knitting in the round help

[lullabymoon]

I've just finished my second hat, and I've run into the same problem with both. They both seem to spiral slightly and I can't figure out why. This is only the second time I've knitted in the round so I could be missing something fairly obvious.


(the cast on edge is straight, my model was getting rather annoyed at my fidgeting).

My marker stayed in the same position and I wasn't moving the rib along. It's not blocked, and I hadn't planned on blocking it as it'll face the rain regularly, but I'm not sure that would help anyway. Does anyone have any idea what I've done wrong?

ETA: Thanks for all the help, with it I've discovered I've been knitting into the back of the stitch instead of the front which has caused the twisting.

Comments

[james]

When you knit, are you knitting through the front loop or back loop? Back when I began knitting, my ribbing did this very thing and it was because I was knitting through the back loop.

[lullabymoon]

The loop of the stitch or the circular needle?

[james]

The loop of the stitch itself.

[lullabymoon]

Yeah my knit stitch is through the back of the loop. How did you manage to get a rib if you only use the front of the loop?

[astro_noms]

Unless the pattern calls for it, you'd knit *and purl through the front of the loop.

[lullabymoon]

Sounds completely obvious in retrospect, but it's completely new way to me so. :) Thanks, I will need to have a go at trying that.

[astro_noms]

Yeah, I used to do combined knitting, which may be what you've done, and got some weird results (although it was mostly garter stitch back then, and I taught myself to do it the right way). It might take you a little time to remember, but you'll get there eventually!

[james]

Knitting through the back loop is a type of knit stitch that is used for the effect of it leaning to one side. :-)

The knit stitch is knit through the front loop, from the left to the right. The purl is knit through the front loop from the right to the left. Try looking on youtube for knitting videos or you can check these out:

Knit through the back loop
regular knit stitch

[lullabymoon]

You learn something new everyday! :D That was the way I was taught so I had no idea. Thanks for the help, and the links!

[loki_of_sassgaard]

Do you knit right- or left-handed?

I've seen some really odd twisting and spiralling from people who knit or crochet left-handed.

[lullabymoon]

I knit right-handed, so no further forward. Thanks though.

[zcat_abroad]

This is an interesting theory. I knit (and crochet) left-handed, and have noticed that I am often working against the twist of the yarn. I'm wondering if, when I spin, I should spin my yarn the opposite way.

[loki_of_sassgaard]

Couldn't hurt, I don't imagine. One person I was watching on LJ had the hardest time with granny squares because they would almost spiral.

[apis_mellifera]

Are you using a singles yarn or does it have multiple plys? Singles yarns can bias like that. Also, is it a fiber that can be blocked--such as wool--and have you blocked it?

[lullabymoon]

No it's a multiple ply. Both the hats can be blocked but I hadn't planned too on this one as it will get soaking wet in the winter. I tried blocking the first one but it didn't help much.

[sedge]

It might be a function of the direction you wrap your stitches. I'm a bit too sleepy to explain at the moment, but there's two things to look for online:

Knitting stitch mount

Combined knitting

If you are unconsciously doing combined knitting, it can make it easy to twist your stitches if you're not paying attention to what's the front of the stitch and what's the back.

There's nothing wrong with being a combination knitter (it has its advantages, actually), but you need to learn how to adapt to standardized terminology if that's what's going on.

[lullabymoon]

It turns out I've been knitting into the back of the loop, instead of the front and been twisting my stitches that way. Thanks for the comment though, it's been informative !!

[sedge]

Glad it was interesting even if not directly relevant! I'm also glad you sorted it out.