Does a Grafted Row Count as One or Two Pattern Rows

re: Does a Grafted Row Count as One or Two Pattern Rows

KaraleeH — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:46:15 GMT

Hi, Joni: Thanks for the clarification. I guess what I would say is that the grafting row is still just a single row, but (like every row in knitting when you get right down to it) each stitch in it, because of the way it intersects with the stitches directly above and below it, affects the nature of stitches in two different rows. The intersections at the bottom of each stitch determine whether that stitch itself is a knit or purl, while the intersections at the top of each stitch determine whether the stitch in the next row is a knit or purl. When you're just knitting along you don't have to think about this, because the top of each stitch just sits there as a loop on the needle until you get to the next row; but when you're grafting, you're working one row of stitches that determines the nature of the stitches both above and below it - because of the row of loops from the provisional cast-on, which have not been set as knits or purls yet.

Anyway, though I may quibble a bit about the terminology, I want to say thanks again for your article and for making me think about this further.

P.S. I agree that the waste yarn solution was my way of not having to deal with thinking everything through at the time - it worked, but it's not as elegant as your method!

re: Does a Grafted Row Count as One or Two Pattern Rows

Joni Coniglio — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:15:26 GMT

Hi KaraleeH: I understand what you're saying, but it doesn't really matter which provisional cast-on you use, the two-pattern-rows principle is the same. A provisional cast-on is one that leaves live loops to be worked later--either by working in the opposite direction, or by grafting the stitches to another piece.

When you worked Row 1 of the pattern directly over the waste yarn stitches, you were not actually creating Row 1 as much as you were creating a TEMPLATE for Row 1 to use when you grafted the stitches with the main yarn at the end.

Because the row below Row 1 was a waste yarn row and, by definition, a temporary row, the knit and purl stitches you worked on that row were also only temporary. If you removed the waste yarn, the knit and purl stitches of pattern Row 1 would disappear and you'd be left with live loops (just as if you'd cast on by picking up stitches in the back of a crocheted chain).

The same thing applies to the waste yarn row (Row 8) that you worked above your last Row 7 of the pattern. Since you worked Row 8 with the waste yarn, it was also a temporary row. When you grafted with the main yarn, you traced the path of the stitches of Row 8 on one piece and the path of the stitches of Row 1 on the other piece.

This is a very good technique to use when you're grafting in pattern and you're not sure how to create knit and purl stitches from live loops on the needle. By working a pattern with (or on top of) waste yarn, you can simply trace over the waste yarn with the grafting yarn.

Joni C.

re: Does a Grafted Row Count as One or Two Pattern Rows

ruthess — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:42:42 GMT

I'm sorry Knitting Daily, but I have to agree with everything CindyM@2 and Weaving Knitter had to say - so much potential, and yet I feel so bombarded and pressured.

re: Does a Grafted Row Count as One or Two Pattern Rows

astra52 — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 08:20:36 GMT

*** sa cosi

re: Does a Grafted Row Count as One or Two Pattern Rows

KaraleeH — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:56:37 GMT

What a great article, with so much helpful detail! I look forward to spending a little more time with it and experimenting with your techniques.

There's only one thing I would add, having just done a complex graft for the first time myself: the answer to your quiz at the beginning depends on what kind of provisional cast-on you use. Your method is correct for some, but not all, provisional cast-ons. In my recent project (top to bottom grafting of a cabled infinity cowl), I worked a couple of rows in waste yarn before beginning with my main yarn on row 1 of the 8-row pattern; I worked the last pattern repeat through row 7, then switched back to the waste yarn for a couple more rows. Then I used the path of the waste yarn through the stitches as a guide for my grafting, and the graft did indeed only form one extra row of knitting.

The answer, I think, is that with some provisional cast-ons, the main yarn is already on the needles when you begin the first row of knitting (as when you pick up stitches from a crochet chain, for instance); whereas with other provisional cast-ons you start with waste yarn on the needles when you begin your first row of knitting with the main yarn. In the former case, your procedures are correct - that original set of loops on the needle becomes the second row of the grafting - but in the latter case, the row of grafted stitches forms only a single additional row.

re: Does a Grafted Row Count as One or Two Pattern Rows

Joni Coniglio — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 20:06:00 GMT

I'm glad that people are finding my post on grafting helpful!

I'm working on Part 2 of the post right now (top-to-top grafting) and will post it in a few days. I'll show you the method I use for figuring out the grafting steps for even the most complex combinations of knit and purl stitches in just a few minutes, using graph paper and a pencil. (I came up with this method because I have such a terrible memory and formulas never worked for me.)

vvancleave: Good luck with your grafting project! Let me know how it goes. In the magazine article, I described how grafting works in general (and included tutorials for grafting the two projects that you see in the photos above). I only had enough room to talk briefly about how grafting creates two pattern rows (something that requires explanation!), so thought it would make a good blog post.

knittinggnome: The patterns for both the cabled capelet (designed by Erica Patberg) and the mobius scarf (designed by Daniel Yuhas) can be found in Knit.Wear magazine. Both patterns include phototutorials for the grafting.

Joni C.

re: Does a Grafted Row Count as One or Two Pattern Rows

vvancleave — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 18:35:54 GMT

This is awesome. I have a huge project just waiting for the last graphed row because I couldn't figure out how to graft 1 x 3 ribbing top to bottom.

Does the article in Knit.Wear contain even more information or does this say it all?

Thanks again - off to start the graft!

re: Does a Grafted Row Count as One or Two Pattern Rows

knittinggnome — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:35:30 GMT

great and necessary article. can you give us a link to that beautiful pattern? Thanks

re: Does a Grafted Row Count as One or Two Pattern Rows

WeavingKnitter — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 14:34:01 GMT

Thanks!!

This is very helpful. Well written and clearly illustrated. It has been too long since we have been offered much beyond "please buy something".

Your publications are great, and the pattern library is an amazing resource, but we know about it already! Of course you need to sell stuff, but most of your messages get quickly deleted because they are so repetitive and unnecessary to my daily email stream.

This particular post has stopped me from unsubscribing, but you should know I'm pretty close to doing it.

re: Does a Grafted Row Count as One or Two Pattern Rows

CindyM@2 — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 13:52:37 GMT

I wish the Knitting Daily emails were more like this -- information on techniques beyond the basics. The emails have gone waaay down in quality -- I used to eagerly await each on and devour them when they came into my inbox. Now, I just check the title and delete if it doesn't sound interesting, because I can usually tell how simplistic the email will be (or if you're just going to try and sell me another magazine). Unfortunately, when I delete them, I may miss out on promos of little nuggets like this one.

If you want to keep your subscribers happy, you really shouldn't skimp on quality. You have a reputation to keep up, and it's suffering right now.

re: Does a Grafted Row Count as One or Two Pattern Rows

Skoorhan — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:08:47 GMT

This article is a great addition to the magazine and I thank you very much for it. I have always been fascinated with finishing techniques like grafting. This is the best explanation of the technique that I have ever encountered.

re: Does a Grafted Row Count as One or Two Pattern Rows

Handwork — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:04:05 GMT

I need to see the demo to follow the instructions. Might there be a link where you have the demos?

Thanks in advance.