Quick questions (oh, pls., knitting peeps, I hope you know the answer):
I'm about to start the shawl collar of my sweater. It calls for picking up stitches from the top of the rib band (26 stitches). Keep in mind that the rib band is P1 TBL (through the back loop) / K1 TBL (through the back loop).
The problem is that I can't seem to pick up those stitches (and I've tried 8 times and have all but stretched the band to shit) in such a way that the knit stitches align. Everything is just slightly off, leading to a very crappy looking join that will be noticeable in the finished product.
I am aware that picking up stitches sometimes requires going through tiny stitches at the cast on edge. I've paid very careful attention to those. When that didn't pan out (cuz there don't seem to be any tiny stitches - given the through-the-back-loop element of the construction), I went for the big stitches. That didn't work either. I've begun the pick ups in different spots to ensure that I'm catching the first stitch in the right spot. I really don't know what's left to be done.
Can anyone tell me how to manage this?? If I don't get perfect alignment I suspect it's going to look horrible.
Please help!
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Perfect alignment isn't a realistic or useful goal. Instead, you want the right number of stitches and for the ribbing to pull in a bit. This usually means skipping one out of every three or four stitches. Otherwise, you'll end up with a collar that's too loose and floppy.
ReplyDeleteRibbing with the right tension will give you the best looking result.
Interesting idea - but the pattern specifically stipulates the number of stitches to cast on, with the aim of continuing the pre-set rib into the shoulder shawl.
DeleteAre you picking up the stitches from the hem ribbing? I wouldn't cast those 26 stitches off, but put them on a holder so you can just continue knitting with them when needed.
ReplyDeleteI must say I'm not a knitting expert though! When I frequented Ravelry I found the group Tips and Techniques great for some expert help.
The stitches are picked up from the top of the ribbing, not at the hem. Since it's knit top down, the stitches are not live. But thanks for the suggestion!
DeleteIn this case I'd disagree with the advice to skip stitches. Mainly because the pattern tells you exactly how many to pick up, and also because you're picking up horizontally (i.e. the aim being to make a perfect continuation of what came below) rather than vertically (where it would indeed be correct to pick up less stitches than there are rows). The construction of the collar is indeed unique.
ReplyDeleteMy question is: is it possible to identify throughout the rest of the stitches (aside from just the edge) to ensure that you're picking them up in the correct spot? Meaning, is it the whole thing you're having trouble aligning, or is it just a matter of achieving a tidy edge?
I'm kind of on the same page as you, for the same reasons.
DeleteMy issue isn't getting a tidy edge. My issue is that the new cast on stitches are a hair off from the pre-existing ones (not a whole stich - just a hair). No matter where I start, this persists. And it's noticeable primarily in the knit stitches (which stand forward), not in the purls which recede. It's very weird.
Two thoughts:
ReplyDelete*are you using a different size needle for the collar and that is causing it to be off?
*since it is a shawl collar, will you notice it is off once it rolls over? (at least with how I am thinking of a shawl...I couldn't find the pattern name in your last post about it and didn't look any further)
Same needle size. And the answer to the second question (which I've been floating to the experts who've confirmed there's no reasonable fix at this point) is that it's hard to say. I'll likely notice it forever. :-)
DeletePerfectionists have a hard time with knitting, ask me how I know ;)
ReplyDeleteWould a different way of picking up work? Kate Davies shows one that does not rely on the cast off/on edge here (scroll down). I have been trying it lately and it looks very neat in a lot of applications, I am not sure how it would work with the problem you are describing but maybe worth reading anyway
http://katedaviesdesigns.com/2012/05/01/steeks-4-your-questions-answered/
Oh, tell me about it! :-) Thank you for the link but I don't think that this can work right now (given my lack of crochet knowledge).
DeleteAnother name, I think, for the rib you've knitted by going through the back of the loop, is Twisted Rib -- it's this torque, isn't it, that's throwing the next row off a hair? Have you tried just going on a few rows to see what it looks like? Given that it's a shawl collar, I suspect that pick-up line is going to be barely visible anyway. . .
ReplyDeleteI thought twisted rib was K1 TBL, P1 or the inverse. Nonetheless, at first I thought that was the problem, but now I've learned it's an element of construction and I should have picked up those stitches provisionally. Live and learn. I only hope I'm the only one who notices...
DeleteUnfortunately, there's always going to be a slight jog, or offset, when you pick up stitches and start working in the opposite direction -- with stockinette stitch it's not usually very noticeable, but with twisted rib...
ReplyDeleteYup. You can't get around it, I've experienced the same when trying to lengthen a too-short sweater by knitting down from the waist.
DeleteThe only way around it would be to knit a separate piece and graft (Kitchener) it on.
Thanks to both of you for corroborating what a few others have emailed to advise. I don't think I'm up for the grafting Caroline, or would you suggest that it's not so difficult? I thought both sides had to be live in order to do the kitchener...
DeleteI'm not going to be helpful at all - but this is exactly why I gave up on knitting.
ReplyDeleteI remember someone years ago saying that knitting is more frustrating than sewing because with knitting you have to actually create the fabric pieces that you then have to sew together.
I think I discovered I hated knitting about 30 years ago when I made a second jumper using the exact same pattern and the exact same yarn (in a different colour) and the second one came out two sizes bigger than the first.
I occasionally enjoy the process of knitting but I use it for hats and scarves - anything bigger seems like such a waste of time.
Have to say, I'm not loving it right now either :-)
DeleteOOOh, I'm not nearly skilled enough to add anything except that my fingers are crossed for you! I just started my first sweater.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your sweater's going to be great! Can't wait to hear more about it...
Delete