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it is almost falling off the sweater
-- If you are unsure about how many stitches to pick up, use your sweater front for a
gauge swatch. Pick up a small section of stitches and work in ribbing pattern for a
1" length
-- An edge that puckers means that you have picked up too many stitches; one that
pulls means that you have picked up too few.
June 2003 Tips and Ideas
Joan McAnulty recently shared this knitting tip for working socks. When working the foot section of fingering weight socks, Joan uses double-pointed needles in the same size used for the cuff to work the top of the foot and double-pointed needles one size smaller to work the sole of the foot. Each half is worked on a separate set of needles
(for example, three double-pointed needles in US size 2 for the top section and three double-pointed needles in size 1 for the sole. This gives a denser sole which resists wear...
June 2003 Tips and Ideas cont
***** PICOT BIND-OFF *****
Interesting edgings can transform a simple garment into a sophisticated one. Joyce Bischoff recently requested information on picot bind-off. Picot bind-off will provide a decorative finish, and works very well on shawls. The picots can be made on every stitch, in which case the edge will flute, or they may be spaced as needed to make the edge lie flat. Here's how:
Insert the right-hand needle into the first stitch on the left-hand (LH) needle, and knit a stitch but do not slip the stitch off the left needle. Slip the new stitch onto the LH needle, then make a second new stitch as before. Cast off four stitches, then slip the remaining stitch back onto the LH needle. Repeat along the row, making two stitches and casting off four each time.
***** A QUICK BIND-OFF *****
Binding off a piece of knitting can be difficult when using an irregular yarn with bumps or eyelashes. Try using a crochet hook in the same diameter as your knitting
needle. Put the hook through the first loop on the left-hand (LH) needle and knit the stitch onto the hook . Knit the next stitch onto the hook, & pull the new stitch through the first one. Continue in this manner to the end of the row, and pull the yarn through the last loop on the hook. This makes a tight, even edge and avoids frustration.
Our sock instructor Tracey Earhart shared this information (thanks, Trace!). According to the Danish book Bondestrick, the length of the knitted foot is correct if the heel and toe meet when wrapped around the wearer's fist. The knitter is advised to begin toe decreases when the foot of the sock in progress is laid around the flat palm of the wearer's hand and the needles meet the heel. This rule may be useful if no measuring tape is handy.
A knitting needle is also a convenient measuring device. Traditional double-pointed knitting needles are generally 7" or 8", glove needles are 5" or 6". If you know the length of your needle, you can use it as a guide for foot measurement to give a close guess…
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