I need help understanding how you work the stitches on your left needle once theyre all on there in the right order. Im an expert at floating loops in the front or back. Im really good at getting them all back on the needle in the right order. I need help understanding whats next. Heres an example;
2/1 RPC - ive identified the three stitches needed and will name them 1 2 3 from left to right for this explanation.
So i put the right needle into the front of stitch 1. I slide off leaving stitches 2 and 3 floating in the back, and stitch 1 on the right needle.
Put stitches 2 and 3 onto left needle, then slide stitch 1 onto the left needle.
The stitches are now in order of 2 3 1. How do i know how to work these stitches? I thought you would purl 1. Then knit stitch 3. Then knit stitch 2? It doesnt look right though…
Applying the problem to a different equation- 2/2LPC-
Once theyre all on the left needle in the right order how do you work them? Would you work them differently for a 2/2 RPC? Thanks for help!
What is the name of your pattern and designer?
It depends on the definition of the cable which the designer usually gives in the beginning of the pattern before the directions. For a 2/1RPC usually the next stitch on the left needle is held to the back, the next 2sts are knit and the stitch held to the back is purled. So the order of sts would be 2k,1k,3p as you would work them. But this may be defined differently in your pattern. Seeing the cables will help.
For the 2/2LPC and 2/2RPC the sts crossing to the front are usually knits and those to the back purled again depending on the design.
Thanks for taking the time to try and help me! Its the Mirror of Erised cable cowl designed by Tanis Gray. Ive included a photo of what its supposed to look like with my project on top. Here is a little bit of the pettern;
Beautiful cable work. It may be that an easy way to work these is to think of which sts cross over to the left or right and lie on top. For the left and right purl crosses, the knit sts in this pattern are always going to lie on top of the cable.
To work the 2/1 LPC without a cable needle for example, pinch the sts so they don’t ladder down, slip the right needle into stitch 1 (from your set up of 1 2 3) from the back. Let sts 2 and 3 come off the left needle and pick them up again on the left needle. Slip stitch 1 back to the left needle. The order will then be 2 3 1 on the left needle. Purl stitch 1 and knit sts 2 and 3.
The videos make it much clearer.
Here’s the 2/1RPC
This isn’t the only way to work these cables without a cable needle but it always seems easier to me.
Yes! That was the magic way to explain it that finally clicks for me. The provided videos are pretty great too. When I think about which way we’re trying to lean, and realizing the knit stitches will lay on top like you said…suddenly it all falls into place in my brain. Thanks for working with me today! Im well on my way now
Okay im calling it done lol. It was a fun practice run and i enjoyed learning how to do non-cables. Next project is knitting a scarf in the round. I need to work on tension and muscle memory.
