Working all 3 sides at the same time

#1

Hi all,

I am hoping that someone here can give me a hand. I am a total newbie and have only completed a scarf and hat, so I really have no idea what I am doing. I am attempting to knit a sweater for my dog from this pattern minus the hood, so I started the pattern from page 4:

http://sldknitting.com/free/houndhoodie.pdf

the directions for the armholes instruct to:

  1. knit 6, bind off 5, knit to last 11, bind off 5, knit to end
  2. working all 3 sides at the same time, work for 1/2 in. (or length you obtained from measuring the dog)
  3. knit 6, cast on 5, knit 2nd section, cast on 5, knit to end

I am stuck at ‘working all 3 sides at the same time’. The garment is worked flat with one seam running from neck to tummy. So instruction No. 1 gives me 1/2 of the bottom on each side of my needle and the stitches in the middle go on the back of the dog. Do I remove each section to stitch holders and work them all separate then move on to instruction No.3 thereby connecting everything back together?

I hope what I wrote makes sense. Thank you so much for the help. I don’t know if the pattern is vague or if I am just that clueless.

#2

[I][COLOR=Blue]1. knit 6, bind off 5, knit to last 11, bind off 5, knit to end
2. working all 3 sides at the same time, work for 1/2 in. (or length you obtained from measuring the dog)
3. knit 6, cast on 5, knit 2nd section, cast on 5, knit to end

[/COLOR][/I][COLOR=Blue][COLOR=Black]What you are going to end up doing is attaching and working with 2 more balls of yarn so that you end up with a ball of yarn for each section of the knitting across the needle.

After you bind off the 2 sections you will still be using the first ball of yarn. Turn your work and then work across the stitches until you get to the five bound off stitches. Then attach a new ball to the center stitches on your needle, work across these and when you get to the next set of 5 bound off stitches you will attach another ball of yarn to you next set of stitches.

Make sure you don’t cross or tangle up your new balls of yarn and make sure you knit each section of yarn with the right ball of yarn.

After you have completed your 1/2 inch (or the length you need for your dog) you will then knit across and make you cast on stitches with one ball of yarn ( the one you start the row with.) That will be the yarn you continue to work with for the rest of the sweater.

You will have to cut the other 2 balls and leave a tail on each long enough to weave into your work when you are finished.

Hope this helps!

Susan
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#3

Thank you so much! That makes perfect sense. I am so glad I asked.

#4

Sheesh, sounds like a lot of bother. Why not just teach the dog to knit and it can make it’s own sweater?

#5

The thought process was small dog=quick and easy project. I’m having fun, although I will say that now I am wrestling with 3 balls of yarn, next time i’ll try using stitch holders and completing each section separately. (if there ever is a next time!)

#6

by doing all 3 sections at the same time the gauge will be the same on each section. I knit ALL of my sweaters using the technique plus when you go to sew the seams you know they are the same size and all of hta fun stuff.

#7

Thank you! The more I think about it, the more I realize that trying to do it separately could lead to a problem. I really appreciate your help and advice. :slight_smile: