Which Stich Holder?

I've come to the point in my knitting, that I became a bit to comfortable in just the basic knitting or purling; garter stitch or stockinette stitch (or stocking stitch ~ both terms are used often to describe the knit the odd rows, purl the even rows).  I needed to change things up.

Out came my "400 Knitting Stitches" book to look up something different to try.  Skipped the more difficult ones and stuck to the cables again.  I've completed a cable scarf in the past, but it's been awhile.  Started one almost a year ago and that skein of yarn became my "practice something knew and if I like it, it will become something for someone" skein of yarn.  It got ripped out, yarn balled up and set to waiting for another project.

This go around, I have been working on what is called "Plait 2".  It is an eight row, 15 stitch pattern that took me a few days to remember the pattern and to be able to look at the cable to figure out whether I am on row 3 or 7.  I've ripped it out a few times because to many sets of rows 1 through 4 had been done and the cable just does not happen then.

Anyhoot, the main point of what I wanted to share now was my preferance in stitch holders.  There are a few gadgets that can be bought to do this.  Most of the time, when searching the web, I've found the two styles I have, a Knitting Stitch Holder and a Knitting Cable Holder (make sure you use the term Knitting with the second term unless you are looking for electronic cable holders).

Here are pictures of the two on my current cable scarf:

 This is just a partial view of stitch holder, I prefer this while

working on cables.  They come in varying sizes, by numerous companies,

look like safety pins, hang vertically, and the stitches do not fall of the holder.

Added bonus is that the holder can be closed if you need to 

set the project aside mid-row.  It will not loose a stitch.

This is a Knitting Cable Holder (the red/orange colored, metal object).

It looks a lot like a metal knitting needle, with a bump in the middle.

I used this while working on my first cable a few years back.

Although it works okay, I found that if I wasn't careful, 

the needle could slide out rather easily.  For me, it seemed to get

in the way while I was working on the other stitches.

Which stitch holder will I use more often?  The Stitch Holder more often than not.  In a pinch, I would probably use almost anything I can get an individual stitch onto and off of easily.  It's just a preference and not a firm rule.

Happy knitting!

Cable Stitches and Remembering the Row!

The last week or so, I have been working on a cable and it's been rather difficult for some reason.  At first, I didn't leave a boarder, which I realized quickly, makes the overall cable look a little nicer (in my opinion anyway).  Then, I'd forget where I was in the pattern and repeat the wrong part of the cable.  Anyway, ripped a few rows out, thankfully not the whole thing, and got back on track.  What I finally made for myself was the following:

Yes, just an index card, folded in half, 8 numbers and a paper clip.  If I have to set down my knitting, for a bit, I'll put the paper clip on the next row I'll need to work on.  This makes it a whole lot easier to know what I am doing next.  The two rows that are starred are the cable rows that I am either bringing stitches forward or backward, at various times in that row.  The other rows are knits and purls.  Easy enough when you remember where you are in the pattern!

So there you have it.  A homemade, row counter so you don't loose track and keep doing the same cable stitches over and over again.

In the near future, I'll write about which stitch holder I prefer!

I  haven't been as active with this blog as I'd like, but will possibly soon.  Actually thinking of things to write about, have a new camera (and a son taking photography), and hope to expand my knitting skills for just the sake of doing so.

In the coming days, hope to write about cables and my preference for holding the cable stitches, new stitches I am learning, selling items, and getting this blog out into "the knitting blog universe".

For now, let me know what you might be interested in reading about!

Take care and happy knitting!