Hecate
04-04-2006, 17:09
Arrgghh! The dreaded Kitchener Stitch! It's used for joining together two sets of 'live' stitches (ie. stitches still on the needle), to produce a beautiful, seamless join. That's the idea anyway...
Most frequently, it's used to close up the gap when you've finished shaping the toe of your sock. You've carried out the decreasing, as indicated in your pattern, and you're left with 12 - 16 (sometimes more) stitches, divided evenly between two needles. You have a long length of still-attached working yarn threaded onto a tapestry needle (or one of the thicker blunt-nosed needles specially designed for knitters). Now what?...
The first thing I suggest, before you attempt it on the sock you've just spent ages finishing, is to practice on a small swatch. Take a pair of the same needles you've used for your socks and cast on about 20 stitches. It must be an even number. Knit a couple of inches in stocking stitch, then cut off the working yarn leaving about 18 inches onto which you'll thread your tapestry needle. Then carefully transfer half of the stitches onto the second needle, so that the swatch is effectively folded in half, wrong sides facing. It'll look like you've got a mini sock toe, which you can practice on.
There are lots of written instructions about the Kitchener Stitch on the net, and I printed out reams of the stuff. My advice is to ignore it all (apart from this, of course!). The one thing you'll need is the free video on how to do Kitchener Stitch from Knitting at Knoon (http://www.knittingatknoon.com/kitchenerst.html). You can download it onto your computer (right click on the link to the video on the Knoon page and select 'save as') and watch it over and over... and believe me, you will. It took my ages to learn how to do it, even with the excellent video, and even after completing a few pairs of socks I still need to watch the video and have a good stiff drink before attempting it (not to put you off, of course :) ).
If you haven't attempted Kitchener Stitch before, this will mean nothing to you (yet), but I find that saying the following to myself as I'm working the stitch really helps to keep me on track:
Set up (done once):
FRONT - Purl
BACK - Knit
Kitchener:
FRONT - Knit - off - Purl
BACK - Purl - off - Knit
Yes, I know it sounds like nonsense, but it should make sense when you've watched the video a couple of times.
If anyone has any other tips on how to cope with the dreaded Kitchener Stitch, then of course post them in this thread.
Most frequently, it's used to close up the gap when you've finished shaping the toe of your sock. You've carried out the decreasing, as indicated in your pattern, and you're left with 12 - 16 (sometimes more) stitches, divided evenly between two needles. You have a long length of still-attached working yarn threaded onto a tapestry needle (or one of the thicker blunt-nosed needles specially designed for knitters). Now what?...
The first thing I suggest, before you attempt it on the sock you've just spent ages finishing, is to practice on a small swatch. Take a pair of the same needles you've used for your socks and cast on about 20 stitches. It must be an even number. Knit a couple of inches in stocking stitch, then cut off the working yarn leaving about 18 inches onto which you'll thread your tapestry needle. Then carefully transfer half of the stitches onto the second needle, so that the swatch is effectively folded in half, wrong sides facing. It'll look like you've got a mini sock toe, which you can practice on.
There are lots of written instructions about the Kitchener Stitch on the net, and I printed out reams of the stuff. My advice is to ignore it all (apart from this, of course!). The one thing you'll need is the free video on how to do Kitchener Stitch from Knitting at Knoon (http://www.knittingatknoon.com/kitchenerst.html). You can download it onto your computer (right click on the link to the video on the Knoon page and select 'save as') and watch it over and over... and believe me, you will. It took my ages to learn how to do it, even with the excellent video, and even after completing a few pairs of socks I still need to watch the video and have a good stiff drink before attempting it (not to put you off, of course :) ).
If you haven't attempted Kitchener Stitch before, this will mean nothing to you (yet), but I find that saying the following to myself as I'm working the stitch really helps to keep me on track:
Set up (done once):
FRONT - Purl
BACK - Knit
Kitchener:
FRONT - Knit - off - Purl
BACK - Purl - off - Knit
Yes, I know it sounds like nonsense, but it should make sense when you've watched the video a couple of times.
If anyone has any other tips on how to cope with the dreaded Kitchener Stitch, then of course post them in this thread.