Knitting question

#1

Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 12:26am

As I completely rip out all the work I did tonight-

When knitting a scarf, how do you keep the side edges from curling in? Anyone?

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<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#2

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 1:22am

You don't, if you are knitting it in only stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row). By it's nature, it curls.

Try adding four garter stitches at the beginning and end of each row. Or four seed stitches. That should stop the curling.

Or you could make the scarf using only garter stitch (only drawback there is garter stitch is a yarn hog). Garter stitch won't curl.

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Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.

#3

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 5:42am

yes unfortunately this will always happen. sometimes knitting it a bit looser helps but not much. This is why most knitters have to 'block' their garments. Any good knitting book will list a wet and dry way to block- but honestly Ive had better success taking things to the dry cleaner and asking them to block my knits. So sad you unraveled!

If you knit every row like humbug suggested (garter) you get a bit of a ribbed affect and it will be pulling in both directions ultimately staying flat.

#4

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 10:42am

Jane2, try slipping the first stitch of every row, instead of knitting it. This may help.

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"All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen." Conan O'Brien

#5

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 11:01am

ok, I actually did knit the first and last two stitches of each row of my stockinette, but it still rolled in. I think I'll try all knit on this scarf, and thanks so much, you guys!

I hate blocking because it flattens the stictches!

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<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#6

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 5:21pm

I second Mominator's suggestion. I've done that a couple of times with success, but tend to forget about it when starting a new project.

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Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10

#7

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 5:32pm

So in other words, you just slip the first stitch onto the needle? How does that very end of the row get longer if you don't knit it?

I could be having a slow moment, bear with me...

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<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#8

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 5:38pm

Try crocheting

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"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

#9

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 5:46pm

I'll have you know I'm a pretty good knitter AND crocheter, thank you!

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<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#10

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 6:03pm

It curls whether you knit or crochet!

Block it when you're done - that's your best bet.

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"You're every gay man's wet dream!" ~ MA

If in Heaven you don't excel, you can always party down in hell...

#11

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 6:03pm

I'm actually working on a scarf. Let me go figure out what I mean. I know it works, but damn if I remember the specifics.

I'll be back in a few...

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Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10

#12

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 6:07pm

OK...got it....

Knit or purl to the end of the row. Turn, and instead of knitting or purling the first stitch, just slip it, and go on with your work as usual. It won't end up increasing or decreasing the number of stitches if you do it right. It creates a tighter edge, sort of, and inhibits the rolling effect.

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Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10

#13

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 6:19pm

I don't know why I even clicked on this thread. I know nothing about knitting.

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KFTC!!!!!

#14

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 6:22pm

Neither do I.

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Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10

#15

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 6:23pm

LOL!

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KFTC!!!!!

#16

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 6:39pm

Yep, just slip that 1st stitch on to the other needle. If you need some more help, try www.knittinghelp.com

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"All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen." Conan O'Brien

#17

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 6:49pm

Ditto the LOL, iflit!

Mom-if you can believe it, I"ve been knitting my whole life. I know what you're saying, and I probably have done it before but I didn't remember how.

What I'm doing now is knitting the whole thing, using pretty thick all cotton yarn. so far, so good but I can already see a tendency to curl.

CJR - you're probably right, I'll have to block.

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<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#18

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 7:24pm

Damn you all. I just ripped out the scarf I was making and started over with the non-curl technique.

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Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10

#19

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 7:27pm

I'm sorry for chuckling....

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<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#20

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 7:30pm

It's kind of the story of my knitting career... everything I've every made has been knit three times over.

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Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10

#21

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 7:37pm

Ditto!

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<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#22

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 8:13pm

Jane - do you know about www.ravelry.com? If you're a knitter, you absolutely MUST have ravelry in your bookmarks. You have to register (its' free) but it's worth it - they have over 250,000 knitters registered. If you can't find a pattern, or an answer to a question there, it doesn't exist.

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Sarcasm is an allergic reaction to stupid people.

#23

re: Knitting question

Posted: 12/3/08 at 8:16pm

Yep, I'm registered with them, humbug, thanks!

For all you knitters-do you ever buy yarn from ebay? oy, one year I got carried away and spent over $600 on yarns. I didn't even need them, but if I saw a fabulous looking yarn, I bought it!

Seriously though, with the price of yarns and everything else these days, you can do quite well on ebay.

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<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES