cables

[zats_clear]

 Ok, my lovelies, I have decided to try out dpns and make myself up a pair of fingerless gloves.  After MUCH searching, I found a pattern that fits the bill for my very first pair (oh Ravelry, how many hours I spend with thee), Hope's Fingerless Gloves (lookie, I put in a link for the non-Ravelry crowd, you odd people!) and set to work.

Using the dpns was like driving a clown car full of puppies but I did get the hang of it and the stitches settled down after the first few rows and then...I began to cable.  I like to learn at least two new tricks per project or I am an martyr.  The second row, I noticed that my cabled stitches were abominably tight so I have questions.

Should I be knitting fairly loosely when I cable?  Is it really supposed to hurt this much?

I will fess up that I am using number 6 needles for a project calling for 8's but when I pulled it off the needles, the cuff fit nicely with some excellent stretch and I have small hands.  And for those who like to know these things,  I am using Mirasol Akapana for my yarn.

thanks in advance!

Comments

[ames]

My theory is that there is no such thing as knitting more loosely or tightly than normal. You're going to revert back to your standard tension, it's inevitable. If you need to be looser, you'll have to change needles, full stop.

The first row worked after a cable twist can be a little tight, and especially so if you're working in the round in a tight gauge, but it shouldn't hurt. I'd suggest checking your gauge and being brutally honest. Cables aren't that stretchy - the bit where the twist is isn't going to give like ribbing does. And don't forget that your hand is wider than your wrist - unless the pattern accounts for that by having you add in stitches (which most fingerless mitt patterns don't, in my experience), what is snug on the wrist could well be unbearable on the hand.

So - check your gauge. If you're not hitting it, then you need to go up an needle size.

[zats_clear]

it seems to be knitting along just fine now. I was trying out two new things, dpns and cables so I did knit that first cable row tighter than I should have. The "hurt" was in my brain!

I need to take a pic of the one I am working on actually on my hand. It looks really cool with the thumb on the stitch holder and all the dpns sticking out!

*we are the Borg, we will assimilate you*