Knitting help please

LizD_2

I've been knitting a jumper for DH for Christmas, but I'm not sure how to make it up. These are the instructions.

FINISHING
Sew raglan seams leaving left back raglan seam open.
Neck: With right side of work facing and 4½ mm needles, knit across 8 (10-12- 12) sts from left sleeve st holder. Pick up and knit 10 sts down left front neck edge. Knit across 8 (10-12-12) sts from front St holder. Pick up and knit 10 sts up right front neck edge. Knit across 8 (10-12-12) sts from right sleeve St holder. Knit across 24 (26-28-28) sts from back st holder dec 3 sts evenly. 65 (73-81-81) sts on needle.
Next row: (Wrong side). Knit.
Proceed in stocking st (beg with a knit row) until collar measures 3 ins [8 cm] ending with right side facing for next row. Cast off. Sew left back raglan and collar seam reversing seam for curl back edge.
Sew side and sleeve seams reversing seam for curl back edges. Do not press.

pol

Not sure which bit you are having trouble with, so I'll try to make it all as easy as I can.
Sew raglan seams leaving left back raglan seam open
Sew all the sleeves seams in, just leaving the left one at the back open.
Neck: With right side of work facing and 4½ mm needles, knit across 8 (10-12- 12) sts from left sleeve st holder. Pick up and knit 10 sts down left front neck edge. Knit across 8 (10-12-12) sts from front St holder. Pick up and knit 10 sts up right front neck edge. Knit across 8 (10-12-12) sts from right sleeve St holder. Knit across 24 (26-28-28) sts from back st holder dec 3 sts evenly.
With the right side of the front facing towards you, knit across the sts on the left sleeve holder, pick up 10 sts from along the left front neck, then across the sts on the holder at the front neck and another 10 along the other side of the front neck. You then need just the sts from the top of the other sleeve and across the sts from the holder at the back of the neck.
Proceed in stocking st (beg with a knit row) until collar measures 3 ins [8 cm] ending with right side facing for next row. Cast off. Sew left back raglan and collar seam reversing seam for curl back edge.
As it says, knit to length and cast off. You need to sew the seam of the collar on the wrong side, so it won't show when it's curled over. Then it's just sewing up the sleeve seams and the remaining raglan seam.
Hope this makes it clearer.
pol

LizD_2

:embarasse So do I sew the underarm seams up, then sew them to the raglans? How do I do that when they're still on the stitch holder?
It doesn't say anything about the side seams for the front and back either. If it helps, there's a picture:

http://www.yarnfwd.com/chunkysweater.html

One confused novice knitter!

Churchmouse

Hi Liz, as you've not had another reply, I'll try:D

I hope I understand what you're confused about. I take it you're happy about just sewing the raglan seams. Then you do the knitting of the neckline as per the instructions. Once this is finished you'll sew the last raglan, remembering to do the little bit of turnback on the other side so the seam won't show.

then at this point you'll not have anything on needles and can sew up the two side seams, and down the sleeves. Does that make sense? If not I'm happy to try and help again.

AussieLass

^^^^ There speaks the Knitting Guru.

Churchmouse

Does that mean you understand what I've written?:D Let's hope Liz does too!

AussieLass

Well no I didn't. But I'm sure Liz will.

LizD_2

I think I understand.

So I sew the raglan seams on the sleeves to the corresponding seams on the jumper, leaving the left back 'til later? How do I sew the seams while stitches are still on the holder?
Or do I knit the neck first?

Churchmouse

Yes that's right. You sew the seams with the stitches still on their holders. You just sew right up to the holders, so only the stitch that will be knitted is *free* Now if you're having trouble I have to admit my mum used to knit the neck first then sew it all, but it takes more skill to keep it neat and not get *holes* that way.

I have to go off now, and won't get back on until tomorrow I expect. Hopefully someone else can help if you're still stuck. It would be so easy to show you, writing it is much harder:rotfl:

edited to add: I've had aquick look and can't see seaming on this website, but it is very useful for other techniques and has videos that are easy to follow. http://www.knittinghelp.com/

LizD_2

Think I've got the hang of it. I've worked out how to pick stitches up, so away I go. Would you like a piccie of the finished article?

Churchmouse

Good, Liz:D Picking up stitches is a trial in itself, so well done. Yes, we want a piccie of the finished article ( looks good in the pattern), it's almost law that you have to let us see it. We're all very [STRIKE]nosy[/STRIKE] interested:D