This pattern uses the default gauge and size. Read, then fill out the form and enter our own numbers to get your own pattern! I don't have a query string yet, which means you haven't sent me your own numbers and I'm using Lucia's.

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Custom Turtleneck Dickey from The Knitting Fiend.

This page will chart a custom turtleneck dickey (aka, neck warmer) for you to knit by hand or machine. A number of people asked for dickey patterns on the machine knit mailing list. So, I wrote this!

The dickey uses two patterns stitches. These are the "welt" and "main" pattern stitches.

The "welt stitch" is used for the neckline and the welt trim on the edges. I recommend a non-curling stitch with a lot of elesticity. Most ribs will do. The directions will use the word "rib" for this stitch choice. However, you may also knit the welts in garter stitch. Just substitute the word "garter stitch" for "rib stitch' as appropriate.

The "main" stitch is used for all other pieces. The directions assumed you picked stockinette for this stitch. But, if you like, pick something more exciting! A fairisle pattern would be nice.

How to use this page.

When you called this program from within my site, the program automatically ran once with measurements I chose. If you want a custom dickey using your yarn and stitch pattern, type your data in the boxes and hit send. Wait a few moments while the program generates a custom dickey pattern for you. If you type in your data incorrectly, don't worry. You'll have another chance!

(If you got to this program from a link outside my site, there may be no directions yet. Just click "send" and you'll get default directions. Otherwise, fill in your information, and you'll get directions.)

Type or check your data

Type in the new values for your dickey in each box. Each box currently contains measurement choices, but you can change them all. Just type in the new numerical values in either inches or cm. If you wish to use centimeters, be sure to click the cm box because the default is inches.

After you hit send, wait a few moments while the program charts your sweater. The numbers you entered will be echoed back to you, and if you change your mind, you can change the numbers again.

Change the values in this form to create your custom turtleneck dickey.

When you have finished filling in new values, double click the "send" button. Wait a few moments and the screen will refresh with a new pattern.

Have fun, Lucia

Enter your name:
Choose the units you wish to use.
The current directions assume your input is in inches. 		inches
cm

Enter some gauge information.
If you are not knitting welts, enter identical values for the welt and main gauge. You must also choose a welt stitch that stretches and does not curl. The wording of the directions assumes you picked rib.
Welt swatch number of rows =
 length of swatch(inches) =
Welt swatch
number of stitches =
 width of swatch(inches) =
Main swatch
number of rows =
 length of swatch(inches) =
Main swatch number of stitches =
 width of swatch(inches) =

Enter Design Information

Enter your head circumference in inches: 		Enter your shoulder width in inches:

Enter your shoulder slope in inches: 		Enter the collar height in inches :
Enter the overall length of the front in inches: Enter the overall length of the back in inches:

Enter the depth of front neckline in inches: 		Enter the depth of back neckline in inches: (Lot's of people like a zero depth because it's easy to knit and fits ok!)

Enter the width of neckline in inches:
If you don't want welts, enter 0.01 for the lengths and widths.

Enter the length of the side welt width in inches: 		Enter the length of the bottom welt in inches:

To generate new directions using the current values in all the boxes, click the "send" button.

Note:

  • You should enter your real shoulder dimension. The dickey width will be 90% of your shoulder dimension. This will keep the dickey from falling into your sleeves.
  • Enter your real shoulder drop from the side neck to the natural shoulder location. The pattern drafting software will automatically scale to find the appropriate shoulder drop over the smaller dickey shoulder size. If you don't know your shoulder drop, don't worry. It's not that important to the fit of a dickey!
  • A calculation has been performed to determine whether your head will fit through the neck opening. The result will appear just before the directions.

    Warning:
    Head opening might be too small. The head opening is 18.3 inches; your head is 23 inches Because knitting stretches, you can get your head through a small opening, but some caution is advised. I recommend you increase the neck width by 0.81 inches

    Custom Directions for a Dickey

    A dickey has been charted using your gauge information and design dimensions. If you did not enter any information in one of the boxes, the computer program used my default values.

    Notes to hand knitters:

  • I provide some information describing where the "carriage" is located. This is for machine knitters. You can just ignore it. However, if you are curious, when the "carriage is on right", you will find the "right" side of the work facing you. When the "carriage is on left" you will find the back of the work facing you.
  • Hand knitters will sometimes prefer to ignore information about the number of rows and focus on the length of the work when they begin shaping the neck and shoulders. Machine knitters can't measure the length!

    General directions

    Knit front and back of dickey. Attach front to back at one shoulder. Knit and attach turtleneck using either method 1 or 2 described below:

    Method 1: (Double bed method) Knit turtleneck from neck down. On last row, transfer all stitches to the front bed. Hang the front-back portion of the dickey on the back bed of the machine with right side of dickey facing the ribbing. Transfer turtleneck stitches to back bed. Place stitches in needle hooks under latches. Draw stitches through the main body to the back side of the main body. Cast off using any elastic method.

    Method 2: (HK method) Pick up the stitches for the turtleneck from the neckline. On last row, bind off all stitches using any elastic method.

    Attach the front to the back at other the shoulder. Attach the side welts; use method 1 or method 2 recommended for attaching the turtleneck collar.

    Dickey Front

  • Lower Welt (a.k.a. ribbing) Cast on 106 stitches in rib. Knit in rib to row count 6. (Length is 1 inches.)
  • Body. Change to stockinette pattern. Knit in main stitch pattern to total row count 38. (7.7 inches from cast on.)
  • Note: The program calculates as many values as it can. If it says "unknown stitches", read the note at the end.
  • Divide for neck: Carriage Right. Knit first 34 stitches. Bind off center 38 stitches. Knit left 34 stitches.
  • Left front neck shaping. Carriage left. Knit back 34. Cast off 20 stitches on inner side of neck as follows: 5 stitches every two rows 0 times followed by 4 stitches every two rows 5 times.
  • Left front shoulder Continue knitting the remaining 14 shoulder stitches to row count 48. (9.6 inches from cast on) Knit to right one row. Cast off the 14 shoulder stitches as follows: 14 stitches every two rows 1 times followed by 15 stitches 0 times. When you finish this operation, all stitches should be bound off.
  • Right front neck shaping. Reset counter to 38. Carriage right. Knit 34 stitches. Cast off 20 stitches on inner side of neck as follows: 5 stitches every two rows 0 times followed by 4 stitches every two rows 5 times.
  • Right front shoulder Continue knitting the remaining 14 shoulder stitches to row count 48. (9.6 inches from cast on) Cast off the 14 shoulder stitches as follows: 14 stitches every two rows 1 times followed by 15 stitches 0 times. When you finish this operation, all stitches should be bound off.

    Dickey Back

    For the dimensions you requested, the shoulder cast off begins before the back neck divide. The shoulder cast off begins at row count 34. The neck cast off divide begins at 36.

    Note: When organizing these directions, I assumed the shoulder cast off will begin after the neck divide. This is_not the case for your set of directions. If it is not the case for your directions, you need to reorganize. You will find a few places in the directions that say 'unknown number of stitches'. So, please read the note at the bottom of the page. (Reorganizing is easy! If you designed an unshaped neck, reorganizing is trivial! )

  • Welt Cast on 106 stitches. Knit in rib to row count 6. (Length is 1 inches.)
  • Body. Change to stockinette pattern. Knit in main stitch pattern to row count 34. Prepare to decrease for the shoulder. (6.6 inches from cast on row.)
  • Note: The program calculates as many values as it can. Some of the values are redundant (for your convenience). If the directions say "unknown stitches", read the note at the end.
  • Divide for neck: At row 36 (7 inches) prepare to cast off for neck. Carriage Right. Knit unknown_number stitches. Bind off center 50 stitches. Knit left unknown_number stitches.
  • Left back neck shaping. Carriage left. Knit back unknown_number. Cast off 14 stitches on inner side of neck as follows: 14 stitches every two rows 1 times followed by 0 stitches every two rows 0 times
  • Left back shoulder When you reach row count 34. (6.6 inches from cast on) prepare to bind off for left back shoulder. Knit to right one row. Cast off the 14 shoulder stitches as follows: 14 stitches every 2 rows 1 times followed by 15 stitches every 2 rows 0 times. At this time, all stitches should be bound off.
  • Knit right side. Reset row counter to 36. Prepare to decrease for the shoulder.
  • Right back neck shaping. Carriage right. Knit unknown_number. stitches. Cast off 14 stitches on inner side of neck as follows: 14 stitches every two rows 1 times followed by 0 stitches every two rows0 times
  • Right back shoulder When you reach row count 34. (6.6 inches from cast on) bind off for the right back shoulder. Cast off the 14 shoulder stitches as follows: 14 stitches every 2 rows 1 times followed by 15 stitches every 2 rows 0 times.
  • Right side shaping complete. All stitches should be bound off.

    Turtle Neck

    The turtleneck is drafted to fit an opening which measures 18.3 inches around; the number of stitches is calculated using the main stitch gauge of 10 stitches / inches. For reference, you entered a head measurement of 23 inches.

    Cast on 182 stitches (9.1 inches when measured in rib which should stretch to fit the opening.). Knit in rib for 36 rows (7 inches). Transfer stitches to front bed. Follow assembly instructions. Note: The turtleneck width is the width of unstretched ribbing. The number of stitches is calculated assuming that the rib will stretch to the main stitch gauge when the turtleneck is pulled over your head.

    Side Welts

    Make two.

    Cast on 170 stitches. Knit for 4 rows (1 inches). Transfer stitches to front bed. Attach each welt to one of the unfinished sides of the dickey using same technique as described for the turtleneck.

    Reorganizing

    This text applies only if you have been told to read it!

    If you need to reorganize the pattern, you really won't need to do much. No matter what, work the shoulder decreases first, as instructed. Keep an eye out for the row when the neck decreases begin. There are two possiblities that may apply. These are decribed below. (Case 1 is relevant to you.)

    1) The neckline decrease never begins because you have designed a flat neck. In this case, just bind off all stitches when you have completed the final shoulder shaping. Ignore all other back neck shaping directions

    2) The neckline decreases need to be worked before the final row. When you reach row 36, follow the directions for the back neck shaping. Notice that the directions have print out the words "unknown number" were a number would ordinarily be given. Don't worry about that. Just remember that the neck bind off affects the center stitches. Identify the center of the work. Bind off 1/2 of the 50 stiches on one side of the center of the work and the other 1/2 on the other side of the center. After you have bound these off, follow the detailed cast off directions for each neck edge.

    • Your generous donations support this site and encourage me to write more generators. If you use my generators to chart a custom pattern, consider donating !
    Some other pages in my site:
  • Top of site.
  • Pullovers: crew, vneck, cowl and turtle neck. Adults, & children.
  • Teddy bear sweater
  • How to measure yourself for a custom sweater.
    Copyright © Lucia Liljegren. All Rights Reserved.
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