As knitters, we’ve all experienced the many mistakes that can happen along the way, especially for projects beyond the “one size fits all scarf”. How do you fix a sweater that’s too short that you’ve been working on for the last 3 months? How do you fix a missing stitch? Knit Fix, the new book by Lisa Kartus is your knitting first aid kit. This book shows you step-by-step techniques on how to fix all the different problems that can occur and the techniques of problem solving for knitting so that you’ll have a finished project that will fit correctly and look good on you.
Today, we are happy to be a part of Lisa’s blog tour, where she’s traveling along crafty blogland to help give advice and tips on our projects. I was happy to share one of my recent projects, my knit halter to see what could be done to it, to get the optimal results I wanted, without having to undo everything.
Lisa Kartus
Website – Knit Maven
Book – Knit Fix
Nat: Here’s my kniting problem: This is a project I actually have been working on recently from Rowan Beach Cool. I wanted to make it a bit longer than the measurements shown in the pattern because the picture looks nice and long with this model here. I’m still crocheting the halter neck but as I try this on now, the halter still only reaches a little below my belly button. Not the long lean look that I wanted. Even though I added approx 10-15 rows on the front and back.
Lisa: To add length to your halter top, decide how long you want the top to be by measuring from the back or front neck line to the bottom edge of the ribbing. Got a top that you really like the length of? Measure that and compare the two. Figure out how much longer the Beach Cool top needs to be. Next, measure your rows per inch in both the body of the sweater and in the ribbing.
My assumption is that you cast-on at the bottom. If so, it’s impossible to remove a cast-on edge, so you’ll get out your scissors. You’ll have to cut above the ribbing, because the new ribbing won’t match the old, since the stitches will be facing in opposite directions.
Turn to page 80 of Knit Fix for how to cut and pick up the live stitches at the same time. Knit the new ribbing to add those extra long and lean inches, which you’ve measured carefully. Number of rows to add? Multiply number of rows per inch by the number of inches, and away you go.
Nat: Additionally, I think because I did this while watching TV, I didn’t pay much attention to where I added extra rows, so the back piece is a bit smaller in terms of width than the front piece. You can tell it is only when you try to lay it flat with the front side down because the side seams aren’t on the side, they lay an 1/2 inch or so on the back piece on each side.
Lisa: Any reason not to put that extra half-inch into the seam?
Nat: Good tip to resew the seam! Thank you for the fix ideas. I will definitely try them. Now onto your new book. What was your inspiration behind, “Knit Fix”?
Lisa: It’s the book I was desperate for during my beginning knitting years. Maybe even two years ago. I kept looking for information on how to fix mistakes and couldn’t find it out there. And we all make mistakes. It’s how we know we’re human. There is no knitting without mistakes. There is, however, finished knitting sans mistakes. And that is sheer bliss.
Nat: What is the most common knitting “mistake” and what’s the fix?
Lisa: Probably the most common knitting mistake is the accidental yarnover. You’re knitting along and at some point realize your stitches have multiplied while you weren’t looking. Chances are you’ve switched from knit to purl by throwing the yarn over the needle instead of BETWEEN the needles. And bingo, there’s an extra stitch. Best fix? Unknit back to the yarnover, where it will fall off the needle, then keep on keeping on.
Nat: How do you decide when you can fix a knitting project and when you really need to take apart and start over?
Lisa: Every time I’ve unraveled a project, it was because of fit. If the thing is unwearable, it seems a shame to waste good yarn by hiding it in the closet. Two of my favorite sweaters are made with yarn from one of my biggest disasters. Now I am most particular about gauge. Because if you nail that, the rest of the sweater or sock or whatever will fit.
Thanks for all your knit fix tips and for visiting us at Craftzine today. Continue on for the rest of the week and next with Lisa on her craft blog tour!
Here’s her Knit Fix Blog Tour Schedule:
September 8 – Cast-On.com Podcast
September 9 – A Knitter in Queens
September 10 – SistahCraft
September 12 – Knit and Tonic
September 13 – Craftsanity Podcast
September 14 – Elizabeth Lenhard, Author of Chicks with Sticks
September 15 – Lolly Knitting Around
ADVERTISEMENT
