{"id":2405,"date":"2020-06-23T14:01:49","date_gmt":"2020-06-23T12:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christallk.com\/?p=2405"},"modified":"2025-06-26T22:58:36","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T20:58:36","slug":"erreurs-au-tricot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christallk.com\/en\/erreurs-au-tricot\/","title":{"rendered":"Five knitting mistakes I keep making"},"content":{"rendered":"

While I am an experienced knitter<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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I have been knitting more or less regularly for over thirty years now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could say I'm an experienced knitter (and a newer knitwear designer) and despite that experience, I still make knitting mistakes \u2013 which in itself isn't a big deal \u2013 and repeat them \u2013 which is a bit more problematic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what are these mistakes?
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The most common knitting mistakes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Pull<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
1. Do not take a sample<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Assume that my swatch will be identical because I am using the same type of yarn and needles.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Using the same weight of yarn and the same needles does not necessarily mean that the gauge will be identical. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The difference may be minimal, but over a large number of stitches it can be significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, make a sample properly, it will save you from any problems.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Reading the pattern too quickly or not reading it all the way through.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Pull<\/a>
Sourcebook Batwing by Norah Gaughan<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In the video "\u00a0how to decipher a pattern<\/a>\u00a0\u00bb I suggest you read the pattern carefully to the end to be able to understand the construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is advice you really should follow!
Here is the proof:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About two years ago now, I wanted to knit Norah Gaughan's Batwing Sourcebook for my eldest daughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The yarn was chosen, the pattern was chosen, I understood the construction by looking at the photos and I quickly skimmed the pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had to undo everything and start again a first time; this sweater will have been knitted several times and I explain why below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Make sure you don't make a Moebius when joining in circles<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

First of all, a little explanation is necessary for those who do not know what a Moebius is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In knitting, it is a technique used to make snoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So basically, check that you have joined in circles correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I put my designer hat back on and here's a little tip: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Play Yarn Chicken<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlaying Yarn Chicken\u201d is an English expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me know in the comments. Also, feel free to share my article on social media like Facebook or Pinterest, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See you soon,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christelle<\/p>\n\n\n\n