[marty1136]

Is anyone familiar with sally Melville,s knitting sheer fabric knitting? This is how it goes (right side rows knit all stitches onto a smaller needle .wrong side rows knit all stitches onto larger needle .then it says knit all stitches with smaller needle.does it mean to alternate between a size 5 and 10.5 needles for which is the size needles called for in the pattern .by the way the pattern is caddy,s sweater by sally melville thank you

 

[laceluvr]

Am familiar with that technique; but know it as Condo knitting. It was popular in the 70's and 80's. You use two different size needles, one small size and the other a much larger size. Looking closely at the Ravelry picture of Caddy's Sweater, it looks more like a dropped double yo stitch to me. I think it's because of the yarn that was used. The patterns I've seen using two different size needles use a very fine yarn and it's often mohair. It's more noticeable when done with a fine yarn to get an open airy look.

 

[woolywoman]

I too did condo knitting in the 70's. I probably still have the patterns I used. I did mine with Patons Diana yarn. It was a bulky brushed acrylic.

 

[Hudson]

Yes, condo knitting is the term. I have made rectangular shawls that way.

 

[judymiss]

Here's the link to the pattern

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/caddys-sweater

 

[Judy-japcrp]

Not to sound dumb, but why would you use two different size needles...advantages? Happy knitting...Judy

 

[NimueVaniva]

I knitted a sweater that had several dropped stitches in it. YO 3 times and drop, YO 2 times and drop. To get a smaller "drop" design, you alternate between size 5 and 10 needles. It wasn't labeled as "condo" knitting but worked out nicely.

 

[Dansmarin]

Here's a video on the condo stitch which may answer your question. https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/learn-about-condo-knitting-2117076

In the Comments included with the video link, she says, "For variety, you could also knit several rows with the small needles before switching back to alternating between large and small." I would guess the instructions you're using mean you knit a row on small needles, a row on Large needles and then a row on small needles. When you follow that scheme, you will have two rows on small needles, then one on large needles, then two rows on small needles, etc.

 

[woolywoman]

Not to sound dumb, but why would you use two different size needles...advantages? Happy knitting...Judy

It gives a completely different look to your knitting without a lot of work.

 

[jeanpf]

Yup, condo knitting! I found this an effective way for a “lacy” look, but without all the yarnovers. Also, You can control the size of your lace by the variance between your needle sizes

 

[Nanamel14]

Sounds interesting I've not tried, I'd probably forget to change needles at the right time and then mess it up

 

[Geebart]

Not to sound dumb, but why would you use two different size needles...advantages? Happy knitting...Judy

It makes a nice fabric. The blue hat is done condo. Size 7 and size 11.

 

[Judy-japcrp]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing the link. Happy knitting...Judy