Puckering when switching from K to P - Help!

[GeeBee29]

Just started knitting again after a few years and I'm having puckering in my stitches that I never had before.

I am knitting a Diagonal Check Pattern (or that's what it is supposed to be ):

P1, K4
P3, K2
, etc.

I think my problem is when I switch from P to K.........but I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've attached a picture.......well, couldn't get picture to attach...message said it was too large, don't know how to change the size of a picture.........

[Sknitter56]

Hi...try this site to help resize your photos before attaching. I usually use the 540 x 720 option and it always works.
http://www.resize2mail.com/

[suzeeq]

This happens in ribbing or other patterns where you switch from a knit to a purl. You can wrap the purl st 'backwards', the opposite of normal and that can tighten it up.

[GeeBee29]

Thank you for your reply.

I was not able to get the resizer to work...........somehow I managed to ENLARGE the picture rather than make it smaller .............

Not wraping my yarn backwards..............but maybe I should try doing that!

[suzeeq]

Right, that's a way to make the purl st tighten up a bit.

[GeeBee29]

I read in one of my books last night that the puckering might be from pulling the yarn too tight when I switch from K to P..........I will experiment with this on scrap yarn, but will finish my project/scarf as I have been. The puckering has become it's own pattern becuase it is consistent......

[GeeBee29]

Trying to post pictures......again....

[suzeeq]

What yarn are you using? Can you block out what you have now and see if that helps even it out?

[GeeBee29]

I'm using Naturally Caron Country -- it's a Merino Wool Blend.

Yeah, I'm thinking I can probably block out that puckering, although it has created an interesting although unexpected pattern.

I just couldn't figure out what I was doing now that I'd not done before to create the effect