Posted by stella on 2004-12-01 17:12:13
Post Subject:
you don't *have* to use that increase. i don't have the book, but i'm imagining that you're increasing to make a triangle, right? you can use any increase you want, just always use the same one so they will look consistent.
try using a "make one" increase: just knit the stitch they tell you to increase in normally, then make a backwards loop (like casting on) on the righthand needle. pull it tight, and keep knitting. when you reach the increase on the next row, knit into the stitch so that it stays twisted, otherwise it will look like a yarn-over. you could also just do a yarn over for an increase, which would make a row of holes (like lace) along the sides of your kerchief.
Posted by sun bear on 2004-12-27 10:20:34
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athena scooped me on that link, but if you get two stitches for every purl, you may not be bringing the yarn tail to the front of your work and you're doing what's known as a Yarn Over, when you leave the yarn in the back and purl and it creates a double stitch. I'd check out the purl videos that might be helpful
Posted by Katydid on 2004-10-15 10:45:52
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thanks for your replies everyone!
I actually started to panic after I posted this, and just went nuts with the garter stitch. Since I used 19's and 2 thin interesting yarns, it looks pretty cool - open and lacy looking. I would have liked to attempt getting a yarn over lesson at the local yarn store, but I didn't...
Anyway - I am still happy with the way it came out - simple but pretty.
I'm thinking about what I can do now with fringe like you said girlthursday, to make it a bit more elaborate. I think I may just use the silver thread for that.
Posted by Katydid on 2004-10-11 21:30:17
Post Subject: Shawl help please...
Hi all,
I stupidly volunteered to try and make a wrap for my friend who is getting married. We just talked aout the fact that she did not have a wrap today - and the wedding is saturday. Help!
So, I've got yarn - a strand of shiny silvery yarn and a plain white-ish yarn with a spiral of shiny thread. They look great together, but I'm not thrilled with just the garter stitch look. I'm using 19s to try and move it along, but also to give it a looser look.
Is there anything I can do that will make it look a bit more elegant that is fast and easy? I keep seeing things for yarn over's and it looks cool, but I'm not quite there yet. And it seems that each time I learn a new skill it takes some time - I don't want to unravel this peice 10 times before saturday and not fininsh it.
Posted by E. Bess on 2005-12-27 22:31:08
Post Subject: Royalty free knitting instruction illos?
Okay, here be quite possibly the most random question ever. This is one for those ladies in the house who know something about how craft books are written.
I'm putting together a proposal for a craft book, and I'd like to include some basic instructions on how to knit. We're talkin' basic -- like, long-tail cast on, knit, purl, k2tog, maybe a make-1 or a yarn over, and that'd be pushing it. Is there a source for those illustrations used in "how to knit" books, that one could use legally without paying someone? Or heck, even if such a thing existed for use that one WOULD have to pay for... I wouldn't even know where to look.
I guess I'm saying that I need to find some illustrations for a learn-to-knit section. Where do they come from? :)
I've got my partner, who is a comic book artist, lined up to make some illustrations, but I'd rather not ask him to reinvent the wheel. Seems like such a thing should be out there, it's in every knitting pamphlet at the craft store...
Posted by Jeanine on 2005-05-20 23:54:58
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How aout a skinny drop stitch scarf? It would make the most out of the yardage and show off the yarn! I'd use size 15 or 17 and 8-10 stiches wide. Don't forget to yarn over (yo) for those nice dropped stitches!
Posted by Del on 2004-12-23 15:04:41
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Another way to make a triangle shawl is to...
cast on 3 stitches
k1, yarn over, place marker, K1, place marker, yo, k1 (5 sts)
Even rows, purl.
odd rows, knit to marker, yo, slip marker, K1, slip marker, yo, knit to end of row.
This way starts the shawl at the neckline and it feels very anti-intuitive but it works really well. Also, you can knit a border on the bottom, if you want.
Sometimes, with the marker being at the yos, they get slipped around and aren't in the exact same place. Just remember to increase before and after the center stitch and you'll be ok.
Posted by stella on 2004-12-22 01:22:09
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ooh! ooh! i know!
i would start with a few stitches and work up to a big triangle, though. that way you can just stop whenever you run out of yarn and patience, and still have a triangle, instead of a cut-off parallelogram.
this way, you don't even need a gauge swatch.
i'm going to try to write decent instructions, but let me know if this doesn't make sense!
rows 1 and 2: cast on 2 stitches, turn, and knit into the front and back of BOTH stitches; you'll have 4 stitches on the needle.
row 3 and all ODD rows: knit
row 4: K1, M1 ("make one"; do a backwards loop increase), K2, M1, K1. 6 stitches on the needle.
row 6: K2, M1, K2, M1, K2.
row 8: K2, M1, K4, M1, K2.
row 10: K2, M1, K6, M1, K2.
and so on. basically (after the weird beginning part) you're going to be knitting two stitches, increasing one, knitting until there's two stitches LEFT on the needle, increasing one, then knitting the two remaining stitches. every other row is plain knitting. the two edge stitches make a nice looking selvedge.
if you want, you can do a yarn-over instead of a M1, and you'll have a lacy edge on your shawl.
when your shawl is as wide as you want, bind off VERY, VERY loosely.
Posted by sun bear on 2004-06-23 14:59:29
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i saw the baby blanket episode, it's great for showing you how to do different techniques, i learned yarn over and knit two together and also how to figure out how many stitches there should be after doing certain things, the baby blanket was the confidence booster i needed to start learning how to read a pattern w/o asking my mom :)
Posted by naomi on 2005-02-09 07:31:03
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I wish I knew how to knit properly. With increasing and decreasing and stitch holders and everything! I can knit, purl, do yarn over the needles and so on, but so far I have not been brave enough to try more. Which means...lots of scarves!
And I wish I knew how to make good pancakes. My Mum makes the best thin ones, where you roll them up with sugar and lemon. I can make the small fat ones, but my crepey ones, they all fall apart when I try and turn them or dont cook properly....
I love this thread. It makes me think of all the things I could learn.
