Hi! I’m going to try a sweater again. And short rows again.
Here is the pattern:
and I’m reading the pattern and marking for my size and I’m not positive I understand this part. It looks like, after I’ve done the neck ribbing, I think I knit two, make one left and then do that 50 times. Do I turn after each k2 m1L? so I’m going back and forth? Or is that just a straight row that sets up the short rows? Then the next instructions I understand. It’s dividing the sections. Then the section after that is the actual short rows. So I’m confused what all the M1L is for? And do you have a M1L that you like?
This is a round to rapidly increase sts before the short rows. Work (k2, M1L) and repeat 50 times with no turn. You’re working along the round to the end of round as you increase. The increases will get you to the measurement in inches that you need for the body of the sweater after the ribbing.
M1L is a specific increase that occurs between sts (It won’t use up a stitch.) It’s a very nice increase but you could substitute any increase between sts.
I have this sweater in my favorites. It’s a classic!
You have no idea how great that makes me feel! I looked and looked for a simple sweater. I have knit two before but neither fit well and I gave both away. This time, I’m using Lion’s Brand yarn, which was so affordable, and I feel less invested in it. When the yarn you’re using is $30 a skein….it gets so nerve-wracking. I’m very excited to get started. Thank you for your help! I’ll post pics when I’m done. And I’m still thinking about that pink Lovebird yarn. It’s a yarn I like just as much knit up as I do in the skein. THANK YOU!
Oh shoot, I have one more question. What length cable would you start with? I’m making the 2xl as I want it to be big and slouchy on me. I’ll start with 104 sts for the neck. Will I start small and then have to switch to a bigger cable eventually? Thanks!
Yes, start with a smaller circular (or two circulars or magic loop) for the neck rib then when you work the increase row, go to a longer circular. You’ll be able to judge the length of circular when you see the sts for the rib.
Good luck with this one. It looks like a very nice pattern and a lovely outcome!
As a budget knitter I think you’ve made a good decision to use a more budget friendly yarn and reduce the anxiety over the outcome. Knitting is known as being relaxing but i think it can bring up all sorts of anxieties like anything else. Empty needles are a bit like the blank page for an artist or writer, everything is possible but there is pressure to produce something great. All the most successul artists and writers have worked out that the first scribbles don’t have to be perfect, that redrafting is vital to the process. It’s an approach we can use in knitting too. There is much less pressure to ‘get it right’ when the yarn is a lower cost, it allows a bit more flexibility, ripping back, redoing, changing, without stressing out about the yarn getting damaged.
Fit is soooo tricky, every design fits differently, every body is a different shape, everyone has different preferences for fit. There is almost always some part of a sweater that i think could have been different or fit better… but there was never a perfect fit from shop bought sweaters either.
I’m at short rows. Everything is set up and I have placed 4 more markers separating the back/front and sleeves. I also have a BOR marker.
I’m at BOR and the next marker is for the sleeves (I assume I’m at the middle of the front right now) the pattern says:
*K to 1st before marker, m1R, K1, sm, K1, m1L* repeat once more K2 st, turn work.
My question, when I start at the BOR, my next marker seems like it’s for the sleeves. There are 18 sts between the next marker and the one after that. I thought short rows was at the back of the neck? Is it at the sleeves?
I’m sure this is a stupid question, I should just blindly follow the pattern but…that has gotten me into a mess with a bad pattern before so I want to make sure.
Your beginning of round marker is at the back/left sleeve between the left sleeve and the back. When you knit to the first marker you’re knitting to the back/right sleeve marker (marker 1) then follow the directions to knit, increase and slip marker at the right sleeve/front join (marker 2) increase and k2 then turn. You’ll be turning part way into the front sts and working back over the sleeve, back and sleeve. The short rows will be at the back as you expected.
So sorry! More questions. I have 5v markers on this sweater. Two for each sleeve and one in the middle of the back. I did my first short row, worked each side of two markers for the right sleeve. Now I’m on row two. I do understand the stitches…but it says all the short row stuff…And I’m at the front of the right sleeve here, it says to: wyif SL1 purl wise…etc short row stuff…P to BOR. Is that the actual beginning of round? Like in the middle of the back of the sweater?
In the photo I’m at the arrow and about to purl back to the orange BOR marker. Is this were I’m heading?
and now I understand where I’m going. I did one shoulder and now I’m knitting to the other and I go back and forth. I was always under the impression that short rows were just a small wedge at the back of the neck. So that’s why I was so confused. I’m so relieved!!!
The absolute best! You answered your own question. Yes, short rows often extend into the front of the sweater.
There should only be 4 markers, markers 1,2,3 and the BOR.
Set Up Round B: *K 25 (28, 32, 32, 33, 36, 38)(40, 43,
44, 46, 47, 47)(52, 59, 62, 63, 64), pm, K 8 (8, 10, 10, 10,
12, 12)(14, 14, 16, 16, 16, 16)(16, 18, 18, 18, 18), pm,
repeat from * once more. (Use the BOR marker as the fourth marker).
Well, I have 5. haha. I’ll look back at the pattern and see where I went wrong but it’s too late now!
But yes, I figured it out. And I even got lost (really lost) and I set it down for a minute, had some chocolate and sat back down and really looked at my stitches and found my way.
Thanks so much for ALWAYS being here to patiently answer questions.
