When Carter and Herbert discovered the entrance to King Tut’s Tomb in the Valley of the Kings (1922), they knew they had unearthed something important that had to be shared with the world. They didn’t build or invent the tomb, only uncovered it for the rest of the world to appreciate.
That’s how I felt when I discovered a new knitting technique that I call Invisible Stranding…only on a smaller scale. Okay, a much smaller scale. Okay, the analogy is overwrought and ridiculous. BUT, I felt really excited about it and wanted to share it with the world. Okay, the knitting world.
Invisible Stranding allows you to carry yarn across any number of stitches without catching the floats. Catching floats creates a visible pucker in your knitting and often allows the other color to show through. Invisible Stranding eliminates these problems and leaves the knitting smooth.
I was particularly interested in this method because of the Dale of Norway sweater I have been working on for the past few years 🙁 . The carries on some rounds were greater than 30 sts and that was a problem. Everything I tried looked awful. But then I used this technique and it worked perfectly. No dimples, no puckers, no color showing through.
In order to share my discovery, I needed a vehicle, so I decided to design a hat pattern. Hats are small projects. 🙂 I used worsted weight yarn. 🙂 And only two colors. 🙂 My goal was to focus on the technique, not get side tracked with other design elements. Plus, Malabrigo Merino Worsted feels like cashmere. 🙂
The result is my It’s Not About the Hat Pattern which is available on Ravelry.
The pattern comes in 5 sizes, and both standard and slouchy fit. I charted the color motif and also wrote it out line by line. There are YouTube video tutorials for all aspects of the technique.
So this is what I have been working on the last few weeks! It feels good to get it off my plate and out into the world! 🙂
Response to question from PurrlGurrl: PurrlGurrl asked if a newbie to fair isle/stranded knitting could attempt this project. I agree with what Sally said about it being for people who are already familiar with stranded knitting. No attempt is made to walk the knitter through stranded knitting. It is only meant to introduce people to an advanced, additional approach to the knitter’s toolbox.
BUT, that said, there is nothing stopping someone from trying it!! There are multiple youtube videos that demonstrate the entire process start to finish!
I wish I’d known how to this when I made Nora’s Eiffel Tower mittens at Christmas. Instead, I re-designed parts of the pattern to reduce the number of long floats. I wanted to make myself a pair but they were a pain to knit; now, using Invisible Stranding, I might actually do it.
Comment by surly — April 26, 2015 @ 8:08 pm
I just bought the pattern – brilliant technique! This will be so useful! I am already designing things in my head!
Comment by o-stephanephanie — April 27, 2015 @ 8:26 am
Thanks so much, I do a lot of stranded knitting and sometimes blocking does not get rid of all the wrinkles etc. I am looking forward to trying this technique.
Comment by Louise T — April 27, 2015 @ 10:23 am
Just bought the pattern, too. I’m working on a stranded Christmas tree skirt & don’t like the way the stranded color pops through. Why a tree skirt now? So it’ll actually get done in time to get under the tree!
Comment by Samina — April 27, 2015 @ 10:29 am
Just bought the pattern. This is so exciting!! Thank you!
Comment by DebbyMc — April 27, 2015 @ 1:36 pm
Thank you so much. I just purchased the pattern and can’t wait to try the technique.
Comment by Brenda — April 27, 2015 @ 2:06 pm
I needed this. I’m lousy at catching floats. Thanks!
Comment by Bonnie — April 27, 2015 @ 7:05 pm
Absolutely brilliant! Thanks you so much Susan, for taking the time to make this available. I just purchased the pattern and watched the videos and OMG how brilliant!!!
Thanks again!
Comment by Tora — April 28, 2015 @ 4:10 pm
Susan, this is a lovely hat, modeled by a very lovely young woman. The pattern itself is a masterpiece of organization, layout and design, worth every penny of the purchase price, and the technique is genius. Thank you. I am an avid reader of your blog, and am full of admiration for the knitting prowess of both you and and your sister. Rock on, ladies!
Comment by Emm — April 28, 2015 @ 4:30 pm
Just bought the pattern and am eager to try the technique. Those little show-throughs are the bane of my stranded knitting … I hope no longer. 🙂
Comment by Diana — April 28, 2015 @ 6:14 pm
Thanks for all the work. Just sent one to a friend as a gift. She LOVES stranded knitting.
Comment by Lee Cockrum — April 29, 2015 @ 7:16 am
Heading to Ravelry to buy the pattern immediately! Brilliant! Wish I hadn’t just steeked my Rams & Yowes blanket. I’d actually consider ripping it out and starting over.
Comment by JudiP53 — April 29, 2015 @ 6:18 pm
Hi Susan, I had happily decided for years never to bother my silly little mind with stranded knitting and was totally fine with it. Now you’ve changed that! At least you’ve got me curious. I’m resisting right now, but I know I will one day break down and buy your very lovely hat pattern. I know it will be worth it. (Of the two I would choose the blue version, and I’m not even a blue person!)
Comment by Chloe — April 30, 2015 @ 10:00 pm
Susan, thank you so much for discovering and figuring out and publishing this invisible stranding technique! I have been a big fan of you and your sister for a long time. You both really inspire me and you are so generous with your knowledge and creativity. The hat pattern and the technique instructions are worth a lot more than $6 to me. This would make a great knitting class. Can’t wait to see what you will come up with next!
Comment by Rona — May 1, 2015 @ 11:13 am
Wonderful technique, thank you for sharing your discovery!
Comment by Susanne — May 1, 2015 @ 5:32 pm
My one attempt at stranded knitting was a disaster from the get go and never completed. I haven’t attempted stranded knitting since because just the thought of it induces an automatic curling into a fetal position with thumb in mouth. So, essentially a total amateur at stranded knitting here. Is this something a blushing fair isle virgin can do or is prior experience doing stranded color work necessary for this technique?
Comment by PurrlGurrl — May 1, 2015 @ 6:28 pm
I think it would be best to have some experience with stranded technique, but that’s just my opinion. I’m the little sister, so you should perhaps ignore me.
Comment by surly — May 1, 2015 @ 9:31 pm
I’m game!
Comment by Penny — May 2, 2015 @ 12:32 am
I am so very excited to learn this technique!!! I may be just as excited when (I think it was the 70’s) I got tickets to see King Tut’s treasures. 🙂
Comment by Peggy Hagberg — May 3, 2015 @ 11:35 am
I have a Dale of Norway sweater in my UFO bin. Now I have what I need to be happy with it. Brilliant (she echoes).
Comment by Betty — May 5, 2015 @ 1:30 pm
Susan, thanks for organizing all this information so beautifully. I am pretty stoked to try this. And Surly, little sisters’ opinions count double with me!
Comment by twinsetellen — May 31, 2015 @ 11:04 pm
I just discovered this post and pattern. Unfortunately the you tube link is ‘private’ and I”m unable to view it….
Comment by Marie — August 13, 2016 @ 8:04 am
The video is no longer showing. I would really like to see how this is done. Thanks
Comment by Pam — January 5, 2017 @ 9:49 pm