When I am not knitting I am studying my next project. After I finish my Star Crossed slouchy beret, I plan to knit the St. James Sweater I was reading through and on the yoke instructions, it has you to put some stitches on “scrap yarn” for doing the sleeves later. I get that, but when it is describing how to do the right sleeve, it totally loses me. Here are the instructions:
[B]With smaller ndls, CO 2 sts, k49 [52, 55, 65, 68, 72, 75] from scrap yarn, CO 2. (53 [56, 59, 69, 72, 76, 79] sts). [/B]
Am I casting on 2 stitches from a separate ball of yarn, and what does it mean when it says k49 from scrap yarn? I know it has to be referring to the stitches that were placed on the scrap yarn for the sleeves, but I am at a loss as to what to do. Am I supposed to place them back on the knitting needle? Thanks.
The extra stitches are just to give you a bit of room I suspect. I haven’t seen it done that way, but there must be a reason.
Use the same yarn you’re going to use for the sleeve and cast on two stitches, then knit the stitches from the waste yarn back on the needles, and then cast on two more. I have always just slipped them back on and I doubt it would make much difference if you choose to do that instead.
Jan,
So could I just put the stitches on a dpn instead of scrap yarn and then knit them from the dpn onto my circular needle. What happens to the scrap yarn? Thanks for your help.
You will have just finished making the body of the sweater and bound off the stitches at the bottom. Earlier you made part of the sleeves already and then set the 49 stitches on each side, that make up the sleeves, onto the waste yarn. At this point you are going to finish the sleeves.
Hold the sweater up to yourself as it will be when worn. The sleeve stitches that are where your right arm will go as the sweater would be worn is the right sleeve. Put those 49 stitches on the needle they were originally knit on (the larger needle). Either as you put the stitches on the needle or after you have all of the stitches on the needle simply pull the waste yarn out, and set it aside. It has finished its job. Then take the smaller needle (the one you will do the neck finishing on as well) and with a new end of yarn cast on two stitches, then knit the 49 sleeve stitches onto the smaller needle next to the two new stitches. Cast on two more stitches. Those two stitches at each end will be right in the underarm on each side. They will help the sleeve fit better.
Follow the rest of the directions to complete your short little sleeve edge. Do the other sleeve the same way.
Awwww, I was going to type out some very detailed explanations, then found the Merigold had already done it. I will add that the 2 CO st will be for the underarm and will use a new yarn end which you will continue to knit the sleeve sts with.