I may have to knit backwards--any tips?

#1

When knitting in the round I end up knitting inside out (i’m a self-taught knitter so my ‘style’ has some quirks). I made mittens and just flipped them the right side out–they worked fine. So, without thinking ahead, I did the same thing when I started a teddy bear. Now I am coming to the part where I’m going to have to flip him inside out, stuff him, and knit him shut. The trick is, if I flip him inside out, the last few rows of my knitting will be in the wrong direction.

My best case scenario would be to change the direction of my knitting, then knit forwards and just follow the pattern in reverse (swap k2tog for ssk etc).

Does anyone have any tips on changing the direction of the knitting?

Does my solution sound reasonable? (or are there tricks to following the reverse of a pattern?)

I’m using a solid brown, fuzzy, acrylic yarn (fairly forgiving so far) so an extra stitch wouldn’t be too noticeable.

Thanks a bunch in advance to any guru out there who can help guide me out of this mess!

#2

I’m having a brain freeze moment, so someone may need to clarify this but wouldn’t purling every row give you the opposite, which would therefore work in your case?

#3

It’s in the round–when I’m knitting the right way it takes from the left needle and adds it to the right (as it does with everyone). When I flip it inside out, it would have to go in the opposite direction (the tail is then hanging off the left needle instead of the right one). Thanks, by the way!

#4

If you scroll down to the bottom of this page you will find instructions about knitting wrong side out.
Here’s a site about knitting backward…oh, and another and another and another…good luck :smiley:

#5

Thanks!

#6

I also just remembered some socks I made once that had a turn-down cuff, and after the cuff part was done I had to flip it inside out to continue with the rest of the sock. The instructions for after the ‘flip’ was just to slip the first stitch and then continue on knitting. The slipped stitch puts the working yarn back where it should be in order to knit in the round. It worked great.

#7

Oh boy–it’s so simple when I look at those pictures–it’s all in how you look at the needles after you’ve flipped it inside out. Funny how you can stare at something for hours, try to figure it out, flip it in and out and back again, and all it takes is one little picture to set you straight. Thanks for the new perspective guys!

#8

I’m not sure about the teddy, but when knitting in the round make sure the loop of the circ is furthest away from you and the needles toward you.