Hi,
Total newbie knitter here. I’m using the Long Loom to single knit a multicolored scarf but my prototype curled up into a tube and wouldn’t lay flat.
I’ve checked message boards and googled for assistance but I need confirmation.
I was told it was my use of only a knit stitch and that if I just knit one row, purl one row this should solve the problem. Someone else said I should also finish each row with a purl stitch before moving on.
This is supposed to be a Christmas gift for my Son who is, like his mother a HUGE Doctor Who fan… (I’m making him the 4th Doctor’s Scarf).
Since I am brand new to this experience… I don’t want to have to knit 8 inches of scarf to discover if this is working or not.
Can someone please do me a solid and confirm that this IS in fact what I need to do?
And please, I beg of you… use “Dumb down” speak because I really don’t yet have a handle on all of the terms. But I do have access to youtube tutorials. LOL
Hi and welcome to knitting and to KnittingHelp!
If you’re using the long loom to knit a tube then I would think that even all knit stitches around the tube wouldn’t curl. You might not get a flat fold at the sides however if that’s the problem. Nevertheless, knitting one row and purling one row as a tube will give you garter stitch which is a nice flat stitch. The edges may not fold flat but it won’t tend to curl.
I’m not sure what your stitch looks like or what a long loom is or does. But I will say that stockinette stitch curls. Even putting a border on it it can still curl some.
If your stitch looks like bumps on one side and smooth V’s on the other that is stockinette so it will curl. Think most of the Dr. who scarves I’ve seen have been garter stitch which won’t curl. Some may have been knit in the round.
Garter stitch knit flat is all knit stitches on both sides.
Stockinette knit flat is one row knit, one row purl. Knit in the round it’s all knit.
So it depends on your loom. Does it knit flat or in the round.
The loom I’m using is rectangular in shape not a round loom. The company is Boye. They actually call this thing a “Scarf Loom”
I’m basically only using one side of the rectangular loom (not both sides of pegs) on the rectangle. So I guess that means I was attempting to knit flat? I’m not tubing it. The edges of the scarf just curl up into what looks like a tube. (I wish they had an icon for Ripping your hair out. LOL)
And I wasn’t combining any stitches while doing this. I was using only a knit stitch… no purling.
so…am I correctly interpreting that what I should be doing for a flat scarf is to knit one row, purl one row, repeat?
Sorry again for the lack of comprehension… I’m one of those people who learns by doing so the learning curve on this is a little challenging.
:hair: There, I can’t put it in your post, but that’s your icon.
Yes, alternating rows of knits and purls makes garter stitch. You might try looking at youtube for some help too. Various loom might look a bit different but it seems they all work in the same way. I’ve seen things about how to loom knit a scarf there. Also, searching on [I]knitting board[/I] might produce useful results. Whatever you do, I hope you keep us updated on your progress.
Yep, that’s exactly the problem. You’re creating stockinette and stockinette curls. So you’ll need to create garter stitch by knitting one row and purling the next.
And yes we have :hair: a hair pulling emoticon. We all feel this way sometimes! :teehee:
The scarf is going well. It’s not perfect but I am sure that’s the learning curve. It’s flat and that’s wonderful.
I now have a different quandary I need to beg your wisdoms on.
Using the scarf loom… one edge of the scarf is nice and tight while the opposite edge is all loosy goosy… Is this normal or am I again… missing some important stitching technique to keep the edges uniform?
In hand knitting you could slip the first stitch of each row. That gives you a nice chain up each edge. I’m not sure if you can do that on the loom or not or if that will solve the loose stitch probllem, but you might see if it’s possible.
Thanks to everyone for the help on my project. For a first time ever piece, it came together okay. The Son was thrilled with it. I’m attaching a pic of the finished project.
I’m already coming up with ways to tweak it to make a better version for next year.
Currently working on my first knitting project, as so happens it’s the 4th Dr’s scarf as well, my first Dr.
The project is coming along nicely, doing it using round needles.
I did have a question, I was under the impression garter stitch was a knit stitch that repeated no matter the side. For mine I’ve been doing a knit stitch on both sides which others have posted is stockinette and tends to curl, there is zero curl to my scarf.
Old pic note how I picked up and lost stitches in that first foot long section, the next two feet are much more uniform, as this section will be below knee level I wasn’t much concerned with the unevenness of it nor the color change mishap I had there.
Looks excellent! Yes, garter stitch is a very nice stitch for scarves because it lies flat and doesn’t curl. You can even do garter stitch by purling every row.
Yep, if you’re knitting flat then this is correct.
If you were to knit in the round you only have to knit (no purls) since you’re never working on the back as a rule. For garter stitch in the round you have to knit a row, purl a row, etc.
When you knit in the round and knit every ‘round’ (as oppose to ‘row’) you get stockinette. Knitting every row when working flat or back and forth you get garter stitch.
But I do have access to youtube tutorials. LOL
