Have you ever heard of a knitting technique called Estonian Nupp stitch?
Well, if you haven’t then it is something that reminds a bobble. Literally, the word “nupp” means a button or a knob. But it really is not. It is more like… Do you know how Lilac bud looks like? Or a tick? No, a tick is nasty, let’s stick to the Lilac bud.
We, as Estonians, use the “nupp” technique a lot in lace knitting. If you have heard about Haapsalu shawls then you’ll know what I mean. And I am quite fond of it. I think it will give you the light and airy texture that knitted lace yearns for.
So, why do I think you need to learn this? Because my next pattern is full of “nupps”. And it is a handy technique – nice for showing off (in case you want to) in front of your knitting friends 🙂
You could also check out his pattern on Ravelry that is perfect for practicing that Nupp stitch: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diamond-pathways-2
Anyways – on to the tutorial. You might have heard about the Estonian Nupp stitch before and you might know that it is worked over 2 rows: increasing on the RS row and decreasing on the WS row. Well, today I’m showing you how to work them differently – make them fluffier and more stand out.
Update: In step 7 … I am asking you to knit stitches together and I have received a question about that: “Is it wrong to knit those stitches together on the next row instead of the same row?”. Get your answer now.
1. Ready to make the “nupp”
2. Knit one, but don’t let the stitch off of left needle
3. Yarn over
4. Knit again (in the same stitch)
5. Repeat steps #3 & #4 two more times (now you have 7 stitches on right hand needle)
*steps #2 to #5 – quite loosely*
6. Now let the stitch on left needle go
Here comes the tricky part:
7. Insert left hand needle in all of those 7 stitches (be careful so you don’t grab the other stitches on this needle)
8. With right hand needle grab the yarn…
9. …and pull through (you can use crochet hook if you can’t make it with the needle)
10. With right hand needle, take yarn again…
11. …and pull through the stitch you formed in step #9
12. Take the left hand needle out and tighten the stitch.
Congratulations! You have finished your “nupp”!
BUT, I’m giving you a secret formula for perfecting it some more.
Usually, there will be one row between “nupp” rows – purl row, if you knit back and forth or knit row, if you knit in rounds.
Right now I am showing you the purl row option (purely because my swatch is knitted in back and forth).
You can totally just purl your next row without doing anything special and it will be fine, but I, personally, don’t like the hole it leaves.
Can you see?
So this is how I do it:
1. Purl until the “nupp” stitch
2. Lift “nupp” on to the right hand needle
3. Pick up a strand between stitches…
4. …and put it on a left hand needle so it forms a little twist
5. Lift “nupp” stitch back to the left hand needle…
6. …and purl the twisted yarn stitch and “nupp” stitch together.
Here you go! Done! I knew you can make it 🙂
Although this is not necessary, I feel like this extra step is fixing my “nupp” more and making it kind of firm and steady.
And here’s the video tutorial:
I leave you practicing and, as always, if you have any questions or problems, leave a comment and I will do my best to help you.
Click here for UPDATED nupp post
Until next time…
Happy knitting!
Thank you. Very nicely done tutorial and I am looking forward to trying a “nupp” or two. The Mother’s Day shawl is gorgeous.
Thank you for your kind words.
Hi, these tips are great! But in step 4, did you mean to write: put it on RIGHT hand needle so it forms a little twist? Because in the next step you say to out it back on to the left hand needle… Thanks for your help!
I’m sorry Raija, I don’t know if I understood your question. I’ll try to answer and you tell me if you didn’t mean that, ok? – In steps #3 and #4 you’ll be knitting 7 stitches into one stitch. While You’re doing that you don’t take left hand needle out. Just knit, yarn over, knit, yarn over, knit… until you have 7 stitches and then you let go that stitch from left hand needle. Now you insert left needle in those 7 stitches you just formed, grab yarn with the right needle and pull through (without removing your left hand needle). Head on to step #10. Was it helpful? I don’t know if this was what you meant so let me know…
Hi, having tried nupps before and always ending up with that ugly hole I am more than thrilled with your tip to tighten it up. Thank you very much.
fay
I’m glad it helped 🙂
Wonderfully clear – i was afraid of knitting nupps then i folliwed your insteuctions and now my shawl has nupps as per pattern. Thank you – susi
Thank you Susi 🙂 I planned to add on to it a bit, because my grandmother taught me many ways. But most important lesson was: “There is no wrong way in knitting. Ever” 🙂
Would you mind if I posted the link in the loft ?
no, I don’t mind 🙂
This is a great way to make nupps look finished. I usually just pull the stitch tight, but sometimes the yarn doesn’t cooperate, so this would work better.
I agree, Joan 🙂