The pattern I’m working on instructed me to cast off all but 12 of my stitches. The 12 remaining live stitches are in the middle of the work. My next step is to “reattach main color to the first live stitch at the right of the end and cast on an additional 23 stitches”.
I’ve used more than 1 color of yarn in many patterns before, but since the next part of this project is going to be knit in the round I don’t want there to be holes, gaps, etc in the work at the point where I reattach the yarn and cast on new stitches. None of my online searches have provided any answers. Any help anyone here could provide would be appreciated.
A cable or knit cast on works very well in these situations. Leave a long enough tail so that you can weave it in and close up the join between the two colors. You shouldn’t leave a gap or hole that way. What is it that you’re making? Can you give a link to the pattern or to a picture?
salmonmac, the way the OP’s instructions are presented I was wondering if the “reattach main color to the first live stitch” means to knit (or purl) with the new color in that stitch. I left this with no comment earlier partly because I hadn’t gotten enough caffeine in my system yet and now I’m glad I skipped it.
It is a bit confusing. I thought the instructions and some idea of the project would help too.
Here is a pic of the project. It’s a cocoon with nursing cover attached to it and is meant to be knit in one piece. Unfortunately I do not have a link to the pattern that I can share. I can try to scan at least part of it into my computer to attach, but in the meantime hope this picture will help. I’m at the point where I’ve finished the cover at the top of the project and am ready to start the cocoon. The instructions do NOT say to knit a row before casting on additional stitches, just to reattach the main color yarn to the first live stitch and cast on additional stitches.
This part of the instructions is vague and there is no additional resource provided for a more detailed explanation. Aside from being temporarily stuck what’s so frustrating is that I know once I get past this point I’ll be able to complete the project in almost no time.
Ok, thanks so much for the picture and description. Follow the directions and attach the new yarn to the right of the stitch on the right in your picture and do the cast on. From there on, I’m not sure but you may continue join in the round to the 12 live sts and then knit in the round for the rest of the cocoon. It’s a nice idea and looks like a very useful project.
Don’t attach the whole pattern as that may cause copyright problems but if it’s still confusing, you could give us the next directions.
Salmonmac - the problem is that I don’t know HOW to reattach the yarn. From there I’m not too worried about figuring it out, I just don’t know to reattach the yarn.
What I think I would do: I would use the new yarn to knit into the last stitch which I would place on the needle next to the stitch I had knit into. I would then proceed as normal for knitted or cable cast on. If I’m off base, I’m confident this will be pointed out and TIA for any correction needed.
You could do that or cast on the first stitch with both the old tail of yarn and the new color or you could just hold the yarn tail as you cast on the new sts. On the next row, the two colors will be joined together. The join will look a little loose but you have the yarn end to snug it up and the succeeding rows will strengthen the join. Weaving in the ends will tighten the join too.
If you want, instead of starting the knit or the cable cast on with a slip knot, you could start with one leg of the last cast off stitch. I’m not sure if this will leave a small hole though.
There is no tail off yarn attached to the live stitches as everything around the on both sides were cast off.
Then just hold the new yarn tail in place, cast on the new sts and follow the next pattern directions. You’ll join the cast on to the live sts on the succeeding rows and weave the tail in later. That’ll cover any gap between the cast on and the live sts.