Yep. It's true. Knitting in the round scares the crap outta me.I have only knit a couple of hats in the round and they weren't really pretty. Wish I had (not) pictures to share. There is always a gap thing going on at least on the first 3-4 rows. I don't really know why and I don't like it. Really. I'd just rather knit flat and sew the sumbitch. Ok, so I said it.
But....there is this sweater that I really love. http://shop.interweave.com/store/popup.htm?images/Gathered_Pullover_L.jpg But it's done in the round. And the freaking gauge is in the round. What does that mean? Oy! But, I think the yarn pictured above would work really well. It is Plain and Fancy wool sport. It's so soft and squishy. I just love it. And I have swatched with it. Just not in the frickin' round! http://www.ravelry.com/people/wendydancer/stash/sport
Fortunately,I still have the VLT scarf to keep me occupied...and I am loving it right now. I'm in the groove on the last border and it's like magic the way that border attaches and becomes one with the scarf. Who comes up with this stuff? I'm willing to bet that no one has thought up an original knitting idea in....forever!
4 comments:
Do you use circular needles? I have them from 11" up and I don't have that gap problem with them. The trick is to co one extra stitch, place the first stitch cast on on the other needle and the last stitch on that needle, then Make the FIRST stitch of the pattern through 2 stitch (to decrease the total to the needed cast on). If you don't have any circulars send me an e-mail and I'll see about getting you one I might have a duplicate of so you can practice.
As for doing the swatch in the round, the reason for that is that your tension is different due to the needles. I usually cast on the number os stitches that should equal 4" and that way I can tell if I am WAY off and change needle sooner. Be sure and knit the 3-4" as the material you knit in the round will need that much to relax to the proper tension....if you have granddaughters, go ahead and knit 4-5" and bind off...then measure for gauge and make the tube a Barbi skirt with elastic.
Barb in Irving LSSK
Yes, I use circs. I'm not 100% sure that I understand what you are saying. Hope to meet up with you soon and you can show me what you mean! thanks!
Hi Bev:
I love knitting in the round because I don't like to have to sew up pieces! :)
What do you mean about the gap & is it always in the same place? The joining part CAN be tricky but there are ways around it depending on what you're making. That sweater doesn't have any ribbing at the bottom (not a bad thing, it has a rolled edge), otherwise I'd suggest that you do the ribbing & THEN join your knitting in the round & later on you can sew the slit where the ribbing is.
My stockinette tension in the round is tighter than my knitting back & forth... that's because my purl stitches are looser.
One reason I like toe up socks (WHEN I knit socks) or crown down hats is because I don't have to worry about the joining part when starting to knit. I've twisted my joins & once in a while have gotten the gaps you describe but I did find a good way to possibly circumvent this by casting on one extra stitch as found on this pattern:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/binary-cable-hat#
(Not sure if you're on Ravelry or not, but that's where the pattern is located... )
Jessica
Thanks, Jessica. The gap is always at the join. I like the idea of casting on an extra stitch. I will try that. I have done hats with ribbing and not joined until I've knitted an inch or so and that seems to help eliminate the gap. I don't mind sewing seams and I guess I don't have enoughe experience with knitting int he round to be comfortable with it yet.
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