Translating Patterns into the Round

When I first joined Ravelry, I noticed a lot of knitters include brief statements in their project descriptions about translating patterns to "in the round", as in...

"I don't like joining seams, so I knitted this in the round instead."

or,

"I translated this pattern into the round."

...end of story.

I started to think about HOW exactly this is done. In one sense, it seems simple: just double the stitches you cast on and follow the pattern according. But then... I realized it wasn't that simple. For odd rounds, you're all set. But for even rounds, you'll have to REVERSE the stitches. So, a pattern written like this:

Row 1: k
Row 2: p

Is actually different in the round:

Rows 1-2: k

I tested this out with the Crazy Dress I made for Jordan, and it worked pretty well. Shaping the arms required some adjustment and guesswork, but it came out fine.

Now, I'm doing it with the amazing skirt on the cover of Vogue Knitting (Spring/Summer 2009). I would've been completely stumped had I needed to do something complicated in an odd row (and therefore, "backwards"), but luckily the odd rows are mostly knitted.

Of course--I can't replicate the pattern here (which would be a violation of copyright and therefore, strictly "no-no"), I can make a few recommendations.

This skirt starts from the bottom and is knit upwards--the opposite of my trumpet skirt, which was knit from the waist down. Because it is intended to be knit in two pieces, it's important that the edges to be joined (on the side seam) be consistent. So, each piece is stockingette on both sides.

If you're knitting in the round, however, you don't have to worry about that. So, I just started with lace stripe pattern without the beginning knit stitches. I also made a slight transformation by just starting with k10 rather than splitting the stitches into k5, lace, k5 (if you look at the pattern, this will make sense).

Because this is a lot of knitting and fine yarn, it will be a while before I can report on the other sections. Wish me luck!

Here it is so far. Isn't it pretty? It's just a big, round ruffle.


Ok... maybe not. Here's some detail on the lace after only 13 rows. :)

A Less-Than-Auspicious Beginning

I finally started the A-Line Skirt last night. I decided to adapt the pattern to knit in the round (I've only done this once before, so we'll see what happens), so I cast on 320 stitches in the main color.

Only problem? I was supposed to start with the contrast color.

I realized this after casting on and subsequent making sure the stitches weren't twisted before joining. It took a while to do that, so I just decided to keep the cast-on stitches as is. There's a crocheted border in the contrast color--I'll just try be creative at the end and add a row of single crochet or something.

Here's hoping I don't forget anything else--I REALLY don't want to rip all those stitches out.

The Sack Hat

I purchased the pattern for the Debbie Ware Sack Hat from Threadbear in Lansing (I used Butterfly 10--a great cotton). The yarn I purchased made two hats easily, and I can probably make a couple more if I switch up the colors. I'm making this one for new baby Leah.

I started this hat a few minutes before tipoff of the 2009 NCAA championship game. Even though the Spartans lost, I was able to get a good amount done. This is the brim--work proceeds up toward the top from there.
I made a few fairly obvious mistakes, being interested in the game and all. However, they are probably the kind of mistakes noticeable by the creator and no one else (here's hoping, anyway).

"The Pelt", or "Fun Fur is Actually Not Fun at All".

I received an afghan kit as a gift several years ago. I was very excited, as the afghan appeared quite luxurious and it was knit on Speed Stix, so I knew it would be done quickly (in fact, it took me only a couple of days).

The afghan ended up so heavy that we began to refer to it as "the pelt". It is beyond cozy, and sometimes even too heavy--even in the Michigan winter.

Unfortunately, the Pelt is not wearing well. After only a few months, the fun fur started to break--loose strands are EVERYWHERE... and have I mentioned the shedding? Our dark burgundy couch is frequently covered with strands of fun fur.

Some pics:

The fringe on the ends of the afghan are getting kind of ratty...

In addition, there's a lot of "mystery fringe" appearing. The picture below is actually the SIDE of the afghan. The fun fur is breaking and coming off all surfaces.


This is likely to be my last project with Lion Brand.