Archive for December, 2007
December 15th, 2007 at 07:33am
Under Yarn Store News
“Twinkle Soft Chunky is flying outta here! Especially kits for the coat in Vogue and the Cardigan in Interweave. Look here http://www.gotyarn.com/results.cfm?SubCategory=317.”
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By Katherine aka SweaterBabe
December 4th, 2007 at 08:52am
Under Knitting Questions and How to+ Ask SweaterBabe
Dear SweaterBabe,
I knit quite a lot of baby cardigans and I have a problem with picking up stitches for the border - if I use a small needle the border knits up tight and if I use the same needles as the main cardigan the border knits up very loose and flaired. What is the correct way to pick up stitches for a front border? Thank you in advance.
– Eloy
Dear Eloy,
I suspect that the issue you are having with picking up stitches for your border is also about the placement and distribution of the stitches you are picking up.
What I mean is, I think you may be picking up too few stitches along the edge (when you are getting the tight result) or too many along the edge (when you are seeing it too loose and flaired).
First, I would decide which needle size to use based on how you like the border itself to look (nevermind how it attaches to the main piece, think of the border as its own knit fabric). Is the smaller needle size giving you a nicer looking finished border and the same size needle giving you stitches that are just too loose and therefore a border that is too flimsy and looks sloppy? If so, I would stick with the smaller needle size.
If you decide on the smaller needle size, I would then pick up MORE stitches along the border than you did the last time. It seems like you may need a few more along the border edge to compensate for any tightness that might be due to you have a tighter tension or gauge than what the pattern is written for.
Try adding some stitches and see what happens. (Sorry, without seeing it, I can’t tell you how many more stitches to pick up for your example). If it’s not quite right, try it again. I have often done and undone borders for just this reason. Especially if the border curves in any way (for the bottom corners of a cardigan or for neck shaping), the right number of picked up stitches and how they are distributed can make a big difference between a nice looking border and a not so nice looking one.
Good luck and I hope I’ve answered your question!
Best,
SweaterBabe
By Katherine aka SweaterBabe
December 4th, 2007 at 01:16pm
Under Knitting Questions and How to+ Ask SweaterBabe
Hi SweaterBabe,
I know that you are based in the USA, but can to tell me why is it that the yo in your country is so different to saying ywf? What is the difference? Can you explain, please?
– jean
Dear Jean,
I believe you ywf is the same here as yfwd or yarn forward. By bringing the yarn forward and then knitting the next stitch, you create a yo (yarn over) on your right-hand needle that will be treated as a stitch on your next row (and create an eyelet for lace, generally).
If you need to create a yo right before purling a stitch, doing a yarn forward will not do it. The yarn needs to be forward (in front) in order to create the purl stitch. IN THIS CASE, you would actually bring your yarn BACK (behind your work), then purl the next stitch and thereby create your yo (and your purled stitch).
Because of this purl situation, yo is a more universal term that works when you need to follow your yo with a purl or a knit stitch. The yarn forward instruction only works if the yarn forward is to be followed immediately with a knit stitch.
Hope that helps explain the difference!
Best,
SweaterBabe.
By Katherine aka SweaterBabe