Knots on the edges of scarf

Esmeralda · 01-18-2006, 02:58 AM

Hello everyone,

I have been trying to teach myself to knit for 1 week now. I have the knit and purl stitch down pretty well ~ just slow :thinking: . I am attempting my first project ever a simple scarf. Knit one row, purl the next row. I read that in order to keep a nice edge it is a good idea to knit every first and last stitch (regardless if it is a purl row). So i have been doing that and I notice that some of my edges look like the stitches are knots!

I don't know what i am doing wrong, maybe I am twisting that first knit stitch when i switch it to purl. Maybe I should just do the first stitch the same as what I am knitting or purling for the rest of the row. Any suggestions? The rest of my stitches look okay though, it's just that first stitch when starting a purl row.

Esmeralda

*edit - mod squad was here*

Ingrid · 01-18-2006, 02:11 PM

It's not a knot, its just a single garter stitch. What I do is to slip the first stitch as if to purl on every row, and knit the last stitch.

Esmeralda · 01-18-2006, 04:26 PM

Slip the first stitch? :thinking: I'm sorry, I am totally new. How do i do that? And do I do it regardless of the stitch the row is?

esmeralda

brendajos · 01-18-2006, 04:34 PM

just stick the needle into the work like you are going to purl it but don't actually. basically you are just moving one stitch to the other needle. when you come back around it will make it look all pretty. and yes, you will do it on every row.

i do think there may be another issue though. if i read your post right, you are only doing one knit stitch on the border? is that correct? if it is, that is probably not going to be enough stitches to keep it from rolling. Depending on how wide your work is, you are going to need at least three and more likely 5 stitches on each side in garter stitch. The stockinette tries really hard to roll so you need more stitches to keep it in line!

probably would want 3 or so rows of garter at the top and bottom too to keep those edges from curling.

Esmeralda · 01-18-2006, 05:00 PM

Yes brendaojos, I am just knitting the first stitch and yes my scarf is starting to roll. I got about 6 inches of scarf knitted it looks pretty good other than part of the edges. I really don't want to frog it but it is starting to roll. I am expecting a new set of bamboo knitting needles in the mail to day. Perhaps I'll just start over once I get them and I'll try the slip stitch.

Thanks
Esmeralda :D

brendajos · 01-18-2006, 05:10 PM

seems like a good reason to frog to me!

you will find a lot of patterns will tell you to slip a stitch for one reason or another. in most cases it will just say slip but not give you any other instruction. i think that in general it is assumed that you will slip it like you are purling then. if it tells you to "slip as if to knit" then you will put your needle in like you are doing a knit stitch and slip it.

i think there are a lot of people who just automatically slip the first stitch in all their work because it gives a nice edge. i always forget unless it is actually mentioned in the pattern! :rollseyes:

nicolethegeek · 01-18-2006, 05:20 PM

I think the slipping the first stitch is just a preference unless the instructions tell you otherwise. I usually slip as if to knit, or slip "in pattern" when doing stockinette.

Dona · 01-30-2006, 06:44 PM

Hello! I'm jumping in with a question along the same lines as being discussed. I'm making a simple scarf using the seed stitch pattern. In trying to make the edges nicer looking would I in the first row slip a stitch as if knitting and when beginning the second row slip the first stitch as if purling, all in keeping with the pattern? Also if the pattern called for an even number (in my case I have 18 stitches) would I cast on 20 to allow for the extra slip stitches I'll have on each end? Thanks for helping this confused newbie

Ingrid · 01-30-2006, 07:14 PM

I did the edges of a scarf in seed stitch and what I did gave it a very nice edge.

Slip the first stitch in every row as if to purl. If the next stitch is supposed to be a knit, bring your yarn around under the right needle to knit it.

If the next stitch is supposed to be a purl, bring the yarn around under your right needle and then between the needles to purl it, rather than just purling it from the front.

I also knit the last stitch in every row.

You can add two to the total stitches, depending on how wide you want it to be, but they don't count in the stitch pattern count.

Dona · 01-30-2006, 07:49 PM

Thanks Ingrid for your response! Actually, I'm slightly more confused - to make it easier on my little brain can I simply just do a slip stitch at the beginning of each row staying with the pattern (slip stitch knit on beginning of one row and slip stitch purl on the beginning of next row)? If doing that way would I add 2 extra stitches on to my cast on row? TIA for your patience