Purling help please?

Shyki · 12-16-2012, 01:41 PM

I'm working on making my first sweater, and after having to restart it several times, I'm finally getting it right. I'm at the point now where I've just cast on the beginning of the sleeves, and I'm having some problems with starting the second one. It's on a wrong-side row, so I keep trying to purl it, but the stitches just keep coming out ugly. The row of the pattern I'm following for this row is P2, yo, P2tog, and every time I P2tog, I end up with a a big loop across the bottom of the stitch which doesn't look nice and neat at all. Does anyone have any idea how to eliminate that?

Ingrid · 12-16-2012, 07:47 PM

A yo creates an eyelet--exactly what you're getting. When you p1, yo, p2tog, you're creating a row of holes, basically. So that extra loop is supposed to be there. Make sure that you're doing the yo between purls correctly just to be sure. Look in the videos above.

As you work the next rows you'll see how it all comes together neatly.

Shyki · 12-16-2012, 11:36 PM

Okay, so that helps some, but it doesn't quite solve the problem. The loop isn't just what's normally created by a yarn over. It's either on the bottom of the second purl, or extremely long between the yo and the P2tog (as in about a quarter inch). It's almost like there's too much slack between the stitches or something. If I try tightening it with the working yarn, it just wraps the loop around the stitches on the right needle. I used the backwards loop cast on; would trying another method change anything?

suzeeq · 12-16-2012, 11:41 PM

The YO loops can look uneven when you knit them, depending on what stitch is before and after them. But when you wash/block the finished item they do even out. Wrap the yarn around the needle the same way you do for the purl stitch and they should come out okay though.

Ingrid · 12-17-2012, 01:28 AM

Backward loop will create a funky first row, so I suggest trying a different one. Then you know that it's not the problem. Work a few rows and then see how the purl yos are working out.

suzeeq · 12-17-2012, 01:46 AM

Oh, I didn't read that carefully - Ingrid's right, it's your cast on, not how you're doing the purls and YOs. Try another one, like the knit or Cable CO and that should help a lot.

GrumpyGramma · 12-17-2012, 02:01 AM

Do both sleeves start on a WS row? It looks like you're saying the first one started OK.

Quote:

...and I'm having some problems with starting the second one. It's on a wrong-side row ...

suzeeq · 12-17-2012, 02:11 AM

There's no reason I can see that the other sleeve needs to start with a WS row, either.

GrumpyGramma · 12-17-2012, 02:42 AM

Could we have a link to the pattern, or a name and where you got it? Is it possible you could simply work a row of knit or garter stitch and then start your pattern? Maybe knitting on would give you a good base for beginning the pattern. I always notice that the p2 tog doesn't look as neat and tidy as I'd like but don't know how to change it.

Quote:

every time I P2tog, I end up with a a big loop across the bottom of the stitch which doesn't look nice and neat at all. Does anyone have any idea how to eliminate that?