Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns

Jobo · Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 4097 Location: East Sussex

OK - after just reading Sprite64's thread about decreasing and that "stair stepping" effect you get when casting off stitches at the beginning of a row - i.e for shoulder decreases.

I just wanted to share a technique with you that I learnt on the Finishing Techniques Course I went on recently. I have been using this and it really is brilliant.

Some of you might know about this already, so if I am teaching Granny to Suck Eggs I apologise - but here goes.....

EXAMPLE: When it tells you to cast of say 8 stitches at the beginning of your next 4 rows (or however many)

Row 1 - knit row - cast off 8 stitches knitwise - knit to end
Row 2 - purl row - cast off 8 stitches purlwise - then purl to last 2 stitches
and purl 2 together
Row 3 - knit row - cast off 7 stitches (you have just decreased the 8th
stitch by purling 2 together on the previous row. Knit to last 2
stitches and knit 2 together.
Row 4 - purl row - cast off 7 stitches purlwise- purl to last 2 stitches - etc
etc.

I can guarantee, this works beautifully and absolutely gets RID of that stair stepping effect.

Hope this is helpful Very Happy

CJ · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:20 am Post subject:

yes, I agree, it works perfectly. Very Happy

That's what Diane at Colinette taught us on the course last year and ever since I have nice shoulders!! Laughing

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Blossom · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:02 am Post subject:

Oooh that sounds great....I shall have to remember that, if my post-natal brain CAN! Laughing

Is there a techniques bit we can have this in so it doesn't get lost iykwim!! Laughing

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Nevisknitter · Joined: 27 May 2007 Posts: 2184 Location: scotland

Thanks for that tip, I agree with blossom, can it go somewhere where we can find it in the future

pictish · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:23 am Post subject:

Thanks Jo!!! That sounds really good. I too would appreciate it somewere permanent Cool

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Ali xxx

jacquie · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:54 pm Post subject:

There is video of this at http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/bind-off.php
about 3/4 of the way down the page under "Sloped Bind Off"

except instead of knitting 2tog you leave the last stitch at the end of the row on the lh needle, turn the work, slip the next stitch onto the rh needle, pass the unknitted stitch over the slipped stitch and then carry on casting off as usual.

The video shows it much clearer than the words!
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Jacquie

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melody yarns · Site Admin Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 8688 Location: UK

You could of course use the short-row shaping technique and bind off the shoulders together with a three needle bind off....?
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jacquie · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:18 pm Post subject:

Yes that is what I would do on shoulders too.

The other method is good for necklines and armhole shaping though.
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Sprite64 · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 2879

That's useful to know. I decided to just carry on with my Foxtail and hope that it will sort itself out when I do the edging bit. Have made quite a bit of progress on it tonight Smile

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Sharon