Picking up stitches for modular knitting without a diff color ridge on the "private" side

Deb wrote

on Mar 3, 2009 2:11 PM

I tried making the pattern "Modern Quilt Wrap" (http://www.knittingdaily.com/media/p/13982.aspx)
 but I ended up with a line of the previous color on the "private"/back side each time I picked up stitches with a different color.  I was hoping to be able to use this wrap as a wide winter scarf but wanted both sides to look good rather than having a public and private side.  Is there a way to pick up stitches with a differerent color without having that ridge of the previous color???  This seems to happen with all of the modular knitting patterns but can't find any help on this.  Any suggestions????

FionaC wrote

on Mar 5, 2009 2:33 AM

 Don't think there's any recourse on this one! If you're picking up by knitting or crocheting you are drawing one yarn through the loops of another - if that loop is a different color how can a line of the new color running along those loops be avoided?

It does produce an inside-out look. I made a similar type of scarf and didn't want that look, so I single crocheted a "braided"  line over all the joins, using a black yarn that was thinner than the scarf yarn to avoid bulk. It looks gorgous - very stained glass effect - but was also time consuming.

On a second one I couldn't be bothered with all that and don't care anymore about a public/private side. Because both scarves are large - similar to the one you're doing, the natural drape over the shoulders and down the back seems to keep the public side out anyway.

Another alternative is to line the private side with a very thin wool or wool-like fabric. It changes the look, the drape and the weight of a scarf, but hides the private side and is also very attractive in an entirely different way.  

AndreaW wrote

on Mar 8, 2009 1:20 PM

 Hi Deb...

I think perhaps you can minimize the appearance of the line but not get rid of it completely. I've noticed in pics that a lot of people seem to leave a large edge of the previous color when picking up sts of the new color. I've always used a very thin needle...preferably a circular...+ tried to pick up just the edges. If you are careful + pu the same part of each edge st (or same part of the row end) for every st pu'ed...it will create a very neat "pattern" along the edge. Your line of previous color is smaller this way + thus less noticeable. I have to add that I go along w/ the thin needle + just pick up loops first. Only when I'm happy w/ the # of sts + the look of it all...then I knit across. That's why I prefer a circular (or a dpn for short lengths like a block) so I can work fr either end rearranging till I like the look of the edge.

You can choose whether to knit into either the front or the back of the loops on that first row of pu'ed loops...depending on the look you want/ need. Just make sure you always do it the same way!!!

I agree w/ you about the look for this Wrap. However sometimes you may want to have the look of the color line as a design element...then you can pu a bigger edge.

   Hope this helped a bit....Andrea

Deb wrote

on Mar 23, 2009 11:02 AM

Thanks for the suggestions/help/advice Andrea and Fiona.  It seems like the more I learn about knitting I reallize the less I know :)

AndreaW wrote

on Apr 1, 2009 1:13 AM

 Hi Deb...

Don't be too quick to put yourself down, as we all have strong points!!!

I think we all have different experiences + interests...so learn different things. That's what great about these forums...we get to share. I love learning new stuff so tend to soak it all up. Some just happily knit along for the fun of it. Some people just want to finish + that's OK too.

     Take Care .... Andrea