So, this is the first thing I’ve knitted and I’m determined to do it. Its got a knit 1 ; purl 1 pattern and I did the first row and it looked lovely. However when I hit the second row I hit a problem. I would upload photos but unfortunetly my camera has chosed today to the day it stops working. :doh: But the problems are these:
As I start the second row of knit 1 ; purl 1, I knit one, as insturcted however, it doesn’t seem to want to tighten. So I pull the string and it tightens and begin to purl one. However, as I start the first purl of the second row it gets tangeld and messy, and not tight, so I try to tighten it does. Then as I knit and purl more it just because more and more messy and tangeled and the yarn gets worn down. Also, there ends up being two strings across from the two needles, one tight and one very loose.
I haven’t got a clue in Scotland how to knit or purl in a slip knot. Any help here?
Well… are you putting the yarn in front to purl and in back to knit? Do you move the yarn between the needle tips and not over the needle? Check out the ribbing video under Basic stitch patterns under Tips and see if that’s how you’re doing it. Also you should have an even number of sts for this pattern and it won’t look a lot like ribbing until you have a few rows done.
It’s hard to tell without watching you knit or seeing pictures, but I know for me personally I can’t judge my work until a few rows in. The first few are always tight and messy looking but then it evens out nicely as the piece grows from my needles.
That first st can tend to be quite loose. Tightening it is good, but sometimes that can bring the st from the previous row around to the purl side (it will sort itself out as you go though). That could be what is throwing you off. Otherwise, as others had said, seeing the problem might help.
A silly thing that nonetheless helped me when I was starting, is that after turning your work, just arrange your working yarn first. I would turn the needles around, straighten the yarn towards the back a bit (or the front, depending on the st you need), and really concentrate on the first few sts. I didn’t think it would matter, because it’s the same as on the first row, but sometimes doing that would help. Even in the middle of rows sometimes.
As for knitting/purling into a slip knot, it’s exactly the same as any other st. It’s a loop around the needle, so treat it the same. If you made it really tight to stay on the needle, you’ll have to finesse it a bit though.
One thing about knitting into that first st on the row… pull the yarn off to the side a little. Too often people pull it to the back over the top of the needles which pulls up the stitch so that it looks like 2 sts. If that’s what’s happening, then it can throw off your ribbing.
Stitch count is important. How many did you start with and how many do you have now?
Ok, this is whats happened. I’ll do the first row and it looks like its really getting some where. And as you know, after you do the first row you have that small kind of bump going along where each stitch is? When I start the second row THAT is loose. So I pull the yarn still attached the ball of yarn and it tightens. But each time I move onto a new stitch its loose and it hangs in several diffrent threads away from the needle. And when I try to tighten it, it just gets really tangeled and messy. And sometimes won’t tighten at all.
EDIT: I’m fixing my camera right now, so when it is fixed, I’ll record what I do and point out whats wrong.
EDIT: Here the link. Sorry its such a bad vid. But hopefully it’ll explain it well.
Oooooooooooopps. Thats embarssing. Me and my dorky friends.
Nevermind then. I guess I’ll have to figure it out on my own:S.