Short Row shapings on sleeve caps?

craftylady · Short Row shapings on sleeve caps?

I'm galloping on with this cotton cardi for the WRI. I want to make the best job of it I can and was wondering about doing short row shaping on the sleeve caps instead of the steppy cast of edges.

Can anybody help me out in how I convert the pattern and any links to instructions.

I've googled it this morning but it all seems very maths related and whilst I'm not stupid I found those pages too complicated.

I know there are some very clever knitters out there and thank you all for just looking.

melody yarns

I've done this before but only at the very top of the sleeve cap. The first row that you short row shape needs to be a purl row, so purl until you have as many stitches remaining on your left hand needle as the pattern tells you to cast off, wrap and turn, then in the next row knit to the number of stitches that you should cast off again, wrap and turn, then purl the next row until you have the first lot of 'cast off' stitches plus the second set of cast off stitches on your left needle, wrap and turn etc. So each time you are knitting a shorter distance in your row.

You will need to work a final row to ensure that all the wraps are knitted though before casting off otherwise you'll end up with holes where you've wrapped and turned.

Does that make any sense at all? It's very difficult to explain in words!

craftylady

We must have the same sort of thought waves cos that makes complete sense to me. Thank you for answering so completely and quickly. I only hope it translates well to my actual knitting Laughing

Will hopefully post a pic or two when I get to that point. I'm nearly finished the back and fronts as they are knitted all in one so the top of th sleeves will nearly be the end of the garment.

Thanks again.

melody yarns

It works amazingly well Very Happy

craftylady

I did one sleeve cap last night.

Once I'd finished the short rows the last row being a knit row:
I purled to the end of that row

then cast off back to the start of the (previous) purl row

Then knitted to the end, turned

and cast off purlwise.

Is this right Melody? I couldn't work out any other way to do it as the working yarn's in the middle of the row.

I don't think I like the finished effect, my wrapped stitches even though they've been knitted before cast off look larger than the rest of the sleeve cap iyswim.

I'll try to post a pic later on - Hubby's promised me a run up the coast to buy an ice-cream and he's loitering.
edited to add pics....

melody yarns

I think you've got loopy stitches because your wrapping and turning is not quite right Craftylady. It's easy to do but really difficult to explain how to wrap and turn so that you don't get loopy stitches, the trick is to pick up the loop on the final knit or purl row and knit them along with the stitch so that the wrap is hidden.

Say for example your pattern tells you to cast off 6 stitches at the beginning of the next six rows.
Ending with a knit row, purl to the last six stitches, wrap and turn.
Knit to the last six stitches, wrap and turn
Purl to the last 12 stitches (6+6) wrap and turn
Knit to the last 12 stitches (6+6) wrap and turn
Purl to the last 18 stitches (6+6+6) wrap and turn
Knit to the last 18 stitches (6+6+6) wrap and turn

Then you need to purl to the end of the row picking up the wrap loops on one side and then knit the next row picking up the remaining wrap loops
Cast off

Does that make more sense? It's really difficult to write and much easier to show!

craftylady

I don't know Melody! you're doing a great job of explaining as we go along.

Let's see if I understand now........

if I unpick my casting off to the point where I did my last wrap and turn

then purl the next row including the wraps

then knit the next row including the wraps and cast off?

I'm off to give it a go and will report back Ma'am.

PS thanks for your help :big kiss:

melody yarns

You need to get your needle tip/point under the wrapped loop and knit or purl it with your stitch that it's wrapped round iyswim?

If you have Finishing Techniques for Handknitters by Jane Crowfoot there's a brill explanation on pages 50 and 51 Wink

craftylady

Jo028

Craftylady, Debs is right, it's hard to explain! There are pics of wrapping & picking up the wraps here or an alternative to a stepped cast off is the sloped bind off. There is a video here

good luck!!

craftylady

Well, as I'm not very busy at work today. I've asked DD to bring my knitting bag and I googled "short row tutorials" and nonaknits came up with 3 versions: wrap (which I tried last night), yarn over and japanese short rows. So along with the sloped bind off (thanks jo028) I'm going to practise all 4 and see which I like best for when the new balls of Muskat arrive. The show is in May so plenty of time to practice. I'll post pictures of all 4 and see what everyone thinks too.

Wishes DD would hurry up Rolling Eyes

Edited to add

3 down sloped still to try. Don't like any of the short rows tho so sloped is looking good for now.

I blame too much coffee at Joy's place, if you want an honest opinion, nothing to do with my knitting skills honest

craftylady

here are the 4 samples I did yesterday. Leaving aside the fact that the yarn had previously been frogged and so my stitches seem to be "holey" I'd like your opinions on which shaping is the neatest.

I'm beginning to hate the WRI Evil or Very Mad

melody yarns

sloped cast off definitely! Cool

Jo028

Sloped bind off gets my vote too Very Happy