Kitchener frustration!

[Carolinamidwife]

I can Kitchener, I find it very easy... but my seam is never invisible! Why? It looks puckered. Am I doing it to tightly? I tried to loosen it up but I am a tight knitter so when I loosen it it doesn't match my other stitches.

My soaker looks perfect and then I have this dumb seam.

[weetzie]

I am guessing it is too tight. On the inside of the soaker, is there a ridge where the seam is? That is what happens to mine when it is too tight. Do you have a pic?

[Carolinamidwife]

Oh heck yeah there is a ridge! I thought it was supposed to be there, LOL!

Ok... must loosen up...

I'll take a pic.

[weetzie]

Yeah--if it is done loose enough, there shouldnt be a ridge (someone correct me if I am wrong )

[Carolinamidwife]

I'm LMBO at myself. Every time I have done this seam there is a big ole ridge. Oh well, now I know better!

[lifetapestry]

Does it shift after you block the soaker? I find that my seam looks much better after blocking (that is, the part I don't screw up).

Karla

[mamaMAMAma]

What is blocking?

[Carolinamidwife]

Originally Posted by lifetapestry

Does it shift after you block the soaker? I find that my seam looks much better after blocking (that is, the part I don't screw up).

Karla

Yeah, I try to loosen it up a little when I block. Things generally look better after blocking, at least with my cruddy work, lol.

[Carolinamidwife]

Originally Posted by mamaMAMAma

What is blocking?

Blocking from knitty

[oshunmama]

The woman who taught my very first knitting class told us (in her sweet little voice) "In knitting, we are allowed to be LOOSE WOMEN!!"

Loosen up that knitting!! LOL

[Lauira]

Well I am just jealous that you can do the kitchener! That is part of what is scaring me about the LTK pattern. :LOL That and a bunch of other things. I read and re-read the pattern instructions and I still don't think I get it...

Laura

[weetzie]

Honestly, the kitchener looks much more intimidating than it is to do.

And just jump in to the soaker pattern--and use the pattern support on the ltk boards! Good luck!

[Carolinamidwife]

Originally Posted by Lauira

Well I am just jealous that you can do the kitchener! That is part of what is scaring me about the LTK pattern. :LOL That and a bunch of other things. I read and re-read the pattern instructions and I still don't think I get it...

Laura

Kitchener is much easier than it seems:

Play this video

And, take my advice, read the pattern once and then just get going. Jump each hurdle as you come to it or you will never start. I had only ever knitted squares when I did the LTK longies. You can do it!!!

[Lauira]

Originally Posted by Sheena

Kitchener is much easier than it seems:

Play this video

And, take my advice, read the pattern once and then just get going. Jump each hurdle as you come to it or you will never start. I had only ever knitted squares when I did the LTK longies. You can do it!!!

OMG! That makes SO MUCH more sense now! I really think I can do that! Thank you so much for that video! Okay, now I need to get over my other worries (and I need my beautiful yarn to arrive!).

Thank you!

Laura

[pamelamama]

Amy, it totally sounds like you need to loosen up. The kitchener should be completely invisible in a stockinette stitch garment.

A harder trick is doing it in pattern.

[Perogi]

WOW! What a great video!! I was totally staying away from the Fern and Fairie pattern until my Grandma comes mid-June but now I don't have to wait!!!
Happy knitting to me!...Isn't this place the greatest?

[Carolinamidwife]

THANK YOU!!! You all were right, I was pulling WAY too tight. I loosened up and voila! Invisible seam! It's pretty cool when you do it right!