The Knitting Fiend

Here’s about 8″ of seamless raglan.

I’ve knit the 1 x 1 ribbing using the #5 tips on my Denise circulars; I’m knitting the broken rib pattern stitch using #7 tips.

For those wondering, here’s the stitch pattern for broken rib worked circular:

Worked on an even number of stitches.

• Round 1: Knit all stitches.
• Round 2: ( k1, p1) repeat to the end of the round.
• Alternate rounds 1 and 2.

It’s a row of 1 x 1 broken by a round of knit stitches. Pretty easy!

You can work broken rib back and forth following the exact same pattern simply calling “rounds” “rows”. When I work this flat, I prefer to change Round 1 to all purl. I don’t prefer knitting over purling. If you purl round 1, it’s easier to “see” the stitch pattern, which I find easier. Obviously, if you have a hard time purling, you’ll prefer to knit round 1.

I photographed the knit side, but if you work this pattern, you’ll see the purl side is also attractive. If you are beginner, you might want to test out the stitch substitute the reverse side of broken rib for seed stitch. I think it’s prettier, and I personally think it’s definitely easier to work.

I know some regular visitors know I said I was going to knit this sweater in “Cartridge Belt Rib”. Well, it turned out that stitch, which is mindless when knit flat, is a bit of a pain to work circular. I like to hand knit watching tv, and Jim likes to turn most lights out watching tv. I also like to be able to talk, get up and down and generally socialize. I started the sweater out, in poor lightning, I sometimes couldn’t tell if I was on a round that required knitting or purling. I would occasionally, get up and come back with a snack or something, sit down, lose track of the round, knit a bit, realize I’d made a mistake and had to back track.

Not fun.

Sufficiently not fun that I ripped back 6″ long of sweater I began on Sunday. Ahhh. . . Well . . . So much for planning. This new stitch is going much faster; I’ll finish in less time than it would have taken me to finish the Cartridge Belt Rib sweater.

People who may eventually want the pattern for a seamless hand knit raglan: I’ve coded the pattern generator, and I’m proof-knitting. I think the pattern generator will be available by the weekend. Or maybe next week.