Wondering What I did Wrong

#1

Ok, so I’ve knitted two Hermione Cable and Bobble hats from http://atypically.net

They’ve both turned out quite nice and I enjoyed making them. While I was looking at other people’s hats, I noticed that my zig-zag cable didn’t “pop out” like theirs did. You can see the zig zag in mine, but it doesn’t look like it’s cabled for some reason. The instructions say to c2rp2 (hold the needle at the back of the work k2 then p2 off the cable needle) and a little later on in the pattern to c2lp2 (hold the cable needle to the front of work, p2 then k2 off cable needle).
I thought I was doing it right, my other cables worked so what I’m wondering is why that one didn’t work? I don’t mind too much that it didn’t work (actually, I didn’t even notice it until I started the second hat), but if I make it again, I’d like it to come out right.
Here’s a picture of the hat:

Can you see the zig zag?

#2

Took awhile to get to the page with the hat so here’s a better link.
http://knit.atypically.net/hats/hermione/

I see what you are saying, but I can’t really tell from your picture… does your not stick out at all? Is it on the inside? To me it just looks like it’s stretched, but maybe not.

#3

I’ll have to take a better picture of the second hat. It’s not on the inside of the hat and it doesn’t stick out at all, it’s a mystery to me! :lol:

#4

Ok, here’s another picture of the hat. I hope the zig zag pattern is easier to see.

#5

It’s really hard to tell… But on the hat on atypically.net, it looks like the zigzag pattern was made with all knit stitches (which is what’s making it stand out against the purl stitches). Your hat looks like it’s a combination? Could it be that the pattern is wrong???

#6

I was wondering if the pattern was wrong, but there aren’t any corrections for that. So, do you think instead of where it says to c2rp2 (hold the needle at the back of the work k2 then p2 off the cable needle) and a little later on in the pattern to c2lp2 (hold the cable needle to the front of work, p2 then k2 off cable needle), forget the purling and just knit it?

#7

I’ll tell you what… That hat has been on my to do list for a really long time… I just finished a tank top last night and have NOTHING on the needles, so what if I start the hat tonight or tomorrow and give it a try? I’ll post tomorrow and let you know what I did (and if I can find the camera cable, I’ll post some pics too).

#8

Well, my zigzag pattern is turning out like it’s supposed to. It really stands out against the purl stitches.

For the first 16 rows, when you get to the zigzag cable, you put two stitches on the cable needle and hold it in the back. Then you knit 2 stitches (these are the ones that will stand out). Then, because you only want the two knit stitches to stand out, you purl the two stitches from the cable needle. Are you sure you are knitting the two stitches before the cable needle stitches and not purling them?

That’s as far as I’ve gotten. As I continue, I’ll post pictures when I have more of the hat done. Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. It’s really neat hat, and if I can help you out, I will try!

There’s one more thing that I’ve noticed… My zigzag pattern seems to be going the opposite way yours is. For example, at the bottom of the hat, above the ribbing, my zigzag cable starts on the left side and moves up and to the right, while yours seems to start on the right side and moves up to the left. Did you do that intentionally?

#9

Grr, I just don’t know what I did and that’s so frustrating! I’m quite positive that I was knitting the first two stitches and purling the other two off the cn’s. Ok, maybe I was holding the cable needle wrong. In back, does that mean away from me or towards me-but the braided cables worked so I wasn’t holding the needle wrong there :?? I’m going to have to try this pattern again just I can figure out how to do it! :smiley:
Thank you so much for your help sfavereau, I really appreciate it!

#10

In back means away from you, towards the inside of the hat. So for the first 16 rows, I take two purl stitches and put them on a cable needle. I hold that back (away from me), then I knit two stitches from the regular needle. Then, I purl the 2 stitches from the cable needle and continue purling until I get to the next cable (which you don’t have a problem with).

After the bobble, the zigzag goes the other way, so I take the 2 knit stitches and put them on the cable needle. I hold the cable needle in front (towards me and the outside of the hat) and purl two stitches from the regular needle, then knit the 2 stitches off the cable needle.

Are you knitting right or left handed? Is your working yarn on the left or right needle?

#11

I’m knitting Continental (but I can knit English too,) and the working yarn is coming from the right needle. I was holding the cable needle the right way…'tis a puzzlement :?? I think I might be doing something funky when I purl the 2 off the cable needle…

#12

Ok, here is the finished Hermione Hat. Don’t mind the cheapo acrylic yarn… I think I’ll make it in better yarn next time.

#13

Wow, that turned out great and you did it so fast! I wish I could knit that fast!

#14

That’s because I don’t have a real job and I love to knit! LOL I don’t think I’m a fast knitter. I’m just really obsessive about it. :oops: I’ll knit even if I only have 2 minutes! Crazy… It’s a miracle that I don’t lose my place in the pattern. I have to keep a notepad next to my knitting so I can jot down the row I’m on.

#15

I think both hats look great!

sfavereau: I’m like you…I keep my knitting handy and pick it up at all hours of the day and night.

mks: I can’t count how many times I’ve reread LOTR. One of my favorites.

#16

Thanks for the compliment on my hat Beth, but after seeing Stephanie’s,
I am now determined to conquer whatever it was I did wrong! :smiley:
By the way, Stephanie, how did you get your bobbles to turn out so nicely and the same size? The last stitch of mine is usually very loose and they are never the same size.

Marisa

#17

Well, I loved your hats, Marisa. It was after seeing them that I decided I must make one for myself! :heart:

The bobbles were hard for me to make… But what I found worked best is to make sure the tension was a little bit on the looser side when making the bobble. Then, when the bobble was finished, I made sure to pull the next purl stitch pretty tight.