OK, I think I've encountered one of those vintage knitting lingo moments that has me reasonably concerned that a) I don't know what the hell it means and so b) I just ignored the instruction and now I'm going to have to rip my sweater back to the start.
Do you know this term: keeping the edges straight? It's used in a variety of contexts in my current project: Keep the side edge straight, keep the centre back edge straight etc.
Seems self-explanatory enough. Stay straight.
But, ahem, after observing it 5 times, it occurred to me that I should look up the phrase to see if there's more to it. Seems there is.
(Katy, I didn't understand that what you meant in your comment, about slipping the first stitch, is probably what the pattern advises (without so much as coming out and saying it). Have I mentioned that the vintage people would have done better to actually explain their concepts??)
Here's the question: Should I start over, inserting an extra "edging" stitch at the beginning and end of each row?
My larger dilemma is that I spend practically every row of this project either increasing or decreasing at either or both sides. I'm instructed to start knitting the left side of the sweater by casting 2 stitches on the needle. By the time I finish, I end up with almost 200 stitches.
So, presuming I need to add extra edge stitches for slipping, how does it work with a pattern with so much sharp shaping? I'm told to begin the pattern by casting on 2 stitches, then knitting, then casting on 2 more stitches, then purling (and so on and so on). Instead of following the explicit pattern instructions to cast on 2 stitches to begin, should I just start the whole shebang with 4 cast on stitches? Do I keep those extra 2 "edging" stitches (one beginning, one end) as the ones to be slipped? How will I slip? Only on knit rows? On every row?
More to the point, is this merely a cosmetic thing, or is keeping my edges straight a structural endeavour?
Thanks so much, knitting experts, for any feedback you can provide.
Sincerely, That Novice Who Should Think About These Things Before Spending 10 Hours Knitting
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I seriously doubt the pattern means to add any kind of selvage, especially if you're instructed to shape with a series of cast ons. That eHow article is terrible, it's conflating how to keep your stockinette from curling (add an edging) with how to keep your edges straight (don't increase or decrease).
ReplyDeleteJust keep going. Slipped stitch edges make crappy seams, anyway.
A: Thank you for this comment. Sometimes it's hard to know what's what.
DeleteAngela Kane has a 10 minute You Tube video on knitting and I heard about slipping the first stitch there. From memory you just don't knit it and slip it onto the other needle. I can't remember if you do this at both ends of a row. This is to stop the work curling. She did a scarf though so I'm not sure if you would do this on a cardigan.
ReplyDeleteThanks K. I have done the slip stitching on a cardigan, but I was specifically instructed how to do it...
DeleteJust keep on truckin.
ReplyDeleteUsually the keeping the edges straight just means that you would increase/decrease working slightly inward from the edge, say, increasing with stitches 2 and 3 instead of 1 and 2. That way the "step" of the increase or decrease is camouflaged by the smoother line of the single stitch on the outside. If you'll be sewing seams and/or adding borders with this sweater I wouldn't worry about it. Also, I concur with Alexandra, if you're seaming, the slipped stitches aren't the best plan anyway.
I usually do use slipped edges wherever I will be picking up "sideways" from the original knitting, as for a cardigan border, and don't when I'll be seaming, but that's very much a personal preference issue.
Thank you for this comment! You've talked me off the ledge. You know, in future I will work less with backwards loop cast on and more with increases one or two stitches from the edge. I just started to panic cuz there's so little instruction on this pattern and the piece looks so bizarre.
DeleteHi K-Line,
ReplyDeleteNot sure how else to reach you...no contact info on Kickstarter.
Thanks so much for your pledge for Little Deadly Things.
Writing would be lonely, were it not for my imaginary playmates, the characters in Little Deadly Things. Publishing? Definitely lonely--were it not for the spirit of kind-hearted folk like you.
I can't wait to send you a copy!
Best,
Harry Steinman
Harry: You are more than welcome and I can't wait to see you become tremendously successful! I'm looking forward to a good read.
DeleteOh, my original comment about the slipped stitch edge was addressing your general comment about disliking stockinette edges, as opposed to being a suggestion to solve the problem at hand. I've never made anything like you're trying right now so I'll be watching your blog closely to find out how you handle it and how it works out! It sounds like much more experienced knitters than me (at least with this particular situation!) have much wise advice to offer :)
ReplyDeleteGotcha. I am keeping on, very slowly in light of all the stress I've been feeling the past few days, and I'll let you know how it plays out.
Delete