Clara's confused

[Clarabel]

Hi there

I've been knitting for about a month now, after I saw a scarf that my aunt knitted for my mother. I had knitted as a littel girl so I had a small idea of what I was doing but this site has been a great help so far!

I've knitted 3 scarfs and half way through a baby blanket now, mainly using plain stiches with fancy wool. I took my hand at making the short row scarf and it came out really well only I knitted it on needles that were too big so I frogged it.

YO - I am so confused about this, if I read the instructions correctly it will create an increase. Do you drop the created stitch when come it it on the other side to create that little hole?

PS - I have loads more questions, but I'll get there eventually.

[brendajos]

it depends on what your pattern is telling you to do but i think in most cases you will just knit it like a regular stitch. if the pattern isn't really getting bigger then there is probably a decrease in the same row somewhere.


btw...if you are supposed to drop the YO your pattern should tell you that.

[suzeeq]

A pattern with a YO as an increase will sometimes say to knit the yo without dropping it. Or it will be treated as just another stitch on the next row.

sue

[Jan in CA]

Not sure I should add to the confusion here for you, but...

The YO is an increase that leaves an eyelet (little hole) in the pattern. They can be used decoratively as well as an increase. In either case you knit into it just like a normal stitch. IF the pattern is using it as a design feature and not an increase you would probably be knitting (or purling) two together somewhere on that row so the stitch count remains the same.

[Clarabel]

so if I was just doing my own pattern, and wanted to create that little hole the yo does, I should decrease the stictch before?

[Jan in CA]

so if I was just doing my own pattern, and wanted to create that little hole the yo does, I should decrease the stictch before?

I think I would YO and then knit the next two together. Just be consistent wtih whatever you decide to do. :D

[Clarabel]

Thanks, that all makes sense.

Now for today's question.

I've just CO a scarf and knitted 2 rows of loops (they are so cute - I've not seen anyone here use them http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/archives/2005/12/loopy_is_the_ne.php ) and then just garter stitch, but I am using 6mm kneedles even though the yarn says I should be using 8mm.

So its only a scarf and I can just keep CO til I get the desired width and knitting til I get the desired length, but I want to know will I use more yarn doing it this way? What effect does using smaller needles have?

ETA - Using Wendy Melody

[Jan in CA]

Your link doesn't work and I'm not sure what you were trying to share so I can't fix it.

Knitting with a smaller needle makes a denser (and sometime stiffer) fabric. If it feels okay to you and you like it then just keep using the smaller needles. I'm not sure if it would use more yarn or not.. :thinking:

[Clarabel]

sorry changed the link

[suzeeq]

It depends on your yarn. If you have a thinner one than that shown in the link, smaller needles should work fine. Yes, CO however many you want for the width and keep going until you run out of yarn or get it long enough.

sue