knitting pattern decipher…?
i wanted to knit this cute little elephant for my one month old…
http://www.ivillage.co.uk/homegarden/homemaking/crafts/articles/0,,695942_711537,00.html
what i’m having the most trouble with are the trunk and the back legs. if someone could please help me with trying to read the instructions, i’m sure i can figure everything else out. thanks so much!!!
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Well, this is knit in moss stitch, which means that you need to really pay attention to the way you increase your stitches (M1s are probably best, but depending on what you are knitting, k f&b may work). For the trunk you are making increases in the first and last 2 stitches (4 st increased total each increase row) in the first row, and in the first and last 3 st in the next row (6 st increased), and repeat these rows twice (6 rows of knitting). You then increase only in the first stitch in the next two rows and then work two rows with no increases (10 rows total), put the stitches on a stitch holder, break the yarn, and work another piece exactly the same.
With the back legs you work them the same as the front legs for 19 rows (the front legs are worked for 24 rows) then you cast on additional stitches in the next 3 public side rows, keeping stitches already worked in the pattern sequence. Your piece is going to have one edge with increases, one without. The increased edge is joined to the front leg by knitting back and continuing right across the front leg, knitting it off the stitch holder, and putting a marker at the end so you know which end is the front of the elephant. From this point on you are knitting the entire body on that side of the toy, making increases for both the chest and the butt as you go, keeping all stitches and increases in pattern.
TRUNK
Work 2 pieces alike. Using 4.5mm needles cast on 7 sts.
Next row: Inc in each of next 2 sts, patt to end. –
This means after you have cast on 7 stitches, you make a stitch by knitting into the front and back of the first stitch. you then repeat this on the second stitch. You will now have 4 stitches on your right needle and 5 stitches on your left needle. The purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit1, purl 1. End of row. Patt to end is just saying that you knit in “moss stitch” or seed stitch (in the US.)
Hope this helps!
the trunk
cast on 7 sts.
on next row – knit twice into each st. (knit into front of st and then into back of same st ( this makes 2sts out of 1)
REMEMBER to keep your work in pattern (if the st below looks like a knit st then you purl and vice versa) this will keep it in the moss st pattern you are working in.
in following rows you will need to increase as described before in the sts the pattern tells you REMEMBER to keep your eye on keeping the moss st pattern correct
back legs
cast on the 13sts and work 19 of the 24 rows as for front legs.
then follow the pattern instructions by casting on the required amount of sts. remembering to keep the moss st pattern correct.
If you remember how to do the increases AND how to keep the moss st pattern correct and you know how to knit 2sts together you shouldn’t have much of a problem doing the rest but if you do feel free to contact me through my profile and I will help more
I’m not sure what your problem is, but I have my suspicions that it is the area in the pattern where it refers to work so many rows then cast on more stitches for the legs? The way they are phrasing this is confusing. I would be willing to work with you to see if we could resolve the confusion.
Ok, let’s take this one step at a time:
TRUNK
Work 2 pieces alike. Using 4.5mm needles cast on 7 sts.
Next row: Inc in each of next 2 sts, patt to end.
Next row: Inc in each of next 3 sts patt to end.
Rep last 2 rows once more.
Next row: Inc in first st patt to end.
Next row: Inc in first st patt to end.
Work 2 more rows straight in pattern, break yarn and keep sts on stitch holder. 19 sts
You want to knit your moss stitch, and you should be getting indented squares on your purl stiches (It might be knit, so I’m not quite sure. Its been a while since I’ve done a moss.)
(A) You want to do a double stich (increase) in your first two stiches.
(B) Then, a double stich in your first three stiches.
Then reapeat (A) and (B) once more.
Now, you want to increase in your first stich only. Do this for two rows.
Now, just work rows with no increases or decreases, just normal knit/purl stiches, for two rows.
Back leg
As front leg but when you have worked 19 rows work thus:
Next row: Cast on 6 sts, patt to end.
Next row: Pattern.
Next row: Cast on 6 sts, patt to end
Next row: Pattern.
Next row: Cast on 5 sts patt to end.
Next row: Patt across back leg, then across front leg sts from spare needle, 43 sts.
Mark end of last row with coloured thread to denote front of elephant.
Ok, you seem like you’re fine with the front legs, so I’ll assume so.
Work 19 rows of what you did with the front legs, then stop.
Cast on 6 stiches before you begin knitting again. If you don’t know how, this: http://www.knittingatknoon.com/cable.html
will show you how.
Then moss stich across.
Moss stich across the backside, then reapeat what you just did, casting on 6 more stiches.
Knit across, and across the backside.
Same deal, casting on 5 more stiches. Then, you knit a row connecting the front and back leg. Your front leg shouldn’t be cast off, so just slip all your stiches of the spare needle and on to your working needle.
Sorry if the directions are a little too complete, I don’t know how long you’ve been knitting. Good luck, the elephant is really cute!