GARTER STITCH PROBLEM

ClaireGrandmaMaria · 05-06-2008, 01:09 AM

HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP. I AM WORKING OR TRYING TO START MY LAP BLANKET, I BEEN ON THE CHAT LINE AND HAVE MADED A LOT OF NEW FRIENDS IN THE PASS FEW WEEKS. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GARTER STITCH. I WANT TO USE IT AT THE BEGIN AND END OF EACH ROW SO THE BLANKET WILL NOT CURL. BUT I WANT TO LIMIT IT TO ABOUT 4-6 STITCHES AT EACH END. WHEN I DO A SAMPLE OF IT IT JUST DOES NOT LIKE RIGHT.

IF I UNDERSTAND A GARTER STITCH IS JUST A ROW OF KNITTING. I AM USING A CIRCLE NEEDLE, SO I START EACH ROW WITH 4 KNIT AND DO MY PATTERN AND END WITH 4 KNIT..WHEN I GET DONE WITH THE STITCHES BEENING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CIRCLE NEEDLE THEN I TURN THE NEEDLE AROUND, SO ALL THE STITCHES ARE IN MY LEFT HAND, AND I REPEAT THE PATTERN AGAIN. IF THAT IS THE WAY I AM TO DO IT IT DOES NOT HAVE THE PATTERN FOR THE GARTER....HELP..I AM REALLY LOSING HOPE THAT I WILL GET THIS KNITTING OFF THE GROUND... THANKS !!!!

Jan in CA · 05-06-2008, 01:15 AM

Garter stitch is just knitting every row so for the border you'd knit on both sides however many stitches you choose. Give it a few rows and the pattern should come out right. If not then try to take a picture so we can see what you are having a problem with.

ClaireGrandmaMaria · 05-06-2008, 12:22 PM

Jan, Thanks for the information as for the e-mail I just forgot to change over..I understand. I am working with multi color yard, maybe that is the problem.. For the sample blanket i put a ribbing of knit 1 and purl 1 alternating each stitch for 5 rows. then i did the 25 rows of knitting and purling ( alternation) one side looks like stockinette stitch the pretty side and the back side looks like the garter stitch. i don't have a problem with that but it curls on the side, which i would like it to lay flate. Can I put a border on it if need be. Any other idea.

suzeeq · 05-06-2008, 12:37 PM

Garter stitch is knitting every row, which you didn't seem to do. It has bumps, but with a knit furrow in between them. The back of a knit is a purl and vice versa. When you alternate rows of knit and purl, that's stockinette on the knit side, and simply purl or reverse stockinette on the back - every row is a bump, not at all like garter. Stockinette curls which is why your knit a few stitches in garter on both edges to prevent it. After you're done, you can put on a border.