Increasing evenly across row...?

#1

Thanks to NancyO on the KnitChat I think I may have the answer to this question, but I’d love to hear what others have to say too (even though I’m going to try what Nancy said).

OK… I’m working a panel from a sweater that is going to be cabled. It’s started me off with 31 stitches that I’m working in a (RS) K3P2 pattern for two inches. Then, I’m to

“increase to 40 sts evenly across last row and ending with RS facing.”

Clearly I’m to add these 9 stitches on the WS of the work so that I end on the RS. I want to know the following:

[ol]
[li]What type of increase do I use (NancyO suggested a Kfb increase)?
[/li][li]How do I space 9 increase stitches across 31 original stitches?
[/li][li]How to I make certain the rib pattern doesn’t get screwed up when I go to work the cables that grow from the ribs?
[/li][/ol]

I know it’s what I get for using a free pattern from the Internet. It’s my first sweater, and I’m just testing pieces of it at this point (thank goodness I haven’t bought all the yarn yet!).

[COLOR=“DarkOrchid”][B]ANY HELP IS APRECIATED![/B][/COLOR]

#2

Kfb works well here as those’ll be pretty much invisible once you start working your pattern.

To space evenly, the standard equation is to take the total sts, divide by one less than the number of incs (in this case, 31/8). That comes out to 3 with 7 left over. Add those in as you work so you could do some incs at 3 sts, some at 4.

One caveat…certain cables req add’l sts due to their horiz pull. In that case, the add’l sts are made directly beneath where the cables will be to allow for that. You’d not be working the incs evenly across UNLESS you have a multitude of cables (lots of small ones) vs one or two large ones whereby the even spacing would take care of the additional sts that are needed. Make sense?

Assuming the pattern is written correctly, the cables should naturally evolve from the ribbing. Just watch as you stitch to make sure you’re not starting them too early/late.

HTH. Perhaps you could post the link so we have a better idea what you’re attempting. I’ve done many online patterns and not encountered any major difficulties and what you’ve posted sounds quite standard.

cam

#3

I agree with the kfb for your increases (or purl front and back).

I generally increase at the beginning and end (which takes up 2 of your 9), and then divide the rest of your stitches (29) by however many you have left to increase (7) and know that you’ll want to increase about every 4th stitch across. If my math is right, you’ll end up with 2 extra stitches at the end, so in a few cases, you’ll need to kfb in the 5th stitch.

My guess is that things will flow pretty easily from rib to cables, and you won’t notice the increases later on.

#4

You were both very helpful. Of course I should have included the link as Cam indicated, so here it is:

http://www.helloyarn.com/cyclingaran.htm

Actually, now that I look at the image more closely, I realize I’m doing the ribbing for the bottom of the panel, and the cables DO NOT come evenly out of the rib. So I should be able to do Kfb or Pfb pretty easily.

[COLOR=“Red”][U][B]I thank you immensely for your help![/B][/U][/COLOR]

#5

Check the videos above for increase. I had to do the same when helping my daughter increase her project. She had to do 7 stitches across 43 to make 50 total. Last I checked 7 doesn’t go into 43 evenly, so there was no way it could have been perfectly even. We just did the best we could.

Plus alot of the increase stitches are hidden in the ribbing and you won’t see them in the finished product. I can’t wait to see how this looks when you’re done.

#6

Thank you!:yay:

#7

You use the closest number you can… 7 goes into 42 6 times, so that helps.

#8

[FONT=“Comic Sans MS”]This forum is a true learning community. I’ve had so much feedback in such a short span of time that I hope I’ll be able to give back. As a newer knitter (1 year) it’s great to have so much experience at my fingertips!

Before I purchased the yarn for this project, I wanted to make sure I could pull it off. So, I practiced the ribbing and the “even” increases and then moved on to the cables. I then started to practice the sleeve and neck decreases.

Here’s a picture of my mini practice in practice yarn:

[B]CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT ON FLICKR[/B]

I left notes on the work in the Flickr image, so feel free to comment on it there, or back here in the forum.

THANK YOU!

[/font]

#9

I love that cable pattern! I think what makes it stand out in my mind is that the background isn’t garter or reverse stockinette. It looks so smooth and beautiful. Not to mention to colour of the yarn is yummy.

As for the increases…I can’t tell. I think you did a great job!

#10

I like the Y cable. Where did you get the pattern? And while the bowing might be prevented by increasing a few stitches in, but it might just be from the cables. After it’s seamed, you won’t have a problem in any case.

#11

Thanks for the feedback.
I got the pattern online at the link below:

http://www.helloyarn.com/cyclingaran.htm

#12

Oh yes, thank you!

#13

Your practice piece looks fab!!! Great stitch definition and the cable is stunning.

A bit of the bowing tends to happen at the transition from rib to cable. (Don’t do garter row!) I never work incs/decs on the edge but not sure that has anything to do with what you noted. Also, the cable tends to draw more, horizontally, the higher you get into it. Little oddities seem to resolve themselves once the piece is blocked, washed. Often times, if you pull width-wise on the rib…as it would appear when worn…some of the transitional observations are no longer as obvious.

cam

#14

cam,

Thanks for your feedback.
I had kind of decided not to do a garter row anyway. It was on my mind, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought it would detract from the piece. I’m really excited to get to the yarn store tomorrow and pick out some yarn and get to work!