I have finally perfected my Knit and Purl stitches to the point where I think I could knit something neat enough to be worn, so I want to knit up a laast minute Cowl. My boyfriend said he liked them just a few days ago and my wrist is feeling better than I thought it would after the Cortisone shot I got Friday.
So, I figure that if I knit all day today and tomorrow that I could probably finish a fairly simple Cowl. He has an 18" neck around. I don’t want it to be tight!
I am still browsing patterns but I think I found the one I want to try. It says that the difficult is “Easy” so I should be able to do it as a beginner, right? There are a few things I have never tried, like the lace technique with the yarn over, but it seems simple enough. I have this website and youtube for help if I need it…
However, I have no idea how to read the chart. Can I just follow the directions and take my time stitch by stitch and it will turn out alright? I have never knitted in the round either, but I will watch some videos, can’t be that different than regular needles, right?
I assume you have to knit in the round if the pattern says so, you can’t do it on regular needles if the directions specifically say in the round?
Step by step is the only way to knit something. If you get too worried about something coming up, you never proceed. Every project is a learning experience in some way.
Knitting in the round is, in a way, easier than flat, because you have the right side facing you the entire time and you can see if you’ve made any mistakes as you go along. If you were to try to work it flat, you could, but you’d have to reverse the wrong-side row stitches and order of the stitches.
Charts are easier than they look. If the pattern has written directions, compare them to the chart to see what each box means if that will help. A chart is just a picture of the finished product and you follow it step-by-step, row by row. It helps to block off all the rows above the one you’re working on to keep on track. I use post-it notes for this.
Good luck with your cowl! You can do it–knitting isn’t rocket science, after all. :teehee:
If I were going to switch to a different, more simple pattern (k2,p2) how much yarn would I need?
I just have this 100g ball (.5mm) and I don’t have a second ball of the same colour and I don’t want to run out, you know?
I can’t decide if I want to try this more difficult, fancy pattern… Or something simple for the sake of efficiency so that I can finish before Christmas. :knitting:
Here is a simple ribbed pattern on ravelry.com and it is designed for a man.
One tricky thing about knitting in the round, after you cast on and join to make a circle, you have to be very careful to make sure you do not twist the stitches. So you’ll be taking a little time to make sure you get it right, but it should be smooth sailing from there.
The ribbed pattern makes sense to me because it is simple. One other thing you may consider is just using the knit stitch, in the round this will give you stockinette, and if you choose not to use ribbing, the edges will roll, which may or may not be the effect you are looking for.
With everything else that’s going on for the holidays, you might take the pressure off and give yourself a few more days to finish this cowl. A day of solid knitting might not be best therapy if you’re having wrist problems. You can always give a note to say a cowl is “in progress” and finish it during the week.
I like that cowl, Claire. Here’s another simple one which could be ended at any point depending on how much yarn you have. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/colwick-cowl
Good luck with whichever pattern you choose to do and Merry Christmas.
I am using a cheaper yarn since it is my first project, and I know my boyfriend will wear whatever I make even if it looks awful, haha!
Bernat Satin 100g. 5mm/8US. It is 100% Acrylic, but it is very soft.
I will look at all the patterns and choose a simple one, I think. However, there are some knit-a-long video tutorials on Youtube like THIS ONE and she walks you through what to do. She made it on long, straight needles. I am using a smaller thread, so I was going to use my long wood US7. Unfortunately I only have a few sizes to work with, but I was told I could use a size up or down with most yarn.
Maybe it would be better to do the straight needle circle scarf and sew it at the end just for the sake of doing something simple and quick?
You are right about having an in progress note, he would like that as well, but I am going to try. My wrists actually felt better just a day or so after the shot. I am just doing a lot of stretching, and when I take breaks I ice my wrist just in case to prevent swelling or inflammation.
I am going to try some basic knitting in the round to see how hard it is. If it is too difficult I will go with the Youtube tutorial on straight needles.
Really, don’t I just need to knit a scarf and sew it together? So, I could create a ribbed pattern on each end and just knit for the center so it lies flat?
Knitting in the round isn’t difficult but when you join, remember what Claire said, make sure not to twist the row of sts. When you knit in the round, you’ll get stockinette stitch by knitting every round unlike flat knitting where you’d have to knit a row, purl a row.
You could certainly knit a scarf and sew the ends together. Seed stitch or garter stitch in a deep border at the edges will reduce the probem of curling. A little of curliing won’t be such a problem on a cowl since ti tends to collapse on itself anyway.
