BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Knitting Unraveling Rows of Knitting

I struggle to make my first practice swatch 20 stitches by 10 rows using the knit stitch.

I seem to go along fine for a few rows, then things go haywire. <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Of course I only notice the problem after merrily knitting several rows past it.

I know how to unravel (Or is it ravel?) a few stitches on the needle and fix it. Is it possible to unravel one or more rows?

It's getting "old" to keep on starting from the beginning when I have some rows completed.

Lucille,

Unfortunately, veteran knitters can tell you that yes, sometimes you have to unravel rows (recently I had to take out an ENTIRE back panel of a cardigan, but that's another story). The key is to very carefully get all of the stitches back on the needle when you're done. Count to make sure you've gottent them all. Some of them may be facing the wrong way, so be careful on your next knit or purl row that you keep your stitches untwisted.

I recently learned a cool technique that could be of some help. A knitting instructor suggested threading a contrasting piece of yarn through the knitting (just slide it through the stitches on the needle) every few inches. Then if you have to rip out, it will stop the "ripping" and you can easily get the stitches back on the needle. I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but I think it's a great idea, particularly on a complicated pattern.

Hope this helps! Hang in there! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Becky is right :love: I know you don't want to hear this but it is good practice, before you know it you won't dread pulling out a few rows. When I first started to knit, I took apart more than I knitted but I realize now how good it was for me. Unfortuneatly I can un ravel several rows (yes I still have to) and pick them back up.

Yes you, Eva and Becky, are correct. I have become accustomed to ripping out rows. It's not so bad as I originally thought. It takes me back to a good part and then I have confidence to proceed.

The thread idea is a good idea. I will keep it in mind as part of my "arsenal" of weapons to accomplish the knitting task.

I am not quite sure about rethreading twisted loops. Right now all the loops are fair game. I feel forutunate just to stick the needle into a loop and proceed from there. Most of my rethreading work looks OK, but some stitches/rows look "swollen" and I just attributed that to frayed thread. Maybe it's twisted loops. I dunno. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Lucille