Why can't I knit? - Page 2

[texmati]

Well... so let me think this through:

knit 2, yarn over (+1), knit accross = 1 extra stitch

knit 1, knit 2 together (-1), yarn over(+1), knit two together (-1), knit across? = 1 less stitch... so yes, they should be the same.

The funny stitch that you see is most likely the knit two together. I don't know why the decreases would be slower... is it a slight difference or a big one?

I normally ball up yarn, but I know what you mean about jumping around. For a very small amount of yarn, I sometimes do figure 8's using my thumb and pinky.

[llnmaw]

Originally Posted by aquarian

Well... so let me think this through:

knit 2, yarn over (+1), knit accross = 1 extra stitch

knit 1, knit 2 together (-1), yarn over(+1), knit two together (-1), knit across? = 1 less stitch... so yes, they should be the same.

The funny stitch that you see is most likely the knit two together. I don't know why the decreases would be slower... is it a slight difference or a big one?

I normally ball up yarn, but I know what you mean about jumping around. For a very small amount of yarn, I sometimes do figure 8's using my thumb and pinky.

So if I did it right (and I'm pretty certain I did!) it should have worked. hmmm....

The difference is noticeable not dramatic. When I fold the cloth in half I would say there is a bit more than 1/4 inch difference.

Any way to decrease this and maintain the pattern? I got this 'pattern' from a video tutorial from the library. So while it was not written down I paused and restarted when I finished working what the host had done. Make sense?

Maybe I need to shelp my project to my fabric/yarn shop and see if someone can figure this out eh?
~L.

[texmati]

1/4th of an inch? I would think that was a gauge difference. I would just make a consious effort to knit more tightly on the decrease rows. or pull your decreases tighter. (I have to double tighten all my decreases too.) If I don't, my yarn will have a lot of slack in those stitches, and those stitches will be bigger.

I think you are doing fine with the counting.

[llnmaw]

Maybe I fixed it? I got the completed dishcloth wet - soaked it and hand rung out - and it totally squared up! It is drying flat on a towel on the counter and when it is dry I'll see what happens.

The darn thing was stretched out maybe?

Is that totally unlikely and I've really only shaped into square and it will stretch out again. Not that it really matters for a dishcloth...I just want to do this right.

I'm doing one more ( but I am hoping to get a nice set for a Christmas gift completed) dishcloth before embarking on the hat pattern you suggested (the tricky one!) and am trying to pay really close attention to my tension throughout.

Thanks so much for your encouragement and tips! Invaluable....

~L.

[llamalluv]

Originally Posted by llnmaw

Maybe I fixed it? I got the completed dishcloth wet - soaked it and hand rung out - and it totally squared up! It is drying flat on a towel on the counter and when it is dry I'll see what happens.

The darn thing was stretched out maybe?

yes. what you are doing to it now (getting it wet and laying it out) is blocking.

[llnmaw]

Originally Posted by llamalluv

yes. what you are doing to it now (getting it wet and laying it out) is blocking.

Well alrighty then! It's like I'm almost a knitter or something. Blocking...who knew??! (thanks google, know I know what blocking means)

I'm starting that hat now.....

~L.

[texmati]

ooh! keep us posted on that hat. Which one are you doing-- maybe we can do a min kal...

[llnmaw]

Originally Posted by texmati

ooh! keep us posted on that hat. Which one are you doing-- maybe we can do a min kal...

Check out my "fix my hat" post if ya have some time....I'm doing the rolled brim one you suggested. It went really fast and is super cute even though I didn't use some fancy, $$ yarn!

what's a min kal?

~L.

[texmati]

sorry... that was a typo... I meant mini KAL (knit-a-long). That's where a bunch of people knit the same thing, and help each other through it.

[Indigo73]

Wanted to make another suggestion... For charts, which you are probably not ready for yet, but they are my stumbling block. So I make a couple copies of the pattern. Then I stick a copy of the pattern into a glossy page protector. This way I can use a white board marker to cross out what I've done. If it has repeats I mark the number of repeats I am on in the corner usually using hatch marks. The second copy is used to write notes, since I can't seem to stop myself from altering patterns.