Pattern help!

I’m new here, but I have a question I hope some of you wise knitters will be able to help me with. I am working on a Debbie Bliss pattern for a baby shrug. Earlier in my knitting, I was instructed to split the yarn for the front, leaving the other side stitches on a spare needle. Easy enough. I then continued on with the stitches I had left until I reached their end. I have now been instructed to leave these stitches on a holder and begin work on the other side. The exact instructions read, “Leave remaining stitches on a holder. With wrong side facing, join yarn to remaining stitches on spare needle…”

My question is, how do I leave stitches on a holder without binding off, and then join the yarn if the two fronts aren’t supposed to be joined?

Thanks for all your help!

Read further in the pattern. After you get the second part done is there an instruction to graft or weave the 2 sides together?

sue

no - after i get the second part done (the second front and sleeve), i will have a second set of stitches on a holder. i am supposed to knit the second set of stitches from the holder, then pick up and knit along the edge until i get to the first set of stitches on the holder (basically putting a ribbing around the edge). i just don’t know how i’m supposed to cut the yarn after the first side and join the yarn to work the second side if i don’t bind off those few stitches left on the holder.

You don’t have to bind them off. You can cut the yarn (leaving a 6" tail) and leave those. Use the end to work on your 2nd side which probably won’t have the stitches on a holder, but still on your needles. Then you’ll be picking up the stitches along the edge and knitting the 1st set from their holder and doing the ribbed edge.

sue

thank you so much! one other quick question - how do i keep the stitches from coming undone or falling off the holder after cutting the tail?

If the tail is long enough you don’t need to worry about it. I’ve never had stitches on a holder undo themselves. :wink: