Size 8 needles
4 ply yarn
Gauge:
4 stitches = 1 inch
5 rows = 1 inch
Instructions:
Cast on 19 stitches. Work piece in stockinette st.
until square. Follow pattern chart for colors and
design. Bind off.
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Phase 7 – Lace Diamonds
Materials:
Size 8 needles
4 ply yarn
Gauge:
7 stitches = 2 inches
5 rows = 1 inch
Instructions:
Cast on 20 stitches.
Row 1: *Yarn over, sl l, K 1, psso, K 1, K 2 tog, yarn over twice, sl l, K 1, psso, K 1, K 2 tog, yarn
over, * repeat across row.
Row 2 and all even rows: Purl
Row 3: *K 2 tog, yarn over, K 6, yarn over, sl 1, K 1, psso* repeat from across row.
Row 5: *K 1, K 2 tog, yarn over, K 4, yarn over, sl 1, K 1, psso K 1*, repeat across row.
Row 7: *K 2, K 2 tog, yarn over, K 2, yarn over, sl 1, K 1, psso, K 2* repeat across row.
Row 9: Yarn over, sl 1, K 1, psso, K 1, K 2 tog, yarn over twice, sl 1, K 1, psso, K 1, K 2 tog, yarn
over, * repeat across row.
Row 11: *K 3, yarn over, sl 1, K 1, psso K 2 tog, yarn over, K 3* repeat across row.
Row 13: *K 2, yarn over, sl 1, K 1, psso, K 2, K 2 tog, yarn over, K 2* repeat across row.
Row 15: *K 1, yarn over, sl 1, K 1, psso K 4, K 2 tog, yarn over, K l*, repeat across row.
Repeat these 16 rows until piece is square. Bind off.
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Crocheting Skills Contest
Contest Rules
1. 4-H members enrolled in crocheting projects are eligible to enter.
2. These contests are offered at the county level only. Participants will be judged, receive a
ribbon, and be eligible for premium money from the county fair. No participants will
advance to the state level.
3. Each member should bring:




Correct size crochet hook to accomplish gauge
4 ply yarn in colors needed
Scissors
Large eye darning needle
Skill Levels
Crocheting - Phase 1
4"x4" square using a chain stitch, single crochet, double
crochet and slip stitch
Crocheting - Phase 2
Old American granny square consisting of 5 rounds
Crocheting - Phase 3
4"x4" Hexagon square
Crocheting - Phase 4
4"x4" square with cluster stitch
Crocheting - Phase 5
4"x4" square with popcorn stitch
Basis for Scoring
Work Habits
35
Skill
35
Finished Product
30
Clean appearance, organized, good posture, uses equipment
properly
Follows directions, uses proper equipment, uses proper
knitting techniques
Looks neat, correct procedure used, proper tension
Total Possible Points 100
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