Color work and shaping cap

Hi,
So apparently I can’t do math and I’m going to have 12 rows of my chart left when I start shaping the cap for the sleeves. The first row is cast off five stitches, but my chart starts three stitches in.

When I cast off the color stitches, am I going to cut and reattach the ball for the next time that color comes in or would I just drag it up like when I’m catching my floats?

Pattern for base is: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0711/5132/1403/files/RHK0129-019589M.pd and I have attached the chart

I’m trying to finish this sweater by tomorrow for the recital.
Thanks!

1 Like

Hello
You can probably catch a float behind the bound off stitches so long as you don’t pull it tight or make it travel too far, make sure to stretch out the bound off stitches to ensure the strand isn’t tight. It is also okay to cut the yarn leaving a tail to weave in and rejoin it if it’s a long way from where you will next need it.
I wouldn’t bind off in different colours, that might be personal preference though.
If, after, you think the floated strand is too long you can always trap it in with a little sewing thread stitch to just hold it to the fabric.

Hope you manage to finish in time!

Don’t I have to bind off in pattern though? I think that’s where my confusion is coming from.

What is the name of the pattern and the designer? The link goes to ‘page not found’.

This one but I’m going to be at row 63 of the chart when I get to the shaping cap https://www.yarnspirations.com/en-ca/products/red-heart-knit-crew-sweater?_pos=2&_sid=9ac052098&_ss=r

1 Like

Thanks for the pattern link. It’s easier to know what you’re following.
The sleeves are sewn in so your bind off under arm and the edge stitch of the whole sleeve cap is going to be taken into the seam and not be seen, therefore the colour work on those few bind off stitches under the arm won’t be seen. You can follow the colourwork chart, adding in the colour as the chart shows for all the stitches if you want to but personally I wouldn’t.
I find it nicer to seam if I have a single colour and a sturdy bind off edge.

If you want the colour work included in the bind off edge you need to think ahead for each stitch. Stitch 1 is bound off over stitch 2 and needs to therefore be the colour of stitch 2. Stitch 2 binds off over stitch 3 so needs to be worked in the colour of stitch 3. And so on. For the underarm which is seamed I just wouldn’t bother. I have done this colour work where I have had a colour panel, intarsia or 2 colour neck band for example which is a bound off edge which is visible and therefore I wanted the bind off to match the colour change.

To match up the rest of your colourwork after binding of and for the rest of the cap you will need to read your work and check where to start each row on the chart. Drawing on the chart could help and you can follow the co,our an shaping I one go. Another way is to put a marker in at a central stitch and on your chart and work outwards from there to check each row begins with the correct colour.

If I am not answering the question you asked (I might have misunderstood the problem) do say.

1 Like

It looks to me like the bound off edge, like the sides of the sleeve cap will become part of the seam when you join the sleeve to the sweater body. You can bind off in a single color, carrying the second color and catching the float or you can bind off using both colors as you wish. It won’t show in the seam regardless.
The chart is a wonderful graphic and so perfect for a recital. Enjoy wearing the sweater and the music!

I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if I’m just overthinking it again and it’ll just be completely fine when I get there in about four rows, but I just wanted verification on the best way to handle that sort of thing, so this was helpful.
Thanks.

2 Likes

This is probably close enough

3 Likes

Beautiful and very clever design!

Looks striking. Enjoy the recital!

Okay, update, I literally just finished sewing it with 40 minutes to go until the recital… but I have sewn one of the sleeves in the wrong way so I’m going to wear a cardigan over it and then rip it out and sew it again when I get home

2 Likes

Sounds like a good plan. Congrats on almost finishing. I hope we get to see a photo of the sweater!

Very nice.