Zimmermania

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

HELP!!!

I too have jumped on the seamless hybrid bandwagon. I'm making this sweater for my hubby for Valentine's Day. I was motoring along quite nicely until it came time to make the "saddles". I'm working back and forth on the saddle sts, working an ssk on the knit side and a purl 2tog on the purl side and slipping the first stitch of each row...as directed. My SSK decreases have turned out horribly loose and sloppy! I have never had this problem with an ssk dec before and have no idea why this is happening. I tried to ignore it hoping blocking would help, but then I started to pick up the "saddle" for the back of the neck. When I get to those loose sts and try to dec for the saddle, it creates a big hole that looks just awful! Here are some pics of what I'm talking about, I hope someone can please HELP ME!!








posted by Emily/Knit Addictions at 10:57 AM

8 Comments:

  • I had this problem with the saddle on my sweater as well. One thing I did was to just try to knit my SSKs more tightly, making sure that the working yarn remained close to the stitches. Also, don't underestimate the power of blocking. The remaining holes were gone after I washed and blocked it.

    By Blogger Fresh Ground Knits, at 12:18 PM  

  • I haven't seen this problem before, or knit the hybrid (yet), but you could also always try twisting the sts or doing a different decrease. It would give it a different look, of course, but hopefully one without holes, and on a basically plain sweater, a "decorative" decrease line might be nice. I'd just play around with it on a swatch and see.

    By Blogger Kate A., at 2:14 PM  

  • Just wanted to say I recognize the fabric behind the sweater. Stickley? I have the same on a rocker. It was such a surprise to see it!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:50 AM  

  • Have you tried ssk-ing this way?

    Slip the first stitch knitwise, then second stitch purlwise, then knit through both together.

    This twists the underlying (first) stitch, so that it lies flatter and more snugly.

    Otherwise, you could pick up the strand where the hole gapes, and knit into it backwards, then work another ssk on the next round to get back to your original stitch count.

    Good Luck!

    By Blogger Moorecat, at 5:43 PM  

  • Ugh! I've actually tried all of these different methods to make my SSK's work better. Twisting sts, knitting tighter, nothing has helped. So I guess I'm just going to finish it and see if blocking helps. Seems like every time I knit something for Hubby there is a hiccup. What are the knitting gods trying to tell me???

    BTW, anonymous asked about the fabric seen in the background of my pics. It is Stickley and I'm equally surprised you noticed. Don't you just love it!

    By Blogger Emily/Knit Addictions, at 2:51 PM  

  • Emily, I never tire of the beauty and craftmanship! Harmonious.

    Have you tried knitting through the back of the stitch? That would tighten it.

    Astrid

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:08 PM  

  • I have not knit this sweater. However, I have also been dissatisfied with my SSK decrease. It always seems looser than my k2tog decrease. However, blocking and time have always improved it. I think the nature of constucting the stitch makes it pull more yarn from surrounding stitches, and then the extra yarn eases back somewhat later.

    Alison

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:22 AM  

  • I have the same problem. When i start decreasing for the saddle, it creates a hole. Do you have a solution meanwhile?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:30 AM  

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