Help with border for balaclava pattern please?

How-to Questions
1

Hi, I’d really appreciate some help with a balaclava pattern please!

The pattern’s called Stylecraft 4389, here’s a link with a picture of the balaclava:

http://www.wonderwool.co.uk/ww/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_414&products_id=2080

I have to rib 121 stitches for 8cm
then rib 90, turn, leave remaining 31 stitches on a stitch holder.

proceed in st-st until the work is 31cm, then shape the top. Leave remaining 30 stitches on a stitch holder.

BORDER (This is the part that’s confusing! I wish you could get illustrated knitting patterns!)

The instructions are:
[B]rib across 31 sts on a stitch holder, pick up and knit 58 stitches evenly up right side of face, 30 sts left on stitch holder on top of face and 58 stiches evenly down left side of face. 177 stitches.[/B]

then i just have to rib for 7 rows, cast off and make up.

Could somebody please help me to understand the border instructions? Are there any good online instructions of what it means to pick up and knit?

Also, if most of the garment is in st-st, will it curl? The pattern doesn’t instruct me to garter a stitch at either side to prevent this, should I do so anyway?

THANK-YOU to anyone who answers!!!

2

There’s a video of picking up sts near the bottom of the Tips page. To ‘rib across X st’ means to work that many sts in ribbing. The stockinette won’t roll in an item like this because it’s either knit in the round or seamed. The ribbing around the face opening will keep it from doing so, and I presume there’s some on the lower edge.

3

Exactly. Definitely check out the video on picking up stitches on the Tips page here on KH.

So, working in ribbing, you:

  1. knit across the 31 stitches on your holder;
  2. pick up the indicated number of stitches (I think you said 58, but I can’t remember for sure);
  3. work across the 30 stitches on the other stitch holder; and
  4. pick up the indicated number of stitches again.

Basically, you’re just joining the two sections of ribbing that you have on holders by picking up stitches on either side to form one band of ribbing around the edge.

Once you finish this part, you’ll have your 177 stitches and you just continue working in ribbing until it’s the correct length. :thumbsup:

Hope that makes sense … good luck! :knitting: