Good morning all,
I hope you are doing great wherever you are in the world. 
I finished Louisa Harding’s gorgeous cowl called The Holly & The Ivy (Ravelry: The Holly & The Ivy pattern by Louisa Harding) a long time ago when I first started knitting. I wondered why it was curling at the edge at the time. I picked up the cowl the other day and realised I had missed 9 rows of purl. It looks like I simply cast on and then went straight on into the lace design. (What was I thinking?!)
I am not entirely sure how to add on the much needed garter stitches. I can graft knit stitches but am less keen on purl, though I can do it.
Can anyone advise me on what my plan of action should be?
Hello
Is it the top edge, above the pull cord?
It looks like stockinette which intentionally curls to the RS to show the reverse stockinette, or ourl side. Is that right?
Can you just pick up and knit from the edge you have and work stockinette for the 9 rows?
If I have got the wrong idea it may help to post a pic of your cowl so we can see where you want to add rows.
1 Like
Hi Creations,
It is the line at the bottom of the cowl.
To see more of the cowl for context right click, open picture in new tab. I don’t know why the picture is cut off here.
1 Like
Thanks for the pic.
To me yours looks just like the pics on ravelry, I can’t see that anyone has 9 rows of anything here before the lace begins. Perhaps I am misunderstanding or missing something.
As knitting can be done onto any edge could you try picking up from this edge and adding the rows you want? Knitting down from the edge would likely be easier than knitting a separate piece and grafting it on.
If you want purls to show on the right side then you can have the wrong side facing when picking up and knitting. Stockinette will curl though, so 9 rows of stockinette will have a curl to it.
Maybe try on a smaller section of the cowl working back and forth to see if you like the effect. If you do uij can undo the trial and go right around.
Sorry not to be of more help but now your photo is here perhaps others will understand better than me and be able to chip in with some suggestions.
Photo seems to be displaying fully for me.
1 Like
I agree that the cowl looks correct according to the pattern directions, 2 foundation rounds and then the lace pattern.
“Foundation round 1 (RS): (K43, place stitch marker) 4 times.
Foundation round 2: (P43 – SSM) 4 times.
Work edging in lace and cable panel patt setting sts as folls:”
If you want to mimic the curl at the top, pick up from the cast on edge and continue the stockinette in the round similar to the rounds after round 41.
I like it as is but it’s your choice to add on more rounds if you wish. You’ve used luscious colors and your lace looks very neatly worked.
2 Likes
Wow I have no idea where I saw the number 9 in those instructions! I think I must have been tired when I looked at those instructions again. I do think I will pick up the cast on edge and do one row of purl and then perhaps one row of knit and then cast off again. Do you think this will look okay?
You can see how the extra rows look. It would take a few more rows if you want to mimic the roll at the neckline. Otherwise, it’s a personal choice in regard to extended rows. I quite like it as is but that’s just me.
Have you washed and blocked the cowl yet? That may change the look a bit too although stockinette is determined to roll no matter what.
Thank you for your lovely complement Well I kind of wanted the edge to be quite defined at the bottom of the cowl because it’s supposed to resemble ivy leaves. I really cannot see a purl row on that botton foundation row. So I think that it might explain why the bottom is rolling a bit.
The purl row might lessen some of the roll at least a bit. Still with the lace panels, there isn’t too much roll at the bottom anyway. You can always give it a try and if it isn’t the way you would like, it’s easy enough to take the extra rows out.
1 Like
I’ll give it a go Though I think I shall attempt it when I am nice and relaxed. Thank you so much for your help!
1 Like
