Genius Tips
Cockleshell Cardigan: Getting the Wrong Side Right
Dear Ann,
Coasting on the success of the two projects I’ve knit so far from Field Guide No. 6 (i.e., the Shakerag Top and Albers Shawl), I’m going back in. I’ve cast on for the wee Cockleshell Cardigan.
The Cockleshell Cardigan, as you know since you’ve knit it, starts at the right cuff. The cuff has a little knit-purl triangle design. This is a fun way to edge a sleeve. It’s simple, yet effective.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite simple enough for me the first time around.
I cast on for the 6-12 month size, followed the instructions to the letter as I always do (cue the foreshadowing music), and got this:
WHOMP WHOMP.
The ribbing at the cuff is supposed to flow, uninterrupted, into the knit-purl pyramid thingie.
The ribbing and the pyramid are not supposed to be separate events.
Since you had knit the 6-12 month size, and you had not had this problem, I suspected Operator Error.
But I put this wonky little cuff aside for a full holiday weekend, because I was sick of its nonsense. (My nonsense.)
Yesterday, I cast on again. Whee! Perfect the first time!
My mistake, as it turns out: the 1 x 1 ribbing at the cuff, which starts right after the cast-on, starts on the WRONG SIDE. Meaning, not the right side.
My clue, apart from the clear instruction “Row 1 (WS),” was that the 1 x 1 ribbing started with a purl 1. Which only really makes sense if it’s the wrong side. I can see that now.
Everything went swell after I made that mental adjustment.
Before and after turning on brain.
I’m in excellent company making this little error. Vicki Mothes (Knitorious, one of the OG knitbloggers and a knitter who is not to be trifled with) has knit wee matching Cockleshells for her wee pair of granddaughters. On the first one, she knit the right sleeve with the separate ribbing feature, but found that when she cast on for the other sleeve, it was hard to replicate the mistake I mean feature.
(Vicki also modified the closure from crocheted ties to a single button with crocheted loop buttonhole.)
Time to recite one of our sturdiest MDK Rules:
Read the pattern.
Read the pattern.
Read the pattern.
(If this is the worst knitting mistake you ever make, you’re doing just great.)
Love,
Kay
P.S. Read the pattern.
Yellow Cockleshell Cardigan photos used by kind permission of Vicki Blum Mothes.
I am unclear. Do you want us to . . . read the pattern?
Ummmmm.. afraid to go look at the finished but unblocked Cockleshell I knit to see if I read the pattern or not….
Haha. My new Rule #1: ENGAGE BRAIN!! Happy to be in your company, Kay! I’ve updated my original post with a modeled photo! So darn cute.
OMG the models! And the needing to wash it after one wearing! So glad little Gin loves the handknits.
As my dear old dad used to say, ‘When all else fails, read the directions’
Mine, too!
I can glance at a pattern, skim a pattern, hold a pattern to my forehead and try to absorb it that way. But you are absolutely right: there is no substitute for actually READING THE PATTERN!
I’ve been burned in the past. Now I read through the pattern completely circling, highlighting, etc. I don’t know any little ones to knit this for – am crossing my fingers for an adult sized version!
Have you seen Amy’s Instagram? She’s knitting one!
Yes! I was not sure if it was a beta version for herself or if she is actually planning on releasing. Ah, now I see! Excitement! Let me mentally add to my ever expanding queue!
Yep, been there, done that.
Technical writers have an acronym, in which M stands for manual: RTFM!
My dear, you have no idea what a relief it is to find out other experienced knitters do things like ignoring the read-the-pattern directions – and then admit it in public!
My life is an open book.
Patterns that number wrong-side rows with odd numbers always throw me off.
I’d like to add another knitting rule. Count the stitches. If a designer goes to the trouble to tell you what the stitch count should be after increases are complete, count. I just frogged half a sweater back because I didn’t and there had been a mistake on my part. I could have caught it way back when, if I had only counted.
I loce the design and wish the designer would make a pattern for big people. I want to make it for myself.
I generally treat the pattern as a jumping off point. At this point in my life, I probably won’t change. In the same way that I don’t use the GPS (even though I have no sense of direction) because I don’t mind getting lost and I often make new discoveries, some of the mistakes I have made knitting have taught me altogether new ways of doing things. Or not. But for those who believe in fidelity, even to a piece of knitting, or those who like predictable outcomes, reading the pattern, its probably good advice (I always, always make a gauge swatch…just like I always pack a candy bar so i have something to eat if I get lost)
You are awesome!!!! I always love your stories and enjoy the humor! Enjoy your day.
Olive, go take Kay for a walk. She needs some fresh air. She’s been forgetting to read the directions again….
Always enjoy your descriptions of adventures in knitting, Kay. But the thing that really caught my eye was Vicki’s mod with the “crocheted button loop”. Much better for a unisex sweater. Going to order the Field Guide now!
“Mistake I mean feature.” Ha!
A corollary to ‘read the directions’ is to ‘do what it says, not what you think it says’. I’ve fallen down that rabbit hole a time or two.
Do you have a pattern for the cockleshell in adult sizes? If you do could you post the the instructions to be printed out .
Thank you
Hah! I read your post yesterday. Decided to start the sweater today. Do you think I learned from your false start? Absolutely not! To me, 1×1 ribbing always starts with K1. After it looked wrong, I reread your post. I started again and my sleeve looks great! Thank you!
I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your site. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Great work!