Technique Tuesday

 

Why am I declaring today Technique Tuesday? Well, there are several reasons: Partly because I had so much fun with the whole knot dilema post last week; partly because I learned a new technique out of the deal; and partly because I just wanted to create a button or two.

Technical Question of the Week
When following a chart for a lace or fair isle project, how do you keep track of your progress? Do you use a row counter? Do you write on the pattern (lightly with pencil, of course)? Do you use a lifeline? Do you refuse to use charts and knit from written instructions only? What are your secrets?

I thought of this question the other day when my first attempt at Fake Isle went awry:

Any guesses as to how I managed this? And what the heck was this supposed to be?

Yeah, I'm not sure how I managed that either. I think I must have skipped a row or two, knit one or two rows twice, or all of the above. The hubby asked how I could get so off track and why I would keep on knitting once it was obvious that I'm off track. And I'm not sure that I can answer that because when I'm busy making these kinds of mistakes, they're usually not obvious to me at the time. It's when I stop knitting and take a good  look that I realize I've lost my direction or I'm not following the directions correctly. I guess I stick to the knitting with the hope that it will all work out in the end. That is not always the case, of course. Sometimes you have to rip.

For the second trip out on this project, I used the following technique to keep my place in the pattern:

The original pattern and using the sticky note technique to keep my place.

I move the sticky notes up after each row of the chart I'm knitting. Oh, and I have to cover any charts that are not in use or else I will knit from all charts simultaneously.

Okay, it's your turn!

 

Comments

[Jess]

How do I keep my place in charts? Usually by my well-developed ability to read my work. I'm terrible at keeping track of my pattern, marking my place, etc., so I've had to learn to read my work really well. In the lace shawl I have going, I do keep a clicky row counter but can't trust it (it's a favored kid toy) so I count my stitches and consult the pattern to see where I am (triangular shawl knit from the bottom up). In cables, it's a little harder since I still haven't figured out how to tell how many rows I am from a cable crossing. I usually put a split-ring marker in the cable-crossing row and move it/add a new one at every new crossing. For fair-isle/stranded knitting, I just look at my work and compare it to the chart. Everything else is just by eye, generally.

[Marina]

For all, I use written instructions. With Fair Isle, because of the colours and # of stitches of each colour, it's easy to know where I am. With lace and Arans/textures, I use a counter. If it's knitted in the round, I put the counter on a stitch holder and pin it on to the garment. I also have a document which tells me how the knitted row relates to the pattern rows ... Row 1/P. 1 ;-)

[Amanda]

I pretty much do it just exactly how you do. I made a mistake pretty similar to yours in my first fake isle as well. Learn as you go, I guess.

[Denise]

well you have the same technique as I do.. so hey I can't give you any new ideas!
But I like the idea of Technique Tuesday.. mind if I do it too??

[keri]

Hmmm I always use magnet boards to keep track of my place in the chart, and will often enlarge them if they're too small on the copier. Alongside that I usually use a row counter to keep track of the rows, it's especially important to know where you left off if you toss it in a bag as the magnets have a tendency to move.

If it's a easy charted pattern I'll highlight through the rows every once in a while.

[Jes]

I have a magnet board, like you'd put on the fridge, that I put the charts on. I stuck some wee magnets on the back of a metal ruler and I use the ruler to keep my row. I also use a row counter, just in case.
I do use a lifeline, but usually only move it up once a chart repeat, depending on the size of the chart. The more stiches, the less I want to move the lifeline (but, ofcourse, the more I need it!).