Knitting from the top

[lml]

I am currently fascinated with the book Knitting from the Top by Barbara G. Walker. I am a novice knitter though and it is taking quite some brain power to figure out some of her techniques. Does anyone else have an interest in this?
Within pages 24-29 she discusses how to complete the underarm area when the raglans are long enough. She states at this point you can cast on stitches to increase the body width and/or sleeve area up to three inches.

How do you close up a huge underarm hole if you cast on up to three inches of stitches to one or the other?

What if you want to increase just the sleeve but not the body area?

Do you have to cast on the same number to both body and sleeve and then join together new stitch for new stitch?

[Freyja]

I just did this a few days ago with a crop top I am making.

I added 20% more stitches under the arm and put my sleeves on some yarn to hold them for later.
(The 20% was what fit the measurements I was using.)
I then knit to the length I wanted and decreased on both sides as I went.
After the body was finished, I put the sleeves back on my needles and picked up the extra stitches under the arm. I pick up though both loops of the chain.
I am decreasing on the underside of the arm as I work toward the elbow.

I promised my DH a gnome for his desk. He decided to put me on a deadline so I am knitting up his little guy instead of my sleeves.

[lml]

Oh I got it, I got it! So you just include the new body stitches into the armhole section and decrease as needed in the sleeve. So by increasing stitches in one area both get bigger at the same time. So simple! I do tend to make things difficult and overanalyze.

My book describes it exactly opposite-casting on to increase the armhole (and then knitting the sleeve) first, then when going back to work the body, picking up the added armhole stitches into the body round thereby having no underarm hole to sew up later.

Another knitting mystery solved-I should have asked sooner!! Thanks a bunch!

Lynn

[suzeeq]

My book describes it exactly opposite-casting on to increase the armhole (and then knitting the sleeve) first, then when going back to work the body, picking up the added armhole stitches into the body round...

You can do it either way. Some knitters would rather knit the sleeves first and have them flop around while knitting the body, some would rather knit the body first so it flops around while you're doing the sleeves.

[Freyja]

You are welcome Lynn.
Have fun with your top down.

Just for fun... sometimes
When I want to test a sock or a sweater pattern, I will cut my numbers by a large %.
I will cast on with fingering or lace weight yarn and small needles.
The pattern can be knit in a few hours or less and I have all the kinks worked out.
When you are done you have the cutest little decorations.
The socks make nice key chains and the sweaters look cute on a wine bottle.