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purlgrrl
Chatty Knitter
230 Posts |
 Posted - 07/31/2003 : 09:40:08 AM
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I'm having a time understanding how to do this-I've looked online, but all the directions seem to be written for someone who knows the basics. I'm wondering about the cast-on. Lets say you're doing something with 40 stitches, in black and white. Do you cast the yarns on together, or do you tie one color to the other with a slip knot and cast on all in one color and carry the second color along in front of the stitches you make, then reverse thecolors when you want to go from one to the other? Maybe I'm missing a vital "how to knit with color" gene in my genetic makeup, but I'm clueless. Any suggestions would help me from going off the deep end and running with my size 6 needles through the house, wailing like a banshee!
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klfrazier
Permanent Resident
1745 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 09:51:25 AM
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I belive that you should always cast on with the main color. Personally, I've never seen a two-color cast on, but that could be me. After that, how you work with the two strands depends on what type of pattern you use. My big piece of advice is to ignore instructions that say you should always bring the working yarn up from underneath the one you just finished with. I tried that for a swatch, and it caused massive problems. Instead, carry one color in each hand (E. Zimmerman's way) to avoid tangles. See "Knitting Without Tears" for a better explanation. I actually think it is worth it to teach yourself to use both hands this way, although it does take some getting used to. I was about to give up on a Fair Isle sweater until I figured this out. I've sailed along without problem every since!
Have fun!
Kristin |
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klfrazier
Permanent Resident
1745 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 09:51:25 AM
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I belive that you should always cast on with the main color. Personally, I've never seen a two-color cast on, but that could be me. After that, how you work with the two strands depends on what type of pattern you use. My big piece of advice is to ignore instructions that say you should always bring the working yarn up from underneath the one you just finished with. I tried that for a swatch, and it caused massive problems. Instead, carry one color in each hand (E. Zimmerman's way) to avoid tangles. See "Knitting Without Tears" for a better explanation. I actually think it is worth it to teach yourself to use both hands this way, although it does take some getting used to. I was about to give up on a Fair Isle sweater until I figured this out. I've sailed along without problem every since!
Have fun!
Kristin |
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klfrazier
Permanent Resident
1745 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 09:51:25 AM
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I belive that you should always cast on with the main color. Personally, I've never seen a two-color cast on, but that could be me. After that, how you work with the two strands depends on what type of pattern you use. My big piece of advice is to ignore instructions that say you should always bring the working yarn up from underneath the one you just finished with. I tried that for a swatch, and it caused massive problems. Instead, carry one color in each hand (E. Zimmerman's way) to avoid tangles. See "Knitting Without Tears" for a better explanation. I actually think it is worth it to teach yourself to use both hands this way, although it does take some getting used to. I was about to give up on a Fair Isle sweater until I figured this out. I've sailed along without problem every since!
Have fun!
Kristin |
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Hello Knitty
Permanent Resident
1069 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 10:05:30 AM
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I was taught to bring the colours up and under and I do it with a colour in each hand. I'm no expert but I think if you don't bring the colour up from underneath, you'll get a hole.
I'm only just learning and I knit veeeerrrry slooowly withthe two handed method, but I think it's worth learning. I saw a cd about two handed fair isle at Patternworks (I think)It might be worth getting.
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Hello Knitty
Permanent Resident
1069 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 10:05:30 AM
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I was taught to bring the colours up and under and I do it with a colour in each hand. I'm no expert but I think if you don't bring the colour up from underneath, you'll get a hole.
I'm only just learning and I knit veeeerrrry slooowly withthe two handed method, but I think it's worth learning. I saw a cd about two handed fair isle at Patternworks (I think)It might be worth getting.
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Hello Knitty
Permanent Resident
1069 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 10:05:30 AM
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I was taught to bring the colours up and under and I do it with a colour in each hand. I'm no expert but I think if you don't bring the colour up from underneath, you'll get a hole.
I'm only just learning and I knit veeeerrrry slooowly withthe two handed method, but I think it's worth learning. I saw a cd about two handed fair isle at Patternworks (I think)It might be worth getting.
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Hello Knitty
Permanent Resident
1069 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 10:05:30 AM
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I was taught to bring the colours up and under and I do it with a colour in each hand. I'm no expert but I think if you don't bring the colour up from underneath, you'll get a hole.
I'm only just learning and I knit veeeerrrry slooowly withthe two handed method, but I think it's worth learning. I saw a cd about two handed fair isle at Patternworks (I think)It might be worth getting.
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purlgrrl
Chatty Knitter
230 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 11:46:56 AM
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Once you cast on with the main color, how do you add in the second color? A seperata CO, then a kTog?
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purlgrrl
Chatty Knitter
230 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 11:46:56 AM
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Once you cast on with the main color, how do you add in the second color? A seperata CO, then a kTog?
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cheryll
New Pal
9 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 12:54:22 PM
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I knit with 2 colors over my left index finger; if I need a third it goes alternately in the right hand or under my left middle finger.
Casting on with 2 or more colors is definitely done, it's much slower, I believe I've seen it explained in more than one knitting encyclopedia.
It's probably easier at first to cast on with one color, then add the other color(s) at the beginning of a new row/round. All you do is start knitting the very first stitch of the other color with that ball, leaving a tail of about 6 inches to darn in later (or catch in a steek).
While all of this seems tedious, remember that most traditional 2-color knitting is done in rounds, so there is no purling back, and utilizing steeks.
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cheryll
New Pal
9 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 12:54:22 PM
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I knit with 2 colors over my left index finger; if I need a third it goes alternately in the right hand or under my left middle finger.
Casting on with 2 or more colors is definitely done, it's much slower, I believe I've seen it explained in more than one knitting encyclopedia.
It's probably easier at first to cast on with one color, then add the other color(s) at the beginning of a new row/round. All you do is start knitting the very first stitch of the other color with that ball, leaving a tail of about 6 inches to darn in later (or catch in a steek).
While all of this seems tedious, remember that most traditional 2-color knitting is done in rounds, so there is no purling back, and utilizing steeks.
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klfrazier
Permanent Resident
1745 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 1:00:02 PM
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I think the question of bringing the color up from the bottom depends on what type of pattern you are working with. If you are using two colors for intarsia, then yes you do get a hole if you don't add the second color in just the right way as you are essentially knitting two seperate pieces of fabric. If you are doing a fair isle type pattern where the colors are stranded accross the back, then it doesn't matter one bit. In fact, I think that the back winds up being much neater if one is brought over and the other under.
The best way to add the second color is to just knit the first stitch with it and go. Later, I go back and very carefully weave the ends in so they are anchored securely.
If you like to learn visually, E.Z.'s glossary videos and Meg Swansen's Fair Isle vest video both show how to work with colors. As one gentleman from my guild said, such things are often best taught by a real person and not a book.
Kristin |
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klfrazier
Permanent Resident
1745 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 1:00:02 PM
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I think the question of bringing the color up from the bottom depends on what type of pattern you are working with. If you are using two colors for intarsia, then yes you do get a hole if you don't add the second color in just the right way as you are essentially knitting two seperate pieces of fabric. If you are doing a fair isle type pattern where the colors are stranded accross the back, then it doesn't matter one bit. In fact, I think that the back winds up being much neater if one is brought over and the other under.
The best way to add the second color is to just knit the first stitch with it and go. Later, I go back and very carefully weave the ends in so they are anchored securely.
If you like to learn visually, E.Z.'s glossary videos and Meg Swansen's Fair Isle vest video both show how to work with colors. As one gentleman from my guild said, such things are often best taught by a real person and not a book.
Kristin |
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klfrazier
Permanent Resident
1745 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 1:00:02 PM
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I think the question of bringing the color up from the bottom depends on what type of pattern you are working with. If you are using two colors for intarsia, then yes you do get a hole if you don't add the second color in just the right way as you are essentially knitting two seperate pieces of fabric. If you are doing a fair isle type pattern where the colors are stranded accross the back, then it doesn't matter one bit. In fact, I think that the back winds up being much neater if one is brought over and the other under.
The best way to add the second color is to just knit the first stitch with it and go. Later, I go back and very carefully weave the ends in so they are anchored securely.
If you like to learn visually, E.Z.'s glossary videos and Meg Swansen's Fair Isle vest video both show how to work with colors. As one gentleman from my guild said, such things are often best taught by a real person and not a book.
Kristin |
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pmfpa
New Pal
20 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 4:07:18 PM
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I used to get quite paranoid about this "twisting the yarn" question. Despite having done several stranded sweaters, I thought I must be wrong and there must be holes in my work. To my relief, the last issue of InKnitters magazine has an article on two color work and quotes June Hiatt in Principles of Knitting and Stanley Montse (sp)from his book, both saying that twisting is only necessary in intarsia.
Pam
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pmfpa
New Pal
20 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 4:07:18 PM
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I used to get quite paranoid about this "twisting the yarn" question. Despite having done several stranded sweaters, I thought I must be wrong and there must be holes in my work. To my relief, the last issue of InKnitters magazine has an article on two color work and quotes June Hiatt in Principles of Knitting and Stanley Montse (sp)from his book, both saying that twisting is only necessary in intarsia.
Pam
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pmfpa
New Pal
20 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2003 : 4:07:18 PM
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I used to get quite paranoid about this "twisting the yarn" question. Despite having done several stranded sweaters, I thought I must be wrong and there must be holes in my work. To my relief, the last issue of InKnitters magazine has an article on two color work and quotes June Hiatt in Principles of Knitting and Stanley Montse (sp)from his book, both saying that twisting is only necessary in intarsia.
Pam
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florence@lighthouse.net
New Pal
6 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2003 : 02:07:12 AM
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I've started a fair isle sweater, which has a two color, corrogated ribbing, it was cast on with the main color, then purl two with the color in the right hand and then join contrasting color and knit two with the left hand. I do it that way since i'm faster and better with my right hand it's easier to purt with the right, and i can knit pretty good with the left.
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florence@lighthouse.net
New Pal
6 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2003 : 02:07:12 AM
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I've started a fair isle sweater, which has a two color, corrogated ribbing, it was cast on with the main color, then purl two with the color in the right hand and then join contrasting color and knit two with the left hand. I do it that way since i'm faster and better with my right hand it's easier to purt with the right, and i can knit pretty good with the left.
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florence@lighthouse.net
New Pal
6 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2003 : 02:07:12 AM
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I've started a fair isle sweater, which has a two color, corrogated ribbing, it was cast on with the main color, then purl two with the color in the right hand and then join contrasting color and knit two with the left hand. I do it that way since i'm faster and better with my right hand it's easier to purt with the right, and i can knit pretty good with the left.
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