Will say this -if you can manage lace knitting, you will cope with colourwork in your sleep. I nearly always do stranded colourwork and have to say it is exactly as easy as straightforward stocking stitch except you have 2 (or even 3 or 4 ) strands of wool at the same time,which you simply carry round the back. Honestly,a Fairisle jumper is far easier than the lace number you are working on at the moment.
Thanks campanula that's really good to know. Makes me feel quite confident in my ability for future knits
It took me about a year (altho' I only knit in winter). Definitely don't do more than a few stitches, working up to a whole row after a few months. I started holding my left index finger erect, with the yarn tensioned around it (and my little finger) but now I am not fighting the yarn, I relaxed into a much closer style. I think you have to do this quite slowly. Feeling comfortable and maintaining an even tension, came in fits and starts. While I cracked the technique very quickly, it took the longest time to actually relax enough so my fingers weren't knackered after half a row. I cannot say enough how worthwhile it has been to persevere...so much that I am thinking of trying a finger ring to hold 2 strands in my left and changing to all continental for colourwork. Purl has defeated me though, so it's still only good for stocking stitch in the round.I've been trying to teach myself to knit continental style so I can do colourwork two-handed but I keep rage quitting after a few rows of shonky stocking stitch
Cheers, that's encouraging.
Why is that. do you think, Nottsgirl? Is it a tension issue? What I find hard about lacework is seeing what I have just stitched and how it fits into the bigger pattern whereas the different colours in stranded knitting tend to obviate my uncertainty. Without numerous lifelines and, of course, some sort of pattern, I am lost with lace (and cables give me grief too but I can at least see where I am at a bit more easily). I have always done colourwork cos for me, it really is all about the colours (have never knitted a single garment in one single colour!) And am rubbish with patterns, getting along with a basic knowledge of clothing construction from sewing.
If you do have another go at colourwork, avoid those Fairisle patterns which include motifs which can stretch over 12, 20, 30 stitches and as many rows. Have a look at very simple geometric patterns with colour changes every 2 or 3 stitches. You can get into aa very relaxed counting mode (2, 3, 2, 3, 2, 3...or 1, 2, 1, 2, and so on). Something like this:
It will get better, especially once you have some rows behind you. When there's a bit more weight on the cable it stops wobbling all over the place.
The one I've got is too long and I can see this is making it harder. Not massively too long but enough to make a difference. I've ordered a shorter one from The Evil Empire that will come tomorrow so I can transfer it.
Persevere
Persevere!
If you're only just starting, now would be the time to give up! What wool is it?
It’s Noro Ito so it was quite expensive
I think I’m just feeling uninspired.
I’ve done it once before and it didn’t quite work properly that time either. I find it difficult but I’m not great with new techniques.
You do have to concentrate and it's hard to read your knitting and see what you've done but the world is full of knitters who've mastered it so...
Hmm...I'll have to seriously evaluate how much I like that shrug then before attempting it.
Nice!!
