Knitting help?

[Dragonfly_34]

I am working on a papoose bag and the pattern called for me to knit in the round which is something I've never done before. I was able to get the hang of it though, and am nearing the point in the pattern where I'll be working on the collar, which is the last part of the pattern. I'm stumped on the directions though and was hoping there'd be someone here willing to look at the pattern and explain the parts I'm confused about.

Thanks in advance!

 

[runskyhy]

I've only been knitting for a few years now, so I haven't attempted cable or other complex stitches, but I'd be happy to take a look at the pattern. Is it located on-line? I know there are a few other knitters around here, so maybe they can help, too.

Are you a member of ravelry.com? It is the best knitting resource I have found on-line. One of the things it offers is a forums section where you can ask for help (in case you are unable to get it here.) They even have a specific sub-forum, 'Patterns' for questions. The website requires you to register, but it is free and it is pretty straight-forward.

 

[Dragonfly_34]

Thanks for the response! The pattern isn't online ~ I had to purchase it and it was sent to my e-mail as a password protected PDF. I can type up the part that I'm confused about and either post it here or send it to you via private message, whichever you prefer.

I hadn't heard about ravelry.com ~ I will definitely check it out. Thanks again!

 

[runskyhy]

Thanks for the response! The pattern isn't online ~ I had to purchase it and it was sent to my e-mail as a password protected PDF. I can type up the part that I'm confused about and either post it here or send it to you via private message, whichever you prefer.

I hadn't heard about ravelry.com ~ I will definitely check it out. Thanks again!

Posting or PM is fine. If you post the section in question, you might get others to respond... or you might just be lost in the wonderfulness of Ravelry by now. (I have a difficult time finding a happy balance between there and here! ) My ravelry id is filypretzel, if you want to find me there.

 

[Dragonfly_34]

I did end up joining ravelry ~ what a great site! My username there is Dragonfly34. I did post my question there and got a lot of responses but it turned into a discussion and I got a little confused reading everyone's comments.

Basically this pattern is working in the round until the bag is 14 1/2 inches long, and then you change to a different size needle and work flat. Where I'm stumped is in the last part of the working in the round section before transitioning to the collar. Mostly because it's going from 100 stitches to 75 stitches and involves binding off a couple of stitches in the middle....kind of weird IMO.

Here's what the pattern says......

Remove marker; (k2, p2) 3 times, bo 2sts, p1, (k2, p2) around, turn, (k2, p2tog) across 75 sts. You will now be working in rows to form collar. Change to #10 needles.

Row 1: (P2, k1) across, turn each row.
Row 2: (K2, p1) across.

I’m confused because I have 100 stitches on the needles so the (k2, p2tog) across 75 stitches is confusing me. Also, if I’m reading the pattern correctly, after 12 stitches I’m supposed to bind off 2 stitches, but then continue to knit in the round…..but how will I know where the row ends if I’ve removed the marker? One of the comments I got on ravelry was that I'd know where the row ends every time I reached the stitches that were bound off, but I didn't understand that because didn't interpret the pattern that way.

I'm going to try and follow the pattern as best I can and hope for the best, but any insight you might have would be appreciated. This is when I really miss my 5th grade teacher....she's the one who taught me (and our entire 5th grade class to knit). I also used to work with someone who was an expert knitter and whenever I'd get stumped on something I'd take it to her, and she'd show me what I did wrong or how to fix it.

 

[runskyhy]

Mostly because it's going from 100 stitches to 75 stitches and involves binding off a couple of stitches in the middle....kind of weird IMO.

It looks like the designer started the center slit of the collar offset from the original end of the round row by knitting another 12 stitches before beginning the center slit (with 2 'bind off' stitches). The two 'bind off' stitches are where the center break (for the collar) is going to begin and will become a natural 'end of row' marker. It still took me about 40 minutes and some graph paper to figure most of it out. Here's what the pattern says:

Remover marker.

Your next 'row' will actually have you knit 112 stitches:

k,k,p,p,k,k,p,p,k,k,p,p,bo,bo,p,(k,k,p,p)*24.

You have now knitted all 100 stitches in the row plus you have knitted 12 stitches of the next row and you should be sitting at the first of the 2 'bind off' stitches from the previous row. Don't knit into the bind off stitches. You now want to knit BACK along the live stitches in the opposite direction as you work the decrease pattern:

Turn, (k2, p2tog)*24.

When it tells you to 'turn' your piece, you want to knit in the opposite direction from which you just came. (If you knit Continental-style, you want to switch the needles to the opposite hand: the one that was in your RH gets moved to your LH and vice versa. If you knit American-style, then instead of switching hands, start knitting back to the other needle, as if you were making a flat item, such as a washcloth or scarf.)

After the turn, you are knitting the decrease pattern across this row (4 stitches become 3 stitches with the K2P2TOG) to get down to 75 stitches. Knit this decrease pattern across the whole row up to the 2 'bind off' stitches from the previous row. Again, do not knit into these, stop and turn so you can be ready to knit back in the opposite direction for your next row. You can then change to the #10 needles and begin the K2P2 rib pattern.

Does this help any?

 

[runskyhy]

PS. Most local yarn shops also have an 'open knit' night where anyone can come in and get pattern/yarn questions answered. If you still need help, you could check with one nearby. This is a pretty good LYS search engine: http://www.knitmap.com/

 

[Dragonfly_34]

Oh my gosh yes, that's a HUGE help! The "turn" part proved to be a problem for me but the way you explained it makes great sense. Unfortunately I'm going to have to rip out a row or two of stitches but that's ok, at least now I know what to do. I will also check out that other link you posted ~ we only have two craft stores in my immediate area and since I'm on bed/couchrest until I deliver I'm limited with how far I can travel. I'm technically not supposed to go anywhere other than my weekly doctor appointments but we all know that's not practical! Thanks so much for your help!!!

 

[runskyhy]

Woo hoo! Glad to hear you got it worked out! Now you can post the finished project on your Ravelry account for us all to see!!

Congratulations on your upcoming bundles of joy! Best wishes and pixie dust!

 

[Cutewriter]

Awesome! I have always wanted to learn how to knit. is it much different than crocheting?

 

[runskyhy]

I don't know how to crochet so I don't know how different they are.

I've heard that crocheting is faster though... maybe I should invest in some lessons.

 

[Alesia]

Awesome! I have always wanted to learn how to knit. is it much different than crocheting?

It's completely different. The only thing they have in common is that they both use yarn. Do you crochet?