Quick question:

[theliterator]

First hi! New to the group, etc.

Quick question: I'm doubleknitting a thing, and I can't make the image I want work. I can't figure out where to run the yarn while I'm switching my knits and purls to make it not have uhm... ugliness like strands crossing the pattern, which I was hoping to avoid via the double knitting.

The method I'm using is the whole "knit one color/side, purl the other."

Any middle of the night help would be awesome.

Comments

[ysobel]

Are you doing alternate stitches (k1 in color A, p1 in B, k1 A, p1 B), or are you doing it by rows (k1 A, slip 1, k1 A, sl1, etc; go back to start of row, sl1, p1 B, sl1, p1 B)?

If the first, bring both yarns to the front when you're ready to purl with B, and bring both yarns to the back when you're ready to knit with A. (I just hold both yarns in the same hand, between different fingers, so I can move them together but then do individual stitches.)

If the second, make sure that on the A row you slip with yarn in front, and on the B row with yarn in back.

(Basically, in both cases, the yarn that's not being used should be on the inside of the stitch. The yarn that is being used will go there automatically because of the sort of stitch you're doing.)

ETA hi! also, I wanted to pick a yarnier icon :D

[theliterator]

Oh, I'm doing the former, and I've gotten that part down, it's just when I want to switch colors for the pattern-- if I do it that way, I get the wrong color yarn twisted around and through the stitches which is making my peace sign kind of drunk looking.

It fits the theme, not the intent. I JUST undid everything before I thought to post this or I'd take a picture.

[ysobel]

Hm. The yarns might twist around each other a bit, between the two layers of fabric, but the process is the same -- both yarns in back for knit, both yarns in front for purl, regardless of which color you're knitting/purling with.

If you keep having problems, pictures would be good :)

[theliterator]

Okay, I think I've got it-- I hope. What I was trying to do was switch knit/purl on each fabric, but what I'm meant to do is knit the alternating color to the opposite fabric, right?

((if that makes any sense. nothing online can explain it quite right. If it works, I will be super relieved.))

[ysobel]

Yeah, you switch colors, not what stitch you're doing.

So if you want a row to be AAABBAA, you would k1 A, p1 B; k1 A, p1 B; k1 A, p1 B; k1 B, p1 A; k1 B, p1 A; k1 A, p1 B; k1 A, P1 B. It still alternates knit (for near side) and purl (for other side), you just use the other yarn where you want it to swap over.

[theliterator]

Thanks! I feel silly that it took me three tries to get that. It's much more difficult to keep track of everything. D:

But it looks nice, so YAY!

[theliterator]

Your response was epically speedy, and hi back!

[msmcknittington]

Basically, you want to be sure your two yarns are running between the two pieces and not on the outside. It's really hard to explain with words. You move the yarns together into position to work the next stitch, but you only knit that stitch using one of them.

Have you tried watching the video on Knitting Help? There are more on YouTube if that one doesn't help you.