The Knitters Thread

bizzylizzy

Whoops! Sorry, I didn't realise there was a Knitters thread - please feel free to move this to it

blueberrypie

bizzylizzy wrote: »

I am knitting scarves for Christmas presents (using wool I already have) and I am working on one in garter stich, just plain knitting. The problem I have is the edges are a bit "bumpy". I am not losing stiches at all, it's just not as even as I would like at the sides. Any ideas?

It won't eliminate the bumpiness at the edges if you're knitting in garter stitch, but you could try slipping (rather than knitting) the first stitch on every row.

Can I ask why you're knitting in garter-stitch? If it's for the ease of it rather than for a specific look, you could knit "tube" scarves instead - using a circular needle (or double-pointed needles) and knitting in the round - if you've never knitted in the round before, the only new technique you'd need to learn would be joining the first row, and that's easy as pie :-)

bizzylizzy

I like the pattern the garter stitch gives with the colour wool I'm using, I am putting darker stripes in at the ends of it. I did try the slipping the first stitch but the bumpiness level was the same.
My daughter has one of those circular "French knitting" sets, and I can "knit" scarves on that if I want to, but I don't enjoy the technique much. I haven't tried a circular needle though..... do you get bumpy edges with that?

meanmarie

I find that if I slip the first stitch of every row and knit into the back of the last one I get a nice even edge.

If you knit on a circular needle you will have no 'edge' as the knitting will be a tube...you won't get your garter stitch effect though unless you purl every row.

Marie

katholicos

This is all greek to me. I can't knit for toffee but i admire the skill of those who can. Whenever i have tried evey stitch comes out a different size. I am so messy!

ZCC72

If you knit "in the round" - whether on dpn's or circular, then you will end up withstocking stitch if you knit every row.

If you have already tried slipping the first stitch - which, I have to say, generally gives me a nice tidy edge (or should I say my knitting!! It'lltake more than a slipped stitch to neaten my edges!) and that didn't work, perhaps try a moss-stitch for a cm either side? That'll give you a little border too - I haven't tried this though, so I can't guarantee it'll work!!

Good luck, and well done you for starting early!:A

bizzylizzy

I have just tried slipping the first stitch and knitting into the back of the last stitch, as suggested by meanmarie above - and it is much better! Thank you! :j

That's a good idea, to have a border of moss stitch, I'll try that on the next one.

I have to say, it is most unlike me to even think about Christmas until the 1st December :eek: and then I always get in a fluster, so I am taking on board all the advice I've read on here, and starting early!
Also, I know I won't feel like knitting in the summer, I'll hopefully be spending those long, light, warm summer evenings in the garden (that seems like a dream right now, doesn't it?) so I'm doing it now instead.

itsloopylisa

funfairprincess wrote: »

Hi everyone (hope you don't mind me joining in)

Just thought I would let you see my latest knits






Please ignore the messy kitchen it was lunch time taken BEFORE Piper ate!

Oh, they're lovely!:T:T:T:T:T

paddingtondoo

If you want the lumpy side as the right side when knitting on dpns you can always knit every row and then use the inside as the right side.

funfairprincess

Happyroly wrote: »

Beautiful photos, thank you. :T
I like the jaunty angle of the beret!

Oh! that was my daughters doing she wanted it the same as the wee girlie in the pattern picture! Apparently it's french chic (well so says the 4 year old and she would know!):rotfl: