April 11, 2004

Another Request for Help

I'm feeling frustrated with the appearance of my ribbing just as JennyW is. Mostly, I think it's due to the stretchy-clingy nature of the Calmer yarn. I've tried several different types of needles, as suggested by Theresa, and finally settled on using bamboos. I found that there was significantly less resistance on these needles than there was on the Addis which I first tried out. Nevertheless, I occasionally find myself struggling to move the yarn across the needles.

To attempt to combat the uneveness of my knitting, I have tried the following:

1. When I arrive at the purl stitch that immediately follows a knit stitch, I wrap the yarn around the needle clockwise. This twists the stitch and helps makes it snugger.

2. On the reverse side, when I arrive at one of the twisted stitches, I knit through the back loop, in order to untwist it.

Even with this technique, which has helped me in past knitting projects, I'm still ending up with some sloppy looking stitches. You may be able to see what I'm talking about in this photo:

ribbing.jpg

Thanks in advance for any help!

Posted by AmyS at April 11, 2004 04:52 PM
Comments

a] It'll even out in the wash !
b]Stop thinking about it as being stretchy cotton.Pretend it's wool ! Really ! Sometimes over-thinking things can make them harder work.
c]Relax.Go with the flow.Chill.Eat some chocolate.

Posted by: Emma at April 11, 2004 06:38 PM

Boy, Amy it looks awfully good to me..... But you know, even if you look really close at the photo in the Rowan pattern book, the one on the left, the black & white photo, you can see that that is how it looks there too. I think it might be a forest and trees thing, and we might be looking too closely or something, but the finished product will be lovely. Yours certainly LOOKS lovely, and I only hope mine will be as nice!

Posted by: Norma at April 11, 2004 07:11 PM

P.S. What is the color you're using?

Posted by: Norma at April 11, 2004 07:39 PM

Thanks Emma & Norma. I think staying up late with a newborn has affected my judgment a little bit...I'm a lot less patient with myself ;) Norma, the color is called "amour." It looks a little bit more pink in the photo than it really is.

Posted by: Amy at April 11, 2004 07:47 PM

I agree--your ribbing looks terrific! When I get that far, I hope mine looks as good. Just finished my swatch, but have to wash it. My gauge is too tight. The swatch had better relax (and so should I)!

Posted by: Dena at April 11, 2004 09:43 PM

amy:

thanks for your post also, I'm glad I'm not the only one with the problem, but I must say, I think your ribbing looks great. Definitely much better than mine, and I love the idea of twisting and untwisting the stitch that you mentioned. Thanks for the idea!!

Alternatively I might knit in a smaller gauge and adjust the pattern if I can't improve the appearance at the gauge I'm using...

Posted by: JennyW. at April 11, 2004 11:24 PM

Hi Jenny!

I was taught to Purl into the back of the stitch that follows the Warped Knit Stitch on the right side to control its size, then to Knit into the back of that same stitch on the WS.

That way, you don't *un-twist* the tightening effect you produced on the RS, but double tighten the *controller* stitch...

I'm still waiting for my Calmer to arrive but will post a picture once I get started!

Posted by: Tiffany at April 12, 2004 09:20 AM

mine looks just like this! great minds think alike! I think once it's on, it will be okay.

Posted by: janet d at April 14, 2004 03:48 PM