So, I don’t know why, but my grey matter has decided that I need to design and knit my own bed jacket myself. I`m going to call it Sleepless Beauty Bed Jacket.
Here’s what I have so far…
I have a piece of knitting (bone coloured, on DK weight yarn) 75 stitches across, knit in Eve’s Rib pattern, for 11 inches. I then carried on knitting 6 1/2 inches in stocking stitch (with three stitches of garter stitch at the button band edge), bringing me to the underarm. So on a RS I am going to BO stitches for the armholes. Will 6 stitches be enough? I am then going to carry on with a further 2 1/2 inches of stocking stitch and then I want to make a U shaped neckline. How many stitches should I put on a holder for the neckline? I would then decrease one stitch at the neck edge for several rows, in order to give it a nice rounded U shape. I would then carry on knitting until I get to the shoulder where I will BO all stitches. I would then knit a corresponding right side. Once I get to the back, Id just double the amount of stitches, CO and knit my 11 inches of Eves Rib, and then knit my stocking stitch to the armhole, where I will BO (X stitches) and go on to the shoulder. Once I get to the shoulders I would BO the amount of stitches I BO for the front shoulders and then knit across row, BO again the same amount for other shoulder and knit across. Then I would BO the remaining stitches, I think!!!
Any suggestions or help would be appreciated. Also, I want to put some kind of edge on the neckline and the sleeves. If anyone has a simple, not too flowery or lacey, but nice looking edge for sleeves and neckline, I would appreciate the help! Also I need to discuss design of sleeves, with the edging on them, but not until I get that far…
I`ve never tried to make anything without a pattern before, so tips would also be greatly appreciated! Yes I know, I WILL POST PICTURES. Thanks!!!
I wouldn’t think you’d need to put any stitches on a holder if you’re going to decrease for the U neck. Unless you’re thinking of a neckband? You could leave the edge sts in the same pattern as the buttonband and dec inside them.
For the underarm, since this is DK yarn, 6sts is about an inch I think. But I think BO a few more to account for a seam st and most underarms are about 3 inches total, so you’d maybe need to BO about 9-10 sts.
I thought I would pick up stitches from the right front holder, along the side of the neckline, off the back holder, along the other neckline and the left front holder; then I’ll knit a row, purl a row, for the next row I’ll k2tog, yo across the next row, purl a row, knit a row, purl a row and then CO loosely. I will fold this edging in half at the k2tog row and tack it down in the back to make an easy slightly lacy edging for the U neckline. Do you think this will work and look nice?
One other thing SuzeeQ??? I am at the shoulder of the left front now. I am going to BO for the shoulder. There are 33 sts on the needles right now. Do I BO 16, knit to the end of the row, purl to end of next row and then BO 17 sts. to shape the shoulder? Or is there another way to do it?
Nope, that’s right. You BO starting at the shoulder edge and always at the beginning of a row. For your other front side, do it the same, except the BOs will be on the purl rows.
OK so I BO 16 stitches, knit to the end of the row, on the next row I BO the 17 stitches purlwise, because you said the BO should always be started at the beginning of a row.
Thanks for your help and your knowledge. You are always so willing to help and I DO appreciate it. I am sure I will need you when it comes to the sleeves as I have to figure out how many stitches to cast on, and I HATE math. LOL
OK so I BO 16 stitches, knit to the end of the row, on the next row I BO the 17 stitches purlwise, because you said the BO should always be started at the beginning of a row.
I meant to BO on the purl rows on the right front. You had it right at first, I didn’t mean to confuse you. BO 16, knit to the end, purl back, BO the last 17 sts. When you do the right front, when you’ve done a knit row, bo 16 on the WS row, purl across, knit back and BO the last 17sts on the purl row. That’s what patterns mean by `reverse shaping’ on the 2nd front.
I realized that after I sent off the post. I was sitting here thinking and said to myself “oops, I did that wrong, should have done it the way I said I would”. I went back and have just finished tinking the second way and doing it the way I said I would the first time.
Thanks once again for being so helpful. I know I am being a pain in the ummmm well you know. It’s nice to know someone is out there helping me make sure my first “designed by ME” WIP is done properly.
