Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

TessM — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:28:47 GMT

I see there are more than a few people confused about slipping stitches -- I like to think I have a clear explanation posted here: http://tessknits.com/archives/9 Please leave a comment if it helps!

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

SueW@3 — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:48:43 GMT

As a self-taught but seasoned knitter, I just want to say how useful I find these tutorials. I agree with FranL. Thank you...

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

ColleenG — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:07:47 GMT

Wow! I taught my sister to knit three years ago and part of the knowledge that I imparted to her included picking up stitches. Did you know the extent of the fire storm you would ignite? My sister called me and felt that she had been betrayed by her only sister! This was not the case because the technique I showed her was exactly the same one illustrated in the photos. The wording of the article is only adding to the anxiety of the novice and expert alike. I teach knitting at my LYS and when I teach this technique I tell the students that the pick-up is the part where you dip your needle (or hook) into the existing fabric and the knit is when you wrap and draw through the new loop. If people have knitting anxiety they should really consider finding a skilled teacher in the real world to help them. I loved reading the comments! Lynn G. sounds like a kindred spirit. Long live passionate knitters everywhere!

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

Kathy46 — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:10:08 GMT

I found the explanation and photos of the two different applications (vertical and horizontal) "pick up and knit" to be perfectly clear. The existing fabric is grey. Begin to pick up a row of new loops by inserting a (smaller) needle into a specific location into the grey fabric, wrap the green yarn (as if to knit) once around the needle, and then pull green yarn through the grey fabric. This equals one new picked-up stitch. Repeat and you will have a right hand needle full of new green stitches ready to continue knitting or purling, as desired. I loved the clear photos showing result of picking up only one or picking up both loops. I now know HOW the result is different and can see how it can be used to advantage in my future knitting. This whole discussion is fascinating because we are all translating words into concepts into knitting actions. If we were all in the same room demonstrating to each other, a lot of the confusion would quickly be cleared up. But we are not. The only sentence I disagree with is "It doesn't matter which way you do this, as long as you do both steps—pick up, and knit--for each stitch." It does matter. You end up with two different results, with the working yarn at opposite ends of the fabric. Also if you pick up one stitch and then knit it before moving on to pick up the next stitch, you create two problems. You have doubled the amount of work to frog if the stitch count comes out wrong. You also have made tensioning this first row of new green stitches more difficult. A row of simple loops can be evenly adjusted by a few simple tugs. A row of new already knit stitches is more locked in and may not have the same tension as the original grey fabric. [ I have used the "green" and "grey" yarns to help the confused readers perhaps to see their way out of the confusion. ] I recently pulled out the first sweater I knit thirty years ago, just to see how I picked up the stitches for the turtleneck. Wow, talk about muddling through! I sure am glad there are sites like this to educate me into a better technique than I had back then. Thanks.

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

ArleneT — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:04:02 GMT

HI, I love your tutorials and learn alot from them. My main reason for writing is: are you coming to STITCHES WEST in Santa Clara, CA?? Weather has been iffy but today its great. N. CA is not balmy like S. CA but its close to S.F. and alot to other things. Since the midwest got to have you (and in bad weather probably) we'd like you to visit us too! Please, Please!

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

Mirl56 — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:23:29 GMT

"Most knitters do both steps for each single stitch--pick up the loop, then knit a new stitch into it--before moving on to pick-up-and-knit the next stitch. However, there are many skilled knitters who pick up all the loops along the edge at once, placing them on a spare needle. They then switch the spare needle with the new loops to their left hand, and knit all the new stitches onto the loops in a second, separate step" This is the most confusing thing I've ever read. The pics totally match what I've always done for 'picking up and kniting" but how can one do the 'all the pick ups' and then knit them separatly - that just doesn't make any sense. Show me some pics of this and how it is different.

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

FranL — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:48:38 GMT

I am among those who found this tutorial very helpful. I'm still a relatively new knitter and have yet to try an actual garment (unless you count socks as garments), so maybe I'll understand some of the more detailed comments later. But I was intimidated by picking up stitches in the little bit of sock knitting and entrelac that I have done to date, and have had hit-or-miss success. I found this tutorial really clarified the process for me. As far as the terminology goes, for as long as I can get away with it, I'm going to simply treat "pick up" and "pick up and knit" as the same thing and not think too hard about it. Thanks!

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

GraceJ — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:00:20 GMT

Yeah, what Lynn G said!

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

GraceJ — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:57:56 GMT

Wow, this COMPLETELY confused me. I thought I had been doing it right, but the written description above just DOES NOT explain this process clearly. Luckily, the picture tutorial assured me that I have been doing it right all along. The problem is what part of the process is the pick up" part. For me, "pick up" is what I do with the yarn to form the new loop... which the tutorial shows as the "and knit" part. What this entry entirely fails to explain is that "pick up" means to insert the needle into the stich where you plan to pick up a new loop/stitch. I don't know how anyone would identify this as picking up anything, but whatever. I'm just annoyed that I read this article and because immediately confused, rather than enlightened.

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

Ladymark — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:23:53 GMT

Yikes! Have you ever heard of so many people agreeing in so many different ways??! The good news is, we all know what we mean, and how this step should look. I do feel for beginning knitters, however, doing this for the first time. Because of the controversy, I once tried the (for lack of a better term) "knitting the same pick-up twice" method. It both looked and felt wrong, so I came to the conclusion, like so many others, that it was all really one step. I heartily endorse NancyJ's idea of using either "pick up" or "knit up", though there are very few patterns that have one only "pick up" existing loops without doing SOMETHING to them. As a teacher of special education students, I recognize that this is truly a labelling problem. Before a group discussion, one needs to have everyone on common ground, particularly about terms. Poor Sandi-did you realize you'd unleashed a storm?

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

Julie C — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:56:18 GMT

I'm with the folks that were confused by this. I already know how to do it, but this tutorial makes it sound like you're supposed to pull the yarn through, and then knit that loop. As far as I can tell, that doesn't make any sense. Whether you "pick up" or "pick up and knit" (I've heard them used synonymously), you're basically just making a loop by pulling new yarn through an existing edge. Then, later on, when you come around to that place, you have a loop to knit (or purl) into.

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

Elizabeth — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:09:58 GMT

Thanks, Sandi! I was just knitting socks last night and wondering about how to pick up along the sock heel. I used the back loop and got holes. Now I will try the other method. What a timely post! Just for the record, I did not find this confusing at all. In fact, I was using a pattern that said to pick up the stitiches, then go back and knit them..I found that very confusing, as I always pick up a stitch and then knit it. But your explanation cleared up the confusion with this pattern. Waiting for more on this topic. Great help. What about how to space buttonholes?

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

ValerieV — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:50:40 GMT

Sorry Sandi, I agree with those who say this is a very confusing post. Picking up and knitting consists of one step, pulling loops through the existing knitting fabric either with a crochet hook or a needle. This is row one of whatever is being added. A needle works best to make sure the stitches are oriented properly but the stitch mount can always be corrected on the next row of "real" two needle knitting. (Row 2) Some people make this into two steps by first inserting a knitting needle into the fabric under the bars between the first two columns of stitches. With these bars on the needle as "stitches" the first row of the new knitting (band, collar, whatever) is knit. (Row 1). Too bad we don't have some unambiguous way to describe these steps. I've always disliked "pick up and knit " for this reason.

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

Sumac — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:05:33 GMT

Are there only two of us (UpTown Fibers and me) who noticed that Step 5 shows the yarn going from front to back on the needle? Which direction is correct, the photo or the "as if to knit"?

re: Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

jschragal — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:23:48 GMT

Would someone please tell me the "trick" for picking up stitches on the left side of a baby bootie? I figured it out about 20 years ago but can't seem to do it now. I can always pick the stitches up on the right side but the stitches on the left side can't be picked up the same and "match" They also seem to "ladder" on the left side. I meant to write down what I did waaay back then but life got in the way ; > )