Hi,
My pattern includes the stitches knit 1 through back loop and purl 1 through back loop. I seemed to be getting on well with these but recently they’ve been coming out loose and I’m wondering how to fix this?
Do I tug the tail after k1tbl and p1tbl?
Thank you in advance!
Does tugging the yarn give you more even tension? Then I’d say, sure, do it.
Hello
I don’t know which way you knit. I knit with the yarn in my right hand which leaves my left fingers available to secure the stitches on the left needle so if I am getting a bit of uneven tension I might protect the following stitches, which means it’s less likely I draw yarn from stitch 2 into stitch 1 when I work it. Every stitch can steal yarn from the next stitch so any maneuver that pulls on the first stitch has a chance of stealing that yarn from stitch 2. Ktbl is less likely to steal yarn in my experience but ptbl requires a bit of extra space in the stitch to get the needle around. I either secure the followng stitch to protect it, or allow the yarn steal to happen (if I can’t otherwise get my needle in) but then focus on the tension of stitch 2 to give that extra yarn back. It’s less likely that the yarn can be tightened in the stitch you just made and rather needs putting back into the correct stitch on the row below (ie the stitch it was stolen fom on the left needle). That can be done with the tip of your right needle either before you work the next stitch or as you work the next stitch. Stitch 2 needs to be the full size of the needle, if it is sitting at the tip ready to work it may become smaller when it’s fair share of yarn is stolen because its on the narrow tip, then when you work it it may be a bit small and the previous stitch (the ptbl) may remain large.
I’m not great at explaining this but the short version could be to focus on the tension of the stitches being worked rather than the working yarn which likely wouldn’t benefit from an extra tug.
If you knit continental there’s probably an equivalent way of using your fingers to protect the stitches being worked, and you can still retention the following stitch.
I knit English style so with the yarn in my right hand. I’ve experimented and seem to have managed to get tension right before the cross. I end up with a really tight cross and then the subsequent sticth is really loose. Also I seem to have a sort of gap next to where the cross is too. Any tips to help with all these issues?
The first photo is what my current project looks like and the second is my first project and I’m trying to match and remember what I did to get it like that.
Your current project honestly looks fine to me.
There’s a chance you may be tying too hard to get he tension right which could result in pulling a bit much when it’s not needed. I find with most kjitting stitches that it’s important to work several rows away from those stitches to allow them to settle away from the needles.
For instance my first stitch on the row always looks a bit big, every time, but by 2 rows later it’s totally fine. My cable crosses look somewhat tight and/or holey until I get several rows away and then they look fine. It’s probably the case with lots of knitting. Don’t forget too that washing and moving the fabric around (wearing) will effect the stitches and usually the fabric relaxes.
That said, if you have a big stitch in the rib or cable you might look at the stitch next to it, If it looks very small use a small needle to lift the nearest leg and draw a little of the extra yarn from the big stitch to the smaller one. I find this easier on a knit stitch so might turn to the wrong side in areas of rib or cable on reverse stockinette. I wouldn’t do this when it’s close to he needle though, I’d work well away first.
I think your knitting looks great. Often we are over picky about our own knitting.
I agree, looks good. Some of the gaps will even out with washing.
I think of the slight increase in tension between knits and purls or after cables as snugging rather than tugging. This technique may help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR1-ga90l50
I think your knitting looks lovely! And I’d like to know what the pattern is–looks like a beautiful cabled jumper!
Thank you.
It’s one I found on Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/listing/520748675/knitted-mens-guernsey-and-cable-knit
It’s a challenging pattern and I got the hang of it but perfectionist came out and is hindering me.
So I undid it 
but decided to try the technique on a smaller sample and believe it has worked (not the best as did it rather quickly).
Now I have two questions, do k1b to purls require the tug/snug? And on the photo the sticth before the cable crossover is rather big how would that be at the right tension?
I think you’re right with the overthinking and trying too hard. I need to relax more.
It looks very nice in your small swatch. When you work the wrong side row, that middle purl stitch in the center of the cable will be a knit followed by the purl stitch that is slightly looser. Try the same technique and see if it helps.
It seems to me that washing and laying flat to dry (or whatever the ballband on the yarn recommends) is going to even out these slight tension differences.
Quite happy as finally got the ribbing done and happy with it. The snugging worked!
Now I have a question about my moss stitch. Do I need to do the snugging there too? As I feel it looks rather loose.
The ribbing and cables look very nice indeed. It’s up to you about tightening up the moss stitch but I think it looks quite nice as is.
