Not really sure what I´m doing wrong

How-to Questions
1

but I know it´s not right!!!
I¨m working on this pattern

and I can`t seem to get the pattern looking right. Here is my ravelry link with some pix to show you what mine looks like.

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/heykaren/82-27-pullover-in-bomull-lin

It appears to be “twisting” by the yarn over holes, I¨m not getting the smooth line between the upper stockinette part and the lower rib part, and there is a “lump” in the back from the 2 stitches behind on the cable needle. :wink:

I´m sure there´s a simple explanation, but the pattern just hasn`t “clicked” with me yet. Any way of setting me straight?

Karen

2

The directions for the chart you posted are in Swedish. Do you have a translation for the directions?

3

looking at the photos (drops photo via link on ravelry, vs your photo’s on ravelry…)

the patter is for a top that has a bottom edge that is mostly reverse stocking knit,with some ribs.

then there is a “rib” that crosses over the the lower ribs (this is done by K2tog) and after that, there is a YO, to make a lace like line that is parallel to the diagonal rib

[B]the cross rib[/B], starts at Lower left corner of front and moves to right

so you work across most of the row, then you’ll make right (//) leaning decrease (and every row, you the cross rib gets closer and closer to the right side)

[COLOR=Blue][I]For many/most knitters, a right leaning decrease is a K2tog. (are you perhaps–([B]do you know!?)[/B]a combo knitter?

(do you knit into the back loop of a knit stitch?–see Glumparina, or Anne Modisetts blogs–or search the web for info on Combo (combination knitting)

[/I][COLOR=Black][COLOR=Blue]Your decrease look backwards (ie they are left leaning-- that is they slant \) in the ravelry photo-- not to the right //[/COLOR]

in the drops photo, is clear that after there are 2 knit stitches after the K2tog direction.
And then you make a YO,(increase) --to compensate for the K2tog (decrease) --to keep the stitch count right
and continue in stocking knit.

I am 90% or so sure the problem is your decreases…

[B]Combination knitting [/B](a perfectly valid style) uses reverse decreases.

in European kniting, (english and continental) a K2tog leans to right–//

In combo knitting a k2tog leans to left \ (and see how your stitches/decreases are slanting to the left?)

to keep track of what to do when, look at the directions…

K[COLOR=Red][B]2[/B][/COLOR]tog–look at the [COLOR=Red]2[/COLOR]… see how, in the number [COLOR=Red]2[/COLOR], the slant from the top to the bottom the slant is /
–if the directions say [COLOR=Red]K2tog,[/COLOR] the result will be a decrease that slants to right //

now look at the direction shorthand [COLOR=Red][B]SS[/B][/COLOR]K (for a left leaning decrease)

see the slant in the [COLOR=Red]S[/COLOR]? is is left leaning… (less so in this font than others… but…)

directions for a [COLOR=Red]SSK[/COLOR] will create a left leaning decrease.

if you are a combo knitter, you can learn to visualize what slant is required (left leaning or right leaning)

(you’ll do the opposite!)
[/COLOR][/COLOR]

4

OK, let´s see…
Ingrid, the directions on the chart are in Swedish, but there is a key in english below the part that says “Pattern: see charts”

Now, I´m wondering if the problem is the fact that I´m left handed and have learned to knit from left to right ( I would imagine that most people knit from right to left? ) The directions call for a P2tog, maybe it should be a K2tog? What I¨m doing is knitting from left to right, and the row that starts the pattern, I´m putting 2 stitches on a cable needle, knitting 3 and then P2tog with the stitches behind on the cable needle, then 2 YO´s and then carrying on with the rib pattern.

This is very frustrating, I´m sure there´s a very simple solution and I WILL PERSEVERE!!!

Karen

could it be that I need to put the 2 stitches IN FRONT of the work and then K2tog instead of P2tog?

5

try charting–

Row 1 is something like this.
V=Knits, O=Yo, //=2 cabled stitches, u=purl
[B]VVOVV//uuuuVVuuuuVVuuuuVVuuuuVV[/B]

Row 2=knit the knits, purl the purls

Row 3 (blue)
[COLOR=Blue]VVVVOVV//uuVVuuuuVVuuuuVVuuuuVV[/COLOR]
VVOVV//uuuuVVuuuuVVuuuuVVuuuuVV

(now this is just a guestimate, looking at the photo found on Ravelry link… but its close)

and you are knitting

vvVVOVV[B]\[/B]uuVVuuuuVVuuuuVVuuuuVV
VVOVV[B]\[/B]uuuuVVuuuuVVuuuuVVuuuuVV
(that much is very clear in your Ravelry photo’s!)
so the problem is definately the cable…

cast on 30 or so stitches, (that is about as many as i have charted) and practice with a swatch.
I could, know sitting next to you, show you exactly what you need to do… (i can knit backwards (or true lefthanded) but i can’t think (and translate into english ) the exact directions!

(i have dyslexia, it plays havoc with my right and left thinking as well as with spelling and reading!)

6

The directions call for a P2tog, maybe it should be a K2tog?

No, that shouldn’t have anything to do with it, they want you to end up with a purled st there. But you might try SSP - slip, slip, purl both tog. It slants differently than just a p2tog. Or you may try putting the sts on the cable needle in front and doing it that way. Experiment on a swatch, and see what works better and ends up like the pattern.

7

Of troy,
You´re welcome to come on over and sit next to me and see what I¨m doing wrong. You´ll need a plane ticket to Spain first though…

Using your charting method, what I¨m doing is this for row 4:
edge stitch, VVV//OO,uuVVuuuuVVuuuuVV etc. but before the first 3V I take the 2 stitches behind to purl later

Thank you both, Of troy and suzeeq ( you´ve helped me out before, always grateful! :wink: ) It´s almost 11P here now and I need to work first shift tomorrow, so I¨m on my way to bed, but you can bet I¨ll be trying your suggestions tomorrow because I MUST figure this out ( I can be most stubborn at times… )

Thanks bunches!!! :muah:

Karen

8

spain? are you near barcellonia? I have cousins in barcellonia…
(She ran afoul of the US immigration (nasty words here about US immigration) so my cousin joined her in Spain… (he, like me, is first generation american --now living in spain with wife and sons.) --i could visit… (not likely to happen… but…)

9

We´re on the east coast like Barcelona, but we live further south below Valencia in the part that juts out in a VERRRRY small town between two mountains.

I´m off to go play with my project and see if I can get this silly thing going…

Karen