[Bethwoo]

Hi all. Trying a lace shawl for friends 50th and just wanted a little advice? I've noticed that down the sides, it looks uneven, wee bits sticking out more than others. (this is he same one I had problem with big mad loop ar end of rows)
Will this rectify itself when I come to block it or should I kermit and start again?

 

[Pesshe]

I am not expert but I am wondering if at the sides maybe 2 knit and than yo would give it a smoother edging. it looks like you are doing 1k and yo. how lucky is your friend that you are making her such a wonderful gift of love for her birthday

 

[m.r.b.]

I think this will rectify itself when you block it. There is a lot of stretching when blocking shawls.

 

[paljoey46]

I had this problem too. A knitter at my LYS suggested that when beginning a row, hold the yarn in front, as if to purl, slip 1st stitch and then, yarn in back continue with the pattern. This makes a very smooth edge and gets rid of those pesky loops.

 

[thegrape]

How does it look if you stretch it out? Lace knitting can look lumpy and discombobulated til you block it. I would stretch it out to see how it looks. If when stretched it still looks uneven I would frog and follow paljoey's suggestion and slip the first stitch, makes a more even edge.

 

[Sharone01]

I usually slip the first stitch. If that doesn't work with the pattern, I do two stitches before yarn over. If the completed project still isn't as I would like it, I crochet an edging or pick up the stitches and knit an edging.

I definitely agree that you should stretch it as you would when blocking and see how it looks.

 

[Chrissy]

I am not expert but I am wondering if at the sides maybe 2 knit and than yo would give it a smoother edging. it looks like you are doing 1k and yo. how lucky is your friend that you are making her such a wonderful gift of love for her birthday

I agree with your method, I like to k2 before any inc or dec sts.

 

[lulemayjune]

Sometimes knitting into the back of the 1st stitch tightens it up enough to avoid loopies. Hope that helps!

 

[Sharone01]

Sometimes knitting into the back of the 1st stitch tightens it up enough to avoid loopies. Hope that helps!

That's new to me. I'll try it next time. I like options.

 

[Ronie]

I am wondering if you are doing the stitches correctly. The only reason I mention this is because I tried to do the 'grandmothers favorite dishcloth' and on one side my stitches were beautiful. I had the holes where they belonged and the other side where there were supose to be holes there was none... BECAUSE I didn't do my stitches right.. In my case it was a YO and I am thinking I was dropping my YO on the one end.. I'm not sure.. but once I realized what I did it was ok.. As for the piece you have started I think a lot of what you are looking at can be made to look very nice with a good blocking. I wouldn't start over unless you really want to.. but I would research the internet and make sure you are doing the stitches just as they are intended..

 

[MaryE-B]

My suggestion is to do something now so you know, really know you will be satisfied if you don't frog the work. You do not want to continue to knit unless you are positive you can solve the problem by blocking. If you aren't sure and continue to knit, you will very likely still have to do the Kermit thing and lose the work that you did while deciding. .
Having recently done that very thing by continuing to knit while I decided, I wasted all of the additional work and spent even more time with Kermit.
I love the scarf you are doing. It's a beautiful color and the stitch is pretty. I sincerely hope you find that blocking will solve the problem!

 

[Bethwoo]

Thank you everyone, specially Mary E. I was having a bit of a crisis of confidence then. Someone remarked that maybe knitting wasn't for me (I shake a lot due to illness and medication) and I was thinking oh well, just bin it I'm continuing

 

[Sewbizgirl]

I had this problem too. A knitter at my LYS suggested that when beginning a row, hold the yarn in front, as if to purl, slip 1st stitch and then, yarn in back continue with the pattern. This makes a very smooth edge and gets rid of those pesky loops.

This is true, and good for things like scarves... but for a shawl that is going to be heavily blocked, it's not a good idea. It will impair the edge from being able to stretch fully in the blocking.

Don't slip edge sts on a shawl that will need to be aggressively blocked.

 

[Sewbizgirl]

Thank you everyone, specially Mary E. I was having a bit of a crisis of confidence then. Someone remarked that maybe knitting wasn't for me (I shake a lot due to illness and medication) and I was thinking oh well, just bin it I'm continuing

You're kidding... don't take that advice. If you enjoy knitting, then knit. I think your shawl is going to look great. You can test out the blocking right now.... don't have to wait til it's done. Assuming you are working with wool and not acrylic, take it to the ironing board and pin it out, stretching it aggressively to open up the lace pattern. Once you have you little piece all pinned, shoot some steam through it with your steam iron. Let it sit there til dry, unpin, and see what you've got. I'd be willing to bet those loops on the edge look fine after blocking.

Try this and at least put your mind to rest that what you are doing is fine.

 

[dragonflylace]

Thank you everyone, specially Mary E. I was having a bit of a crisis of confidence then. Someone remarked that maybe knitting wasn't for me (I shake a lot due to illness and medication) and I was thinking oh well, just bin it I'm continuing

You are doing great. I agree with the others that the little loops on side will be fine when blocked. Knitting lace is not as overwhelming as it appears...just use a little piece of paper or check off your rows to keep up and you will be fine.

This will be a labor of love and will be "loved" by the one who receives it. One thing about KP...there is always someone near to encourage and help out. That is why I come here every morning.

Take care

 

[Bethwoo]

Thank you all. I've stretched it a bit just to see an the edges look fine. It can get a bit frustrating when I can't get needle through the stitch. If I used pointy ones I'd be covered in stab marks haha