I taught myself to knit a few weeks ago, and just finished a simple garter st scarf using size 19 straight needles. I want to make an afghan for my sis next and am considering this free pattern: Arctic Throw
Here are my questions:
Do you think this pattern is easy enough for a second project?
What does it mean when the pattern says “Do not join” soon after the step to cast on 141 sts?
When the pattern says to end on the WS, how do I do that?
I couldn’t understand the comments under the Note section very well, can someone translate it to beginner language for me?
The pattern is listed as ‘very easy’ so you should be able to handle it! Make sure you know how to do a yo (yarn over) and a K3tog and you should be good to go. It is a 2 row repeat for the whole thing so once you get the hang of it, by the end it WILL be very easy.
This pattern suggests using a circular needle. You will not be knitting circularly though, you will be knitting back and forth just like you would on straight needles. It says ‘do not join’ just to make sure you know that you will not be knitting in the round. Afghan patterns often ask you to use circular needles because a) they can hold a LOT more stitches than straight needles, and b) they weight of your work is a lot more manageable and less strain on your hands and wrists when using circular needles.
Row 1 of your pattern is the right side (RS) and row 2 of your pattern is the wrong side (WS). It says to work 6 rows, end on WS, and all that means is that the last row you work of those 6 rows will be a WS row (row 2 of the pattern).
Color not in use may be carried up side of work. To do this, k the first st on each RS row with BOTH colors. Make sure when you work the next WS row that you work this double strand as one st. You are alternating between colours, and you do not have to cut the yarn at every colour change. You will knit the first stitch of every right side row with both strands of yarn (for example, the blue and the yellow together). Then when you come to that stitch on the return row it will have a loop of the blue and a loop of the yellow and it is crucial that you knit both of those loops together as one stitch. Do this at the beginning of every right side row and your yarn will be ‘carried up’ the side neatly.
When you knit the blue and yellow yarns together on that first stitch, you hold the two strands together as though they are one piece of yarn. you’re only making one stitch, just with 2 pieces of yarn held together.
When you come back to that stitch on the reverse side, there will be 2 pieces of yarn that make up that one stitch. you need to knit them as though they are one piece of yarn.
Thanks Knitqueen and Sandra Ellen, that is really helpful! I’ve ordered the yarn for this project… came to nearly $120. Very pricey but this is to be a special project so I went ahead and splurged.
Does K3tog mean the same as K2tog but with 3 sts?
One thing that I’ve found helpful when learning a new stitch pattern is to make a practice scarf out of similar-gauge yarn. That way when you start your big project, you’ll already be able to do the pattern in your sleep (and you get a scarf to boot!).
Hi! Sorry to be a bother, but I have started knitting this pattern and have a couple more questions:
I’ve finished the first 2 knit rows, and 2 pattern sequences (total 6 rows), and now I find I have 143 sts on my needle instead of 141… should I go on or should I unravel and re-knit from the beginning? I tried to find where I’ve added those sts but couldn’t figure it out
Does this afghan need to be blocked? It seems to curl in a bit on itself, could it be because I cast on too tightly?
Somewhere along the way you are increasing too many stitches. If you go on, the problem will probably continue and your pattern will not line up. You need to unravel and find what the problem is before you continue, unfortunately.
As for blocking, you’d be best to finish the project before deciding, but with the fiber content being mostly wool, the blanket will probably block nicely if need be.
One more thought…I kind of suspect that you are accidentally increasing stitches - meaning, you KNOW how to do all of the stitches but are unknowingly losing track somewhere along the way. I say this because you have increased from 141-143 stitches, having completed the row 1 instruction three times, yet you have only increased by two stitches so I think it may be just a matter of being more careful and even placing stitch markers in between pattern repeats so that you can more easily spot where mistakes are made, and not that you are consistently doing a stitch wrong.
Thank you so much for your reply, knitqueen.
I took your suggestion and unraveled the work and restarted it. I also placed stitch markers this time and it’s so much easier to keep track. I made a mistake last night, but caught it right away thanks to the markers. So, thanks again!
I noticed that my purl tension is much looser than my knit. Will this be a problem? And how do you decide if a finished garmet needs to be blocked?
