ktbl, ptbl

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 01:14 pm
afuna: Hand-knit pair of socks on feet, beside a ball of yarn with knitting needles and the keyboard of a laptop (knitting)
[personal profile] afuna
I've been doing the Nereid Gloves, and they are fascinating. The lines are formed by 1x1 (ktbl, p) ribbing, and the rounded shape is caused by judicious use of lacework. It is ingenious! I have no idea how anyone could have come up with anything like this *_*

The 60 stitches cast-on are just about right on me, which means they're going to be too small on most everyone else *rueful* I originally meant to send it to one of my friends overseas, but assuming it's as tight as I fear it shall be, I'll have to reconsider.

I needed something easier so I could knit while reading though, so I decided a simple stockinette stitch scarf would do the trick, while I read my way through the Vorkosiverse on the weekend (I've finished up to Young Miles :-DD This series is addictive).

I used a novelty yarn: N.Y. Yarns Twinkle, which is a ribbon wrapped in rough loops and gold thread? The effect is interesting, and I'll be happy with this scarf when it's done, but it's rough on the fingers. I don't think I'll be getting more of this yarn to knit with.

Just stockinette stitch was boring, so I switched to using ktbl (on front side rows)/ptbl (on back side rows), instead of straight knits and purls. I rather like the effect :-) I should see how well it pictures once I'm done.

ktbl = knit through back loop
ptbl = purl though back loop (not in the Nereid Gloves, but needed it to maintain the same effect across purl rows on my scarf. It's not as intuitive a concept as ktbl, but easy enough once you get the hang of it)

Both end up with a twisted stitch which doesn't look very different from a regular stitch on its own, but it has a very nice effect once strung together in several rows. It's hard enough not to be too boring, but easy enough that I can concentrate on my book rather than my knitting.

The twist in the stitch actually looks similar to the one you get when you slip the first stitch in a row. (Plan to investigate that at some point later)
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