Question about pattern in SKS

#1

I’m knitting the Garter Rib sock in Sensational Knitted Socks (page 33), using the ML. On page 34 the pattern states
"Rearrange sts to center patt over instep. Unknit last purl st of rnd and then: Move unknit purled st from needle 2 to needle 1, and at the other end 1 st from needle 1 to needle 2."

I understand how to do this, and have done it, but wonder why it is necessary. Wouldn’t the result be same if I just left the stitches where they are, as long as I used the correct number for the heel flap?

#2

I thought the patterns were only for DPNs and 2 circs in that book…:think:

I’m not positive about the answer. I do know that some patterns look best when centered so they’d want you to do that to make sure it looks good. I’m a little confused myself here… :zombie:

#3

Jan - I think she just adapted it to work on ML.

Julie - They want you to center the pattern over the instep and leave all the heel flap st on one needle since you’re going back and forth and not in the round at this point. If you left the one st behind (where it was to begin with), I’m not sure if that would even work with going back and forth, and I know I would be way confused when I started to turn the heel. If you stop your pattern before the instep and did all stockinette, you could just leave it though.

#4

[quote=Jan in CA;1023378]I thought the patterns were only for DPNs and 2 circs in that book…:think:

They are, but I ws told at my knitting group that I could use the directions for 2 circs for ML. Has anybody used these patterns for ML or am I hopelessly messed up. I have 2 socks, on separate needles, done u from the cuff to the heel and would hate to frog it all.:?? :?? :??

#5

Thank krazy4katz. Now that you’ve explained it I can see that the pattern on the instep would be a stitch off if I didn’t switch that stitch. Is there anything I need to change to do ML rather than 2 circs? I had figured I could just use one needle like one pair of circs and the other needle like the 2nd pair of circs, but since I’ve never used 2 circs, maybe that won’t work.
:??

#6

You can follow the 2 circ directions for ML. If you were doing a pattern written for 5 DPNs, one needle end of ML would be Needles 1 & 4, the other ML end would be Needles 2 & 3. If you were doing a pattern written for 4 DPNs, one needle end of ML would be Needles 1 & 3, the other ML end would be Needles 2. If you are doing a DPN pattern on 2 circs or ML, sometimes it helps to place a marker where needle would change in the DPN pattern, so you can follow easier. So, for example, on one ML needle you’d have all the st for the original Needle 1, a marker, then all the st for Needle 4.

It may help also to look at the directions the book has for the DPNs and compare them to the directions for 2 circs - then you get an idea of what has to be done on other patterns that are just written for DPNs.