While I am an experienced knitter
I have been knitting more or less regularly for over thirty years now.
You could say I'm an experienced knitter (and a newer knitwear designer) and despite that experience, I still make knitting mistakes – which in itself isn't a big deal – and repeat them – which is a bit more problematic!
So what are these mistakes?
The most common knitting mistakes
1. Do not take a sample
This is probably my biggest mistake as a knitter; a mistake I repeat many times even though I say the opposite in classes and even in my channel. YouTube.
As a designer, I meticulously make a sample according to the rules of the art, but as a knitter, it's another story!
If I have a crush on a pattern and the time to make it right away, I rush into my stash, choose the yarn that might be suitable, and cast on the stitches right away. Without making a swatch!
If it's a shawl, it's not a big deal, but if it's a sweater or cardigan, it's more problematic.
It is therefore not uncommon that after a few rows, or even a few dozen rows, I am forced to undo because my gauge does not correspond to what is requested in the pattern.
2. Assume that my swatch will be identical because I am using the same type of yarn and needles.
Using the same weight of yarn and the same needles does not necessarily mean that the gauge will be identical.
Surprisingly, just because a yarn is labeled as fingering and has the same composition as another yarn in the same category, does not mean that the sample is identical.
The difference may be minimal, but over a large number of stitches it can be significant.
This difference is not a big deal for a shawl, but for a sweater it can give a little too much or too little ease, to the point that the sweater is barely wearable or feels like a failure because it doesn't fit that well.
In short, make a sample properly, it will save you from any problems.
3. Reading the pattern too quickly or not reading it all the way through.
In the video " how to decipher a pattern » I suggest you read the pattern carefully to the end to be able to understand the construction.
This is advice you really should follow!
Here is the proof:
About two years ago now, I wanted to knit Norah Gaughan's Batwing Sourcebook for my eldest daughter.
The yarn was chosen, the pattern was chosen, I understood the construction by looking at the photos and I quickly skimmed the pattern.
What a mistake! After a good 10 cm of knitting, I realized that I had increased every two rows instead of every four rows as requested in the pattern. I ended up with a raglan yoke that was way too short even though I had the right number of stitches!
I had to undo everything and start again a first time; this sweater will have been knitted several times and I explain why below.
4. Make sure you don't make a Moebius when joining in circles
First of all, a little explanation is necessary for those who do not know what a Moebius is.
In a few words, the Moebius circle or strip is the symbol of infinity, a circle with a single surface and a single side (Click here to learn more).
In knitting, it is a technique used to make snoods.
But it is also a technique that we sometimes do unintentionally when joining in the round, whether to make a sweater, a hat or mittens.
To get back to my little sweater story: after undoing my sweater because I hadn't read the pattern correctly, I had to undo this pretty sweater again because I had inadvertently made a Moebius pattern.
And because I hadn't checked at the beginning that I had joined correctly, I knitted for about 15 cm before realizing that there was something wrong!
So basically, check that you have joined in circles correctly.
I put my designer hat back on and here's a little tip:
You can knit two or three rows flat before joining in the round, this will make it easier to ensure that all the stitches are aligned.
5. Play Yarn Chicken
“Playing Yarn Chicken” is an English expression.
It is used when the pattern calls for a certain quantity of wool and we choose to start a pattern knowing full well that we may be short of a few meters of wool.
Whether it's because you've chosen a yarn whose yardage isn't identical to the yarn used in the pattern, the thickness is different, or you've decided to make some modifications.
In this game, you either win or lose! And sometimes, the game isn't worth the candle and it might have been better to choose another yarn with enough yardage!
And you, do you also sometimes find yourself in denial? Do you only recognize your mistakes too late? What are the mistakes you always make as an experienced knitter?
Let me know in the comments. Also, feel free to share my article on social media like Facebook or Pinterest, for example.
See you soon,
Christelle
Comments 8
Hello Christelle,
Thank you for all the explanations you give us, they are always clear, precise, common sense and you do it with a smile!
For my part, my most obvious mistake is not making the sample or when I make one, if the result does not correspond to that of the pattern, it is to start anyway...
Have a nice day!
Fabienne
Author
I think that many of us don't take samples... and persist in making mistakes as if it would suddenly resolve itself :)
And thank you
Christelle
Despite the gauge, my knitting is rarely perfect! I had to completely undo the last one I knitted, I only realized, once I had cast on, that it was much too big... I had a little doubt, but I persisted anyway. And it's not the first time. I don't understand why. Thank you for the explanations for reading patterns, it's always useful, for example, I was reading the diagrams the wrong way around, it caused me some problems. Have a good day
Author
Yes, we can have surprises, especially on sweaters, which is why making a 10*10 sample is often not enough.
And with pleasure 🙂
Christelle
Hello. I wonder if we don't make these mistakes precisely when we are an experienced knitter. Because we trust ourselves. In my case, this is absolutely not the case, I am not a complete beginner but not experienced, but I do not trust myself, I read the instructions line by line, I spend my time lining up little sticks to count how many rows I have done to know when to make the increases etc. As for the gauge. I do it, in the round or not depending on whether it is a sweater or a cardigan, but unfortunately I do not know why, my gauge is very often looser than when I am really using the knitting, especially in stockinette stitch. Hence a lot of disappointments when the knitting is finished. That is my little experience. Christine
Author
Hello, thank you for the comment.
Indeed, I think that with experience, we gain confidence. And not necessarily very experienced for all that 🙂 … sometimes it is enough to have learned to read the pattern in a certain way to read diagonally while the structure of the pattern is completely different.
And for the sample, is it big enough?
Is there a way to quantify this difference? Because if it's systematic, you'll know it and you can adjust your needles so that it sticks once you start in the jersey.
Good morning,
Always in a hurry to start. I admit I avoid the swatch. Well, in principle, if it's the same wool as the explanation, I can say that overall, I didn't do too badly. For the stitches, you have to read everything carefully, because I know what I'm talking about 🤭. Sometimes I knit while watching TV, and the next day I realize there's a mistake. Not to do two things at the same time, especially when you have to count for a diagram. There you go
Author
Indeed 🙂