Purl!

[kaitou]

Over the weekend I went home to visit my parents, hit bookstores, go to honest to god yarn stores, and generally have a good time. I was trying to teach myself how to purl, but was not getting the hang of it. I figured out how to do the actual stitch (thank you youtube!) but I couldn't figure out how to sustain it. I'd purl a row, then purl another row, and...it didn't look right! Then I'd knit a row to start over, try again, and same problem! But I could look back in the knitting I'd done and SEE that I'd gotten it right somewhere before, but only for two rows.

I went through all the youtube videos, and rummaged through books at borders. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong, but as I told my dad, I was sure it was something so blindingly simple that people didn't even bother to point out. Like learning that you do not stir rice while it's cooking. Frustrated I went back to Ohio and looked at my book.

Oh.
You have to alternate purling and knitting to get the consistent look.

Out of ALL the books and videos, none of them talked about going into the NEXT row. Only the one I got, since it teaches you each bit as part of a project, instead of teaching the skills, and then showing projects after that may use one or more skills.

So now I know I can purl and I haven't been doing anything wrong, I just wasn't knitting after it. So now I'm hard at work on my second scarf. This one is a basket weave design in a really, really pretty purple color. It's a kind of deep blue-y lavender, shot through with electric blue and hot pink. But a lot classier than that sounds. I wish I were at home working on it now, and not on a break between teaching how to use a database and planning an audit.

Comments

[ysabet.livejournal.com]

Hey-- I've just relearned how to knit and taken a class on making socks; this site has really been useful during those moments when I stare at my pattern and go "bwah?" Good luck!

[kaitou1412.livejournal.com]

Hee, I'm not nearly at your level yet. I'm still at the 'does my rectangle still look like a rectangle and not a trapezoid?' stage.

Thank you for the link!

[ysabet.livejournal.com]

**grin** But socks are VERY forgiving; they don't have any angles, they just have to fit over a bumpy foot-shaped object. Irregular WORKS with socks.

[kaitou1412.livejournal.com]

Oh, did I mention I love your icon?

[ysabet.livejournal.com]

^___^ Thanks! Feel free to snag it if you'd like; it came off a batch of Take-'em-and-use-'em icons somebody pointed out to me a long while back, so it's up for grabs-- I don't mind a bit.

knit knit knit

[blackcatgirl.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

this is so funny, because i just started knitting myself (in august). i have the knit knack kit, it is awesome! with that and the videos on knittinghelp.com i am really getting the hang of it!

and it does tell you to knit one row, purl the next! ;)

Re: knit knit knit

[kaitou1412.livejournal.com]

LOL. Thanks for the link! (I guess I should have said, all the books and videos I looked at didn't mention it)

Now I can make things to keep me warm, and shoot a gun. I am all set for the collapse of civilization as we know it.

Re: knit knit knit

[blackcatgirl.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

sorry, i meant the patterns in the knit knack kit tell you to alternate. unless you're knitting in a circle on circular needles. then you just have to knit to get the stockinette stitch! how crazy is that?

and lol about the knitting and shooting. very true!