SNH: sleeve help needed: a few questions

#1

hello again. :slight_smile:

still working on 3xchic from knitty. iā€™m starting the sleeves, which are started on #8 circs and then switched onto #10s. hereā€™s the sleeve pattern:

[size=2]

CO 28, (30, 32) sts using #8/5mm needles.
Work pattern as follows:
[WS]: p4 (5, 6), k2, p7 twice, k2, p4 (5, 6).
[RS]: k4 (5, 6), p2, k7 twice, p2, k4 (5, 6).
Work last two rows twice more [6 pattern rows completed].
Change to #10/6mm needles and continue sleeve, working increases as follows:
Small: INC 1 st each side every 6 rows 7 times then every 7 rows 3 times. [48 sts]
ā€¦
Work even in st st until piece measures 16.5 (17, 17.5) inches.
DEC 1 st each side every RS row 6 times. 36 (42, 48 ) stitches remain.
BO all stitches.
[/size]

so, my questions:

  1. can i knit the sleeves in the round? if so, how do i need to change the pattern to allow for things like seam allowance, increases, etc? i have denise needles, so i can change from 8s to 10s with no problem, and iā€™d rather knit in the round than do the seaming. i can handle switching the knits and purls since iā€™ll be doing all RS work, but iā€™m not sure about the other parts.

  2. iā€™m very confused about increasing in this pattern. i donā€™t know how/when to increase so that i maintain the rib pattern that gets established.

  3. i also donā€™t know when it says ā€œINC 1 st each sideā€ ā€¦ does that mean RS and WS, so every row, or does it mean at the start and end of each row so twice each increase row? it seems like the latter, because it says every 6 rows and otherwise that would be a very extreme increase. if it does mean at the start and end of each row, does it matter where in the row i put the increase? i guess that goes back to question two about maintaining the rib pattern.

  4. starting the sleeve with the #8s ā€¦ is that to give it a cuff and some more elasticity? i tend to prefer slightly looser sleeves that drape over my hands a bit. would i be better just going with the 10s the entire time?

i was so excited about starting the sleeves and now iā€™m just completely overwhelmed and jumbled up when i think about it. :?? iā€™d really appreciate some help.

thanks!

#2

Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 10:29 am Post subject: sleeve help needed: a few questions.

hello again.

still working on 3xchic from knitty. iā€™m starting the sleeves, which are started on #8 circs and then switched onto #10s. hereā€™s the sleeve pattern:

Quote:
CO 28, (30, 32) sts using #8/5mm needles.
Work pattern as follows:
[WS]: p4 (5, 6), k2, p7 twice, k2, p4 (5, 6).
[RS]: k4 (5, 6), p2, k7 twice, p2, k4 (5, 6).
Work last two rows twice more [6 pattern rows completed].
Change to #10/6mm needles and continue sleeve, working increases as follows:
Small: INC 1 st each side every 6 rows 7 times then every 7 rows 3 times. [48 sts]
ā€¦
Work even in st st until piece measures 16.5 (17, 17.5) inches.
DEC 1 st each side every RS row 6 times. 36 (42, 48 ) stitches remain.
BO all stitches.

so, my questions:

  1. can i knit the sleeves in the round? if so, how do i need to change the pattern to allow for things like seam allowance, increases, etc? i have denise needles, so i can change from 8s to 10s with no problem, and iā€™d rather knit in the round than do the seaming. i can handle switching the knits and purls since iā€™ll be doing all RS work, but iā€™m not sure about the other parts.

I think you can knit your sleeves in the round. From looking at the pattern, there seems to be one extra st for the seam allowance (where you have 8 p st, 4 side plus 4 on the other side if done flat, in what is otherwise a rib of P7, K2.
I would put all the increases exactly where they say otherwise, on either side of the seam, or if in the round, on either side of the marker where your round is joined.

  1. iā€™m very confused about increasing in this pattern. i donā€™t know how/when to increase so that i maintain the rib pattern that gets established.

I looked at the photos on the website. Look where it shows ā€œlook #3ā€ and see the picture? The left half of the picture is the sleeve. You must incorporate new pattern repeats as they emerge as you increase up the sleeve.

  1. i also donā€™t know when it says ā€œINC 1 st each sideā€ ā€¦ does that mean RS and WS, so every row, or does it mean at the start and end of each row so twice each increase row? it seems like the latter, because it says every 6 rows and otherwise that would be a very extreme increase. if it does mean at the start and end of each row, does it matter where in the row i put the increase? i guess that goes back to question two about maintaining the rib pattern.

Yes, the latter, or the beg and end of those rows where itā€™s described that way.

  1. starting the sleeve with the #8s ā€¦ is that to give it a cuff and some more elasticity? i tend to prefer slightly looser sleeves that drape over my hands a bit. would i be better just going with the 10s the entire time?

Your preference, Iā€™d say. Smaller needle is to give the sleeve a more tapered look, though per se it is not a cuff there at the bottom.

Donā€™t be discouraged! They also say why not make the whole thing in stockinette stitch and forget the ribbed look? If you hate the sleeves with the rib pattern but donā€™t want to give up, make the sleeves plain and the body ribbed. Just a suggestion.
Keep on keeping on! :XX:

#3

Boy, my answers were hard to find in that reply post above! Just look for my comments under your numbered questions.

#4

you can indeed knit the sleeves in the round. I would omit one stitch on each end, since these would serve as selvedge when knit flat. So you would cast on 26 (not 28 ) and work k3, p2, k7 twice, p2, k3. Place marker, join and continue in this pattern for a total of 14 rows.

Switch to larger needles, then begin increases.

You are increasing from 26 to 46 stitches (48 minus 2 selvedge removed) so you need to increase a total of 20 stitches. You do htis by increasing 2 stitches (one on each side of the marker) every 6th row 7 times, then every 7th row, 3 times.

As far as keeping the pattern, the author is not clear about this in the directions. I think you could keep it all in knit and then the ribbed part of the sleeve would be outside part of the arm, and the ā€˜all knitā€™ part would be on the underarm. Or if you could incorporate 2 purls after 7 knits to keep to the pattern.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

#5

thanks so much for the help! youā€™ve definitely cleared things up a lot. this week has been crazy and i havenā€™t had a chance but iā€™m going to play around with it this weekend and see how it goes. one thing iā€™m realizing, though, is that iā€™m also not sure which increases to use.

so, which increase should i use, considering that:

  • i need to put it at the end of a round, not between stitches.
  • i need to put it next to another increase (one at the start/end of the round).
  • i need to sometimes have it be a purl stitch to keep up the ribbing pattern.

also, hereā€™s my really dumb question. :oops: the increases on amyā€™s page are in pairs, presumably because theyā€™re corresponding and slant in different directions. which one do i use at the start of the round/row and which one do i use at the end of the round/row?

i really appreciate all the help. knitting is so exciting when it works and can be so daunting when it doesnā€™t. i canā€™t wait to learn this stuff better. must. buy. more. books. :XX: