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September 6, 2005
Grafting?
I suck at it. Despite excellent instructions from Pumpkin Mama and instructions with pictures from Claudia I still couldn't get it right. I now understand the concept, but for the life of me, I can't figure out why my ribs won't line up.
I tried it twice and it was the same both times - ribs that don't match up. Any of you knitting geniuses out there have an idea of what I'm doing wrong? Any advise is greatly appreciated. The Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques suggests knitting a couple of rows in waste yarn and binding off and then using those stitches as a guide for grafting. It's next on my list to try if I can't come up with a better solution.
Backyard Leaves and I had a bit of a trying weekend. Every single time I picked it up to knit on it I made some stupid mistake and had to rip back to fix it. So, I finished the fifth repeat and put it away for a couple of days. I took Ronnie out and am working on it this week on my commute - nothing beats stockinette stitch for mindless, mistake-proof knitting (aka stupid knitting!). Maybe I will be able to finish the back and will be closer to having one Christmas gift finihsed.
My relaxing weekend really didn't turn out to be that relaxing. Travis decided that we needed to paint the trim, front door, and porch this weekend. Super fun. So, Saturday I painted the door, went for a run, and got my hair done (that part was relaxing, but that's where the problems with Backyard Leaves started). Sunday, more painting and then there was some hay hauling, and another run. Oh, and if you haven't made Dani's cookies (the recipe is in the August 10th post), you really should. They're fabulous. Yesterday was painting and knitting (mostly to fix Backyard Leaves and trying to graft that stupid Shrug). All in all it was a very productive weekend, just not the relaxing one I had in mind. Today is Monday on Tuesday, so who knows what craziness will ensue, but you can bet there'll be some. Have a great day, and happy knitting.
Comments
Oh, Steph! I'm so sorry to see that grafting didn't work out :(. I don't have any suggestions, unfortunately. When I worked on my shrug and had to re-create a cuff from the top down, I found that 2 x 2 ribbing looks very weird from that direction, not at all like ribbing when you're working it the regular way. Fortunately, I didn't have to graft it.
Posted by: grumperina at September 6, 2005 9:42 AM
I really don't know how to graft 2x2 ribbing. I've read somewhere to separate the knit sts from the purl and graft the knit sts on one side, then flip over and do the knit sts on that side.?!? I've never tried it. You could always bind off then fake graft them together. You did get a lot done this weekend!
Posted by: Carolyn at September 6, 2005 9:50 AM
I wish I could help you on grafting. I was supposed to graft on my Butterfly, but with the wonkiness of lace stitches who knows if I actually did it right. Ribbing/stockinette would be much harder to do. The knitting looks pretty though :)
Posted by: Sarah at September 6, 2005 9:55 AM
Grafting ribbing is my enemy. Based on your photos, it looks like perhaps the ribbing was knit in opposite directions? I think its important for invisible grafting that the ribs are both going in the same direction. If both sleeves were knit from the cuff upwards, this could be why its not lining up. How about knitting a row of stockinette on each edge and grafting those?
Posted by: Diana at September 6, 2005 11:08 AM
2x2 ribbing will always be off by half a stitch I think.
Posted by: Jessica at September 6, 2005 11:45 AM
Grafting was invented by Satan, I am sure of it. I believe wholeheartedly that one must first transcend to some higher plane (which I will surely never reach) to be able to accomplish anything remotely resembling an "invisible" seam.
(And if you do figure this out without having to attain enlightenment first, please let me know!!!!)
Posted by: Kathy at September 6, 2005 1:01 PM
Sorry the grafting is not going well - mayhap Jessica and Diana gave the reason why - I don't know, thats for sure! I hope your week somehow manages to be more relaxing than your weekend.
Posted by: PumpkinMama at September 6, 2005 1:32 PM
If you are getting "v"s that look like knit stitches (which it looks like you are), then you did the grafting right. As other people have said, the only way to graft two pieces of ribbing to each other so that it doesn't show is to graft the cast-off edge of one piece to the cast-on edge of the other. If you are grafting cast-on edge to cast-on edge or cast-off edge to cast-off edge, then you will be off by 1/2 a stitch.
Posted by: Emily at September 6, 2005 1:33 PM
This is why I didn't try to graft mine. I just had a feeling it would cause more problems than it was worth. But I do comment your efforts and hope your next attempt works better. As well as the rest of your knitting.
And do try to take it easy this week to make up for your weekend!
Posted by: Purly Whites at September 6, 2005 1:38 PM
I'd say give the instructions in the Finishing book a try. i know I'm able to graft better when I do the waste yarn trick.
Posted by: Rebekah at September 6, 2005 1:48 PM
Steph,
So sorry to hear that the grafting didn't go well! =( It's good that you put away Backyard Leaves for awhile. Maybe it will go better after you have had a break from it. Take care and have a great week!
Posted by: caitlyn at September 6, 2005 8:04 PM
I sympathize about the grafting...I try to avoid it at all costs but you are braver than I. Isn't it just like a handy guy to "relax" by painting the house, landscaping the yard, etc.? Karl does that to me too - he makes me get stone and rock.
Posted by: Lynette at September 7, 2005 9:24 AM
Sorry about the grafting, Stephanie... I have never tried it before.
Posted by: Lolly at September 7, 2005 10:25 AM
