336 Stitches
Doesn't look like much, does it? But it's actually the sum total of all my knitting time over the past week and a half. I have discovered that 336 stitches around is a lot of stitches. It seems like even more stitches when you are knitting them on 2.5 mm needles. But, finally, the Zebra Striper dress for Ms. Z has started. I'm making the 24 month size figuring that that will give me plenty of time to get it done. After seeing how long it takes me to get around once (even with just basic stockinette) I think giving myself plenty of time was the best choice I could make for the project.
This pattern starts out with a simple lace motif to make the bottom edge scalloped. After that, it launches you into the two color work.
This pattern starts out with a simple lace motif to make the bottom edge scalloped. After that, it launches you into the two color work.
The positive side of having so many stitches in a round is that it gives you plenty of time to memorize stitch motifs and to try out different ways to handle the two color knitting. I spent a lot of time doing things with both yarns in my left hand. But things just kept getting tangled and it was hard to keep my tension good when I used a lot more of one color on a row than the other color. Then, suddenly, on the row where there are three green stitches followed by one red stitch repeated throughout the row, something clicked in my brain and I figured out how to knit two color with one color in my left hand and one in my right. Don't ask me what happened or how it happened, but it did (I had a similar experience learning how to use the drop spindle). I am far from speedy and my technique could still use a lot of work but the breakthrough has been made. Whatever barrier I had in my brain that was preventing me from doing this has been broken. Now it's just a matter of continuing on this way and re-enforcing the neural connections involved with letting me knit with both hands at once -- which shouldn't be a problem since I still have quite a few more rounds of 336 stitches with which to practice ahead of me.
Now, hopefully I can apply this two handed stuff to the second Fiesta Foot! That would make the instep part of the project a whole lot easier!.
Definitely way easier to put one color in one hand and one in the other! I do it that way when I do colorwork and it makes me appreciate just how speedy my continental knitting is. Just watch how you carry floats or it gets tight.
It is a beautiful start! My current sweater has something like 296 stitches per round. It will be a bit before I get to the colowork. Getting that nice rhythm with the two-color knitting is great. it just makes the project so much more of a joy. This is going to be so cute. I hope your new colorwork success carries over to the sock. I have always loved looking at that pattern.
It is so lovely! And the weights are a nice treat for those of us far from the beach wishing for better weather.
oh man I could use that breakthrough myself lol :)
That is a very good breakthrough to have made. I can't imagine knitting this project any other way.
BTW, how do you like MT4?
That is gorgeous colorwork! And yeah, 336 is a lot of stitches in one row. I always find that sort of discouraging, and generally work my sweaters in pieces wherever possible, for exactly that reason. I know it's the same number of stitches, but my brain responds better to small bites. Can't do that so easily with colorwork, though.
Your welcome everyone,
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Janette.
I love the knits with the tiny yarn and needles, but they always feel like they take forever (I had a skirt knit in the round with more than 300 stitches per round... when I had to rip because of twisting the round I nearly cried), but they always look so crisp and professional compared to some of the bulky projects.
I'm assuming it's knit in one piece? If so, don't forget that while it may seem to take forever right now, you won't have to stop and knit the other pieces and seam them up, so you will be done the whole project just a little bit sooner than if it was done in pieces :) I know it seems like a child item is so quick when you start the first front piece....but then it drags as you've got to repeat it again for the other front, then again for the back....this time, your rows are long but productive in many ways!
Congratulations for learning the rhythm of two-handed knitting! I started knitting the Ivy League Vest this winter, and was determined to do it two-handed. I am otherwise a Continental knitter, who could never figure out how to hold the yarn in my right hand. It took time, but after about an inch or so of corrugated ribbing, I think my right hand understands what to do.
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished outfit. I thought the little booties were awfully cute!
I know how you feel about the stitches. I'm working on a skirt that's about 780 stitches around and it takes forever. But I'm about 2-3 inches from the end and it just feels so good.
I love your start though. The colors are just wonderful. I can't wait to see how it turns out.