How to END each row and START a new one

by Anne
(Brisbane)

I am knitting 10inch squares to make into a Wrap for charity (wraps are 4 squares by 7 squares). They are in plain stitch. It would seem nothing could be easier, great for someone who has never advanced past the basics.

Yet my question is very basic - the sides of my squares are very uneven - jagged and all over the place by as much as half a cm. I was sure this had to be a common problem and easily overcome which is why I have looked on the internet for instruction. I can find instructions for casting on, casting off, but not how to finish one row and procede into the next one!

I hope you can help as I'm longing to pull the eight squares apart and re-start. At first I had thought these ghastly edges would not be seen, but of course they would have as the stitching together process means that two edges meet (don't overlap).

YOUR ANSWER

Providing you are knitting the same number of stitches on each row the edges of your squares should be reasonably straight. There would be a small amount of variation as your tension changes with more practice, but not to the extent that you have described.

When you say plain stitch I am assuming that you are knitting stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row) or garter stitch (knit all rows)?

The first thing to do is to look at one of your squares and see if you are adding or reducing the number of stitches as you knit. It happens quite often with new knitters and can be overcome by slowing down a bit and with practice.

As to your question about ending one row and starting another. Really all you need to do is to physically switch hands so the the needle with all the stitches is in your left hand (assuming that you are right handed) and the empty needle is in your right hand.

Find the tail coming out of the first stitch on the left hand needle and give it a little tug so that the stitch is snug on the needle. Insert the empty needle into the stitch and knit (or purl).

Then continue with the rest of the row.

Don't give up, it just takes a bit of practice to get your tension sorted and knitted fabric is very forgiving. What I would suggest is to sew a couple of your squares together edge to edge (even though they are uneven - sew them up as if they were straight, matching rows) and see what they look like.

The give in the finished squares will probably accommodate the variation and it will not be as noticeable as you fear.