Rows getting longer as I go

#1

This could only happen to me. :nails:
I started a scarf and it was to be a very narrow scarf, around 30 stitches cast-on, maybe less.

Now that I’m way down the scarf, I see that it gets wider and wider as it goes and I have no idea what I did to cause this. I wouldn’t even [B][U]know how [/U][/B]to do that if I was instructed to do it.

Is there a way to fix this or even help it a little bit? If there is, I hope it’s something I could do without much knowledge about repair. If there isn’t, how can I figure out what’s happening so I can stop going wider the rest of the way?

Thank you,
Pauline

#2

You’re not the only one this happens to, Pauline, believe me. We all see it at one time or another.
What stitch pattern are you using and how many sts do you have on the needles now?
Can you tell if the scarf is getting wider at both edges or only at one edge? Can you see where the extra sts are?

#3

Thank you for replying. I am knitting 2 knit stitches at each end, then stockinette for the rest of the row. I don’t remember doing anything different on any row.

I’m not good at counting stitches after they’re knitted but I started out at about 28-30 stitches and now I have 38 stitches on the needle. The scarf is at 20 inches long now and I can see that the widening began at about 9 inches and I didn’t even notice.

#4

Been there, done that! (You should see the very first project I ever did. Heck, you should see any lace project I ever do.)

Can you read your stitching well enough to see if the columns of stitches are wonky at the edges or in the center? Are there any unusual holes in the center section?

One common reason when knitting flat is pulling the yarn from the back (and thus over the needle) after you change directions.

A stitch has the yarn that goes over the needle, plus two “legs” underneath it from the previous row. When flipping the scarf around to work back, you could be pulling the yarn from the back side of the work, which has the effect of pulling the new single stitch down and the two legs up. If you knit the legs instead of the stitch, you now have two stitches, instead of one.

When you turn the scarf around, you should be looking at a purl stitch (since you ended the previous round on a knit), and the yarn should go under the needle to take it to the back to do your knit stitch, not over.

(I was trying to find a picture of this as it’s much easier to show someone than tell. There’s a great illustration in [U]Stitch 'N Bitch[/U]. Hoping I got that link right to take you to it.)

#5

Okay, I know that after 20 inches of knitting this, there is no way out except to begin again.

Does this sound like it would turn out okay with smooth edges?
[B]Cast on 28 stitches
K first 4 rows
Next row: K 4 - Stockinette 20 - K last 4 rows
[/B]Does that leave me enough stockinette to get a good look?

Sorry, I’m not good at writing down a pattern, but hopefully, you can understand it.

Thanks

#6

Okay, I know that after 20 inches of knitting this, there is no way out except to begin again.

Does this sound like it would turn out okay with smooth edges?
[B]Cast on 28 stitches
K Rows first 5 rows (or would that be 4 because of the cast on row?)
K 4 rows then Stockinette last 4 rows.

K last 5 rows
[/B]Does that leave me enough stockinette to get a good look?

Sorry, I’m not good at writing down a pattern, but hopefully, you can understand it.

BTW I plan to count the stitches on rows this time!

#7

Thank you, Lewister, I need all the help I can get.

#8

By smooth, I assume you mean non-curling? Your plan would work just great for that. Just enough garter all the way around to keep things from curling.

And counting every row sounds like a good plan. I did that for a while until I learned to read my stitches. (Plus, I started mostly doing in the round projects and there’s no end of row to accidentally add a stitch on.)

Good luck with this next attempt! I’m sure it will be great.

#9

Great I’m glad because I have it started and I see that is looking pretty good. So far.

#10

We actually used to have a sticky at the top of the page for this it happened so often. Try giving the material a little tug before you start a new row to be sure you are knitting into the right part of the first stitch.

#11

Sounds like a great plan!! You will want to be careful when changing from Knit to Purl and from Purl to Knit that tou don’t accidentally add a stitch. Keep going and you’ll do great!

Knitcindy