Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

kaye@10 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:48:31 GMT

I want to ask a knitter, why is it that when I am knitting a cable and I am going to the last half of the cable stitches to knit, I get a small hole by the side of a cable:?

Kaye

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

JudyM@4 — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:54:04 GMT

Try cabling without a needle on your swatch first...This will tell you if your yarn and tension will permit it. A smooth yarn with a firm tension may have stitches that are frustrating to keep in place while you make the cables. Black Water Abbey has yarns that are perfect for cabling without a needle, also Bartlett wool yarn. The yarn determines whether this is a pleasant shortcut, or endless aggravation.

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

GayleS — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:12:59 GMT

pm means "place marker", sl m means "slip marker" as you come to in when knitting

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

JennieV — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 22:15:40 GMT

I love knitting cables. I had always used a U-shaped cable needle, but on Palindrome, I decided to use a single, same-size DPN, as you suggested. It really is easier--thanks for the tip!

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

ConnieC@2 — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 20:31:25 GMT

Re the Red Scarf - I printed off the pattern, but have 2 questions - - - re the directins, what does pm and sl m mean? Been knitting for 40 yrs, and this is new - thanks for an answer - C. Caruso

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

KaroleeL — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 03:58:07 GMT

I did my first cable sweater last winter and it was a lot more fun than I ever imagined.

Could you do a post sometime on the differences in yarn - for example the difference between sport weight, fingering weight, chunky etc. I am slowly getting it all figured out as I am working my way throug the Favorite Socks book. But what is DK yarn? etc...

Thanks,
Karolee

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

LisaG — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:23:09 GMT

I always love to work cables in my designs, I don't like to use cable needles, it just takes too long to move the stitches.

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

MarieS — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:56:40 GMT

This is a tip from my sister: She recently discovered if instead of casting on all the stitches at the beginning, you cast on the stitches held in back on the first cable, that prevents the fanning out you see from cablling.

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

GinnyQ — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:01:41 GMT

I have always loved cables...dating back when I knit in High School 35+ years ago. They always look sooo rich and difficult. I use a rounded, wood toothpick with the sharp ends cut off. Then if I lose one..it isn't so devastating.

Ginny Q

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

Meeb — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 03:49:53 GMT

"Place Marker" ... later on you see "sl m"... "Slip Marker" ....

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

MargueriteS — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:27:19 GMT

This may be a stupid question (but I have an excuse: I'm French-speaking!).. I just started the 'connections red scarf' and wonder what 'pm' means in the cabled version instructions? I couldn't find a list of abbreviations anywhere. Thanks!!

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

JoyJ — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 08:33:06 GMT

hi! that scarf may just inspire me to try and knit scarves..(well almost).

about cabling, I have never used a cable needle; infact I don't even know what one looks like. I was taught to knit by my mum, and by reading Patons knitting books from before I was born - and have always knitted cables using this technique.
1. I slip the first stitches off the left needle,
2. then slip the next batch of stitches needed for the cable to the right needle,
3. then pick up the slipped off stitches,
4. and finally return the ones on the right needle back to the left and then continue with my knitting.

I think, like all good things, it all comes from practice, well and patience, and of course perserverance..

Thanks for the pattern.

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

KathyB — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:40:30 GMT

Charlene M--I use a "clacker"--it's a red plastic counter that you just squeeze to increase the count. It's only fault is it only goes to 99. I also like, for complicated counts, to use a "Peg-it" counter. You have four sets of counts to keep track of by moving a peg. It is about the size of that metal needle gauge measure we all have.

Sandi--The scarf is beautiful. I think I'll try to do the cable on more than just the ends for a fella's scarf. Do you think it will make it warmer with more cables? The recipient lives at 10,000 feet.

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

StephanieG@2 — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 01:40:26 GMT

Sandi, I tend to use the U-shaped cable needles for my cabling. They seem to hold the stitches very well, and they hardly ever slip. As far as tips, though, the best tip I've ever received was to do a ptbl after the cable to tighten up the edge of the cable. Much thanks to Victoria at Unique One in Camden Maine for that.

re: Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

KayA — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:55:01 GMT

I can cable by just manipulating stitches, but my preferred way of doing it is using one of those flying-bird-shaped needles... the ones that are straight at both ends with the V in the middle. And I never put the stitches back on the needle before knitting them off--it's the needle size they're being knitted onto that determines the size of the stitch.