I have searched and searched the internet, but while there are many helpful instructions for reinserting needles, and inserting lifelines into stockinette, I can’t find anything for ribbing.
I have a sock with k1p1 ribbing going. Yes, I can just start the whole thing over. But after numerous, numerous, numerous interruptions from my 2 kids, along with my own primitive attempt to design a ruffled cuff to my liking, it has taken me about 2 hours to do 2 inches of freakin ribbing!
There was a complete mess up (don’t ask), and I yanked the needles out in frustration. Thought I’d just put them back in again. Ho ho ho. I am now trying to insert a lifeline, but the purl part of the ribbing is making my head spin.
Does anyone know where I can find pictures/photos of exactly how to weave the darn needle in and out of the ribbing?
Basically, when you put a needle back into knitting, the goal is simply to get the sts on the needle any way you can. You can reorient them to the proper position as you come to them when reknitting. If you know how they’re supposed to look (usually the right leg to the front of the needle) there’s little difficulty in getting them straightened out again.
Technically going through the back of the stitch usually orients them correctly, but like Sue said get them on there any way you can. When they are on their you can fix them by knitting into the back of the stitch. Here’s some pictures I made for this for the knit stitches. For purls you come up from behind the stitch. There is info on knitting into the back of a purl stitch here. Check the glossary.
Orienting them once they are on isn’t the problem. Alas, it is getting the purls back on that is the problem. Because they are squashed between the knits, and because they slip out of each other so easily, I am having a really hard time just seeing exactly what I am supposed to be picking up. Just for the purl parts of the ribbing. So I have been looking for a good picture of a needle picking up a purl stitch that is squashed between 2 knit stitches. That are also off the needle! Which is probably a tall order!!!
Thinking I’ll just start over–it will be faster as long as I can lock the kids up. But I do enjoy figuring out how to fix problems, so if I can figure this one out, I’ll be pleased
If you are using interchangeable needles use the smallest needle your set has to pick up the stitches. Smallest needle on the pickup end of the cable and the correct size on the other end of the cable. Once all the stitches are on the needles replace the small needle with the correct size needle.
I don’t do double point often but you should be able to use your smallest DP to pick up the stitches and then knit with the correct size needle replacing the smaller DP needles as you knit the stitches off of them.
Not that I have every dropped stitches I have also “heard” that when you come to some difficult stitches to pick up, go to the first two stitches past difficult stitches that look easy to pick up. Put a cable needle into these two stitches so you do not pull them out. Use a crochet hook to pick up the difficult stitches and put them on your needle. Once the former difficult stitches are on your needle transfer the stitches from the cable needle and continue on.
Yep, agree about using a smaller needle if you can. It’s way easier. Also just sort squeeze or flatten the rib to pick up the purls. It makes them easier to see.
Another thought would be to pickup the stitches from the row just below the last. The yarn from the last row should be holding the stitches in position on the next to last row. Put the needle in the stitch below the last “knit stitch”. This is the one with the yarn leading to the ball. Gently pull the yarn from the stitch leaving the second row stitch on the needle. Repeat until all stitches are picked up.
One problem I have when picking up ribbing stitches is that the knits lean front and the purls lean back, so you’re continually going back and forth to pick them up. AND, you can’t pull too hard on any of the stitches or the others “run” down a stitch or two. You can pick those up, too, but they’re more of a pain than if you manage to catch them right away.
Ah yes cftwo! That was exactly the problem. They look like a king’s crown, and are so very unstable to the touch/pick.
Great tip about the cable a few stitches ahead!
I finally got them…I think. Then decided to rip it out anyway so I can rethink my cuff and leg design. I then tried to rip just to my ruffle, so I wouldn’t have to redo it. But…well…um.
Time to cast on those 120 teeny stitches again. This time I really swear I’m gonna use markers so I don’t have to recount every single time a young child interrupts me. Which is a lot.
Definitely use a smaller needle to pick up the sts. Even if you don’t have an interchangeable set, just use one that’s at least a size smaller, 2 or 3 sizes is easier. And unraveling to the row above where you need to works - then ‘unknit’ that round to where you need to fix it.
Here’s a ruffle like you are doing: http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns2/socks/maizy-ruffled-socks.html
The top ruffle is the beginning of the sock, cast on 160 then decreased down to 56. the 2nd ruffle is picked up after sock is done, then increased up to 160. Thought seeing this might help.
