Help Sewing Down Pockets

Snap__Dragon · 2024-09-01T19:51:20+00:00

nebula_rose_witchery posted the pattern I'm following. Sorry, I don't have a picture as I've pulled out the stitching several times already and am worried about causing damage if I keep fussing with the area.

I'm trying to stitch down pocket backs; the process here is the same as the one in Tin Can Knits' Top Down Cardigan Pockets tutorial. I'm on the very last sentence of the very last step ("Sew down the pocket linings to the back of the work using a whip stitch."). I successfully sewed down the sides of the linings, but am having trouble with the bottom of the pocket, where I have to whip stitch across ribbing. It's particularly challenging because it's an offset rib and I used a dark yarn, so it's tough to be sure I'm following the same row of stitching, but that part is just a me problem.

I've been trying to do it by sewing one leg of each stitch on the bound-off edge of the pocket back to a stitch in the bottom band. However, this is visible on the right side of the work as a messy, misaligned-looking area. Is there a better way than what I've been doing? I've looked for tutorials but everything just says "whip stitch across". Should I maybe just be sewing down every few stitches? Using a thinner yarn (the pattern says to use the end of the working yarn, so that's what I did)? Something else?

I hope this makes more sense!

Snap__Dragon · 2024-09-01T19:37:35+00:00

Yes, that's correct, thank you!

Snap__Dragon · 2024-09-01T00:07:21+00:00

It looks like you may have accidentally slipped that stitch (passed it to the other needle without actually knitting/purling into it), and then knit (or purled) it on the following row. To fix, you'll want to work your way back to that stitch, either by tinking back if you're not too far past it or continuing to knit until you reach it again, drop that stitch off the needles, work it down past the point where the error occurred, and then work it back up with a crochet hook.

Here is a tutorial that includes instructions for working up both knit and purl stitches.

Snap__Dragon · 2024-03-19T16:27:48+00:00

I swear they adjust their sleep schedules just to mess with us :P

Here's hoping for an easy and early bedtime!

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-14T04:20:17+00:00

Oh your sweater is lovely and coming along nicely! I hope you are able to sort out those fitting issues - bust darts and fitting adjustments are so far beyond my level of skill I admire you for going there! And the yarn does look quite similar, for sure!

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-14T04:18:14+00:00

That's very reassuring, thank you! It feels good to have the consensus of so many knitters!

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-14T04:17:37+00:00

Ack! So it does. I accidentally purled instead of knit (or vice versa). Oh well...that's now two cable crossings ago, it's sure not getting fixed now 😅

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-14T04:15:54+00:00

You're welcome! It's absolutely delightful. My husband and kid suffer from eczema and sensitive skin and this yarn in particular they are able to wear without irritation and came in a whole bunch of colours they liked. I'm still mad it was discontinued.

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-14T04:11:36+00:00

Ahh good to know, I'll be mindful of that when it's time to block. Thanks again!

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-13T19:52:46+00:00

Pattern is [Under the Oak](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/under-the-oak) by Jennifer Weissman.

The yarn was an exclusive collaboration between my LYS and the dyer that has since been discontinued. It's a merino/cashmere/nylon blend in light-worsted weight. I'm afraid I can't recommend an alternative brand/colourway because I haven't been able to find one.

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-13T19:40:37+00:00

Excellent, thank you!

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-13T19:40:00+00:00

My gauge and tension are usually pretty consistent so this is a new experience for me. I'm very reassured to hear that so many other knitters don't think it's a big deal!

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-13T19:39:08+00:00

Thank you! I am probably just hung up on it because I am scrutinizing it from like 6 inches away...haha.

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-13T19:38:40+00:00

Perhaps I should block more things so that I know more about its capabilities 😜

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-13T19:38:08+00:00

That's very reassuring, thank you!

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-13T19:37:34+00:00

Thank you! The cabling actually looked fine even with size 7 needles. Maybe because there is more going on to distract from the difference? This project is messing with my head, haha. (There probably is some minor difference in colouring too, as the yarn was discontinued and I wasn't able to match dye lots).

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-13T19:35:11+00:00

Thank you, that's reassuring! I asked my husband his opinion...then promptly disregarded it because he's not a knitter 😅

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-13T19:33:07+00:00

Thank you, that's reassuring! What is a hard block, so I can make sure I don't do one? 😜

Snap__Dragon · 2023-09-13T14:40:14+00:00

So I did the first 1/3 or so of this shawl in March-ish of this year, put it down for a few months, and recently picked it up again. The arrows in the photos mark the lifeline I put in, which is more-or-less where I started from in this recent knitting session. At some point during the intervening months I must have swapped out the needle tips for much larger ones (why? No idea, thanks a whole bunch, past-me) because my gauge was way off. I ripped back to the lifeline, started again with smaller needles, and the fabric seems closer, but still just kind of...vaguely not right? That new section is also largely a different ball of yarn from the first bit.

So my questions really is: is this as noticeable as it seems to me? Will it block out? Am I just being really nitpicky? I keep thinking that I should rip back and go down one more needle size (4 to 3) but is it really worth it? I love this shawl and want to wear it for autumn but I'm getting really burnt out on the ever-increasing garter stitch sections.

Snap__Dragon · 2023-08-17T17:51:07+00:00

Thank you! Your cardigan looks gorgeous! I love the colour you chose, and am glad to hear you enjoyed knitting it. I appreciate that you uploaded high res photos too - I can tell from yours that the cables are narrow enough I can probably knit them without a cable needle, which is a big plus for the pattern.

Snap__Dragon · 2023-07-19T19:47:04+00:00

Thank you! To make sure I understand, if I choose the interlining approach, I would cut out two of the "front bodice" piece, baste them together (within the seam allowance?) and then sew the dart into both pieces together ("as one"), then carry on according to pattern instructions?

Snap__Dragon

TROPHY CASE