Sleeve length issues

#1

Is there a trick to getting sleeves to match in length and dimension?

If you are going to tell me to read the instructions, I have - in fact I have even charted the vague instructions into a chart with MS Excel.

The problem lies with the vague instructions…

With 4 1/2 mm needles cast on 32 sts
K2 rows
change to 5mm needles
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows in st st.
Inc row (right side) Inc one st, k to last stich inc one st.
beg with a p row, work 5 rows st st.
Cont in st st and ince as before on next and every foll 6th row until there are 44 sts.
Cont straight until sleve measures 16 cm from cast on edge
ending with a p row, cast off.

I wish she told me how many rows the whole thing was. I frogged both sleeves and will start over tommorow. Can anyone suggest a better approach for getting both sleeves to look alike?:pout:

Thank you so much!
-Jennifer

#2

Knit them at the same time. Just be sure to use different strands of yarn for each so you don’t knit them together.

sue

#3

Knitting at the same time is a good idea if you have enough needles. I also keep track of every row on a piece of paper. Yes, it’s time consuming, but less so than frogging and starting over. :teehee:

#4

It’s not a very detailed pattern, so everything’s there that’s needed. In the event the knitter opted for a diff yarn, resulting in a diff gauge, number of rows is less helpful but all gauges can be measured (inches or cms).

Another vote for keeping track of rows. I use ledger paper. (I also knit both sleeves at the same time on circs to ensure they’re exactly the same.) Just mark your 6 rows (vertically on the paper): K (inc), P, K, P, K, P and place a tick after each is completed. Repeat until the req’s sts.

BTW, rather than doing your increases in the first and last, you might want to do them in 2nd or 3rd. Doesn’t impact your selvage sts when seaming.

cam

#5

Yes, many people knit both sleeves at the same time on a single set of needles (next to each other). Circulars may help if you don’t like having so many stitches on straights.
Sarah

#6

Here’s the kicker,
I had been keeping track of rows carefully on the chart that I plotted with my computer. Perhaps I wasn’t careful enough. I think I will try to knit them at the same time and do a better job keeping track.

Thank you ladies (and Gents!)

you can download the chart from here, to see how I created a chart with excel.

http://www.grobe.ca/debbieblisssweatersleeve.xls