I discovered that I had made a bit of a tactical error with Oregon and therefore had to rip back a few rounds. It’s not a big deal if you know the “secret.”
I was teaching a class on fair isle and one of the students made a mistake several inches back. She un-knit every stitch — several hundred per round — round after round!!!! It took her hours and hours. When I told her the secret to ripping out fair isle, I don’t know if she wanted to slug me or hug me! I’m sure many of you have used this technique before, but if not, you may find it useful.
Take a circular needle ~2 sizes smaller than the one you are using and pick up the sts through a row/round that is easy to follow. I am showing it on Rona because it is so darned easy to see. On Oregon, I chose the last round before a color change. Starting at the center steek (or beg of rnd), pick up all the sts* in that round. Then pull out the needle (Note: here I mean the needle you are actually knitting with, not the one you used to pick up the sts) and unzip the sts. Be careful to untangle the yarn as you go if you want to reuse it. Sometimes it is worth going back a couple of extra rounds if it makes following a stitch line easier.
I use this technique on regular knitting as well. You just need to make sure you are following the stitch line carefully. It is the technique I use for shortening sweaters.
So now I’m back a few rounds but happier!
Looking at Rona so close up leads to comparisons with Oregon. The new A*ice S*ar*more yarns are much nubbier and therefore do not yield as smooth and even a fabric. The gauge is bigger, too (28 sts/inch vs 30). Overall, it has a coarser, thicker appearance. I hope it improves with blocking!
PS (to Marina) — I do not transfer the sts to the “real” needle — I just start knitting with the larger sized needle on the next round.
* Also, I should add some detail about “picking up” the sts: working from right to left, insert the tip of the needle into the right half of the st as if to purl.
Thank you for your comments and questions!
Once again I learn more from reading your blog than I do from any class I’ve attended! You should really charge a blog entry fee. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your incredible talent, technique, and wisdom!! It is so refreshing, when sooooo many people are not nearly as kind and generous.
You ladies are 2 of the most talented knitters in knitterland!
Comment by Michelle — January 24, 2007 @ 7:34 am
Question : Do you then transfer the stitches on to the correct sized needle? Or just leave it and do the next round with the correct sized needle? Thanks!
Rona is gorgeous. Hope to get to it some time!
Comment by Marina — January 24, 2007 @ 8:08 am
I second Michelle’s comments! This is very helpful – thanks once again!
Comment by Ali — January 24, 2007 @ 10:47 am
Ripping back in two colors was thought up by Satan.
Comment by Lorraine — January 24, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. You certainly are a kick-a** Fair Isle knitter! Look at all those teeny, perfect little stitches!
Comment by Melanie — January 25, 2007 @ 5:37 pm
This is a great tip — I usually use a tapestry needle and yarn in a contrasting color, but this would be easier. So far I usually want to do this on socks, though, and I’m already using the smallest needle that I own (a #1), so for those I may have to stick with the waste yarn method. I mentioned this at my last knit night, and no one else seemed to have heard of it, even the very experienced knitters. Odd, that.
Comment by AuntieAnn — January 26, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
I just *invented* that technique for picking up the stitches prior to pulling out the waste yarn for a thumb. But to use it for a larger project — pure genius! Thanks.
Comment by kmkat — January 27, 2007 @ 12:11 am
This is THE tip I should have mentioned in my “contest” e-mail to you. It’s brilliant. No one else ever gave me this fabulous piece of knitting magic, and of course I would never have thought to do it on my own.
I negelected to move my lifeline in a current lace project (“oh, I’ll move it up at the next knit section, well ok, the next knit section”) and I was not about to rip back down those 9 inches of pattern (simple though it is), I’m too close to finishing, and I. want. this. thing. done. I remembered your post, and I carefully picked up the stitches across a knit row (only a half inch down) ripped back, and I’m back on track. Thank you SO MUCH!!!
Comment by Amanda — March 9, 2007 @ 11:05 am