Tubular Cast On for 2x2 Rib

The BESTEST Cast On for a 1x1 rib is the Tubular Cast On. There are 2 ways to do the tubular cast on, 1. cast on without waste yarn (using long tail variation) and 2. The stockinette cast on.

Both have been very well documented that I don't have to provide a tutorial again, I'm just going to give you the links to them.

1. Ysolda's Long Tail Cast On
2. Little Purl Of the Orient Stockinette Cast On

** By no means that these are the only 2 sources for a tubular cast on. They just happened to be a result of my Google Search.

Ok, here's the caveat. The tubular cast on really only addresses a 1x1 rib pattern. What if you want to do a 2x2 rib pattern?

Well, Montse Stanley gives some great direction on the 2 ways you could do this.

1. Take the Long Tail Cast On and work like normal, and then "cross" the stitches.
2. Take the Stockinette Version and instead of p,k,p,k, do a p,p,k,k.

Clear as mud?

Well, I've been experimenting for the Franklin pattern and here are the results.

Regular Cast On Followed by 2x2 ribbing - not so much..... ugly.


Long tail version of the cast on but crossing the ribs - hmmm..... ok. The tubular part seem skewed.


Lastly, the stockinette version - This I really like. Pretty.


So, in a nutshell, there is no one way to do a tubular cast on. Many methods, but slightly different results.

Baby Surprise Jacket Spreadsheet Revision 2

OK people, I just realized that I gave out my Baby Surprise Jacket Spreadsheet to like tons of people and there was a HUGE error in it. Well, it's not a stitch count error, because the formula's treat me right in Excel, but it was more of reading the spreadsheet from left to right and then I accidentally switched it over to right to left when it came to the double increases.

OK, I just realized that that did not totally make a whole lot of sense, but here is the revised spreadsheet.

I am so sorry ya'll. It was the sharp eye of Rowan (Ronan in Ravelry) that totally caught the mistake. Kudos go to her big time from me!!!

Also, the very last part of the spreadsheet has been modified off by 2 stitches ala The Boy Who Knits. So again, with the disclaimer: use at your own will. I will not be responsible for any BSJ's that turn out to be BSJ's (bull shit jobs). I made the spreadsheet for my own use, and will share if you want. But it's not the Bible.

click to enlarge

Baby Surprise Jacket Spreadsheet

Talk about geeky!!!!!! Look at what I did with Mizzzz Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket.........

I have the Excel file, ya'll, and if you would like, just ask...... but please show proof of ownership of pattern first..... I don't want the copyright cops after me.

Besides, how do you show ownership of pattern?

Hmmmmm.........????

Mock Braided I-Cord Edging

Here is something that I sorta came up with with the help and insipiration of Elizabeth Zimmermann and Nicky Epstien.

I-cord edgings are pretty especially if done in another color. I found that Liz's 3 stitch I-Cord edging was not heavy enough to hold down the roll of stockinette stitch. So, I figured maybe I could do a 4, 5 or even 6 stitch I-cord.

Then I thought, how about if I try and match it up, or 'mocked' Eunny's Celtic Braid pattern? So here it is

The chart:

(forgive me first attempts at creating charts...... baby steps to designing right?)

Oh, bear in mind, that after you finish a row, slip all the stitches from the right needle back to the left and start the next row.

Hope someone out there finds this useful.

Fixing Lace Without a Life Line

I know, I had a birthday and then I disappeared again. Sorry guys. But all is actually going quite good. Medications are almost right. Only, one last side effect to conquer – fatigue. I’m really getting into yoga right now and that’s taking up my night time knitting. But I am still determined to keep knitting and keep up with this blog. So, watch for posts sporadically, like today…. I’m going to show you what I did with a lace boo boo.

I frogged lace….. without a lifeline……. successfully!!!!!! And this is not just plain lace fabric, but true lace, with patterning on both sides. And that lace pattern would be the Sampler Stole by Hazel Carter from A Gathering of Lace.

Everything is step by step, so maybe I’ll just make it into a tutorial.

1. Before you start, here are the things you need – spray starch, steam iron and optionally, a hairdryer.
   


2. Here is the boo boo that I made. I don’t even know what happened. Looks like a triple yarnover with 5 dropped stitches, nupped together in attempts to fix it manually. But whatever.



3. I had a life line, but it was a gazillions rows down, so I thought I attempt the impossible. I’m not going to take credit for this method. I don’t have the exact source, but I read it on some knit list.


4. Oh, and you need some blocking pins too.


5. Pin out the problematic area, just like if you’re going to block it. Get some help with the steam iron to open up the yarn overs.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Let it sit for a while. Then start to lightly spray some starch on that area. Let it seep in.
   
   You can run the stem over the area again to further block it and to set the starch in.
   


7. IMPORTANT! LET IT DRY COMPLETELY. User the hairdryer if you wish, or go walk around and think about what a loser you are messing it up. Start stressing out. Imagine the worst. All that hard work gone if this doesn’t work. Look at the chart, examine it and find your place, then take a Valium. Calm down and come back to the lace.
   
   


8. Now, your lace should be stiff and open.
   
   
   
9. Remove blocking pins.
   
   
   
10. Hold your breath and pull the needles out, gently and slowly. Stare at it in horror.
    


11. Now RIP to your hearts content. SLOWLY and gently. The stitches should pop out and stay in place because of the starch. Rip until you reach your boo boo and rip till the end of that row.
    


12. Now, put your needles back in slowly. But if I were you, I would use a super tiny small size 00000000000 needle.
    
    
    


13. Phew
    


14. Now, transfer the stitches one by one back to the real size needle, with the correct orientations of the yarn over and the stitches and Viola!!! You’re done.
    

Take a nap.

The Russian Join

The Russian Join is starting to become my most favorite way to join ends of yarn. In this example, I am joining sock/fingering weight yarn that I am using for my Lace Leaf Shawl. It seems to work very well.

• Here are the 2 ends of yarn that you want to join
  


• Thread a tapestry needle through one of the ends
  


• Weave the needle in and out of that same end for about 1 – 2 inches
  


• Insert the other end of yarn through the loop formed by the first end
  


• Pull the needle through
  


• Thread the tapestry needle through the other end of yarn and repeat weaving the needle through that strand of yarn
  


• Pull needle through


• Now pull both ends of the yarn till the loops disappears
  


• Clip off the excess yarn and there is your join. Very neat and almost invisible
  

Pros:

• Very neat join
• Very strong join
• No ends to weave in
• With color work, you can almost pick exactly where you want the first color to end and the next color to start

Cons:

• There will be a double thickness of yarn where you weave the yarn onto itself
• Works well for thinner yarns but will start to become too bulky with heavier weight yarns

Happy Knitting

2 Socks on 1 Long Circular - Toes

This is the final installment of knitting 2 socks at the same time on 1 long circular. By now, you would have continued to knit in stitch pattern for the foot until the foot measures 2.5" - 3" less than your actual foot length. Measure from the heel right where the bottom of your foot touches the ground.

I apologize, but I do not have pictures for this last section. I hope my written description will suffice.

So to shape the toe, you will alternate between one decrease round and one plain round.

Decrease round:
Decreases will be made at each side of the stitch markers.

• For Sock A, knit t0 3 stitches before the marker
• K2tog, k1
• Slip marker
• K1, SSK
• Knit till end of Sock A
  
• Repeat all the steps above for the Sock B
• Return to home postion and repeat all the steps above for the other side

Plain round:

• Knit one round plain for both sides of Sock A and B

Continue alternating rounds according to your pattern and stop at the amount of stitches indicated by your pattern. Finish by grafting toe stitches together using the Kitchener stitch.

Well, I hope this tutorial has been helpful. I hope you had as much fun as I have putting it together. Happy Knitting.