Expert: Lesley Arnold-Hopkins - 6/30/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Lesley;

I am new to lace knitting and trying to knit Eunny Jangs Print O'wave stole. I however want the waves to go in opposite directions on the 2nd half of the stole as I started from the mid section. There are 12 lines to form one wave. Do I reverse the pattern for the second half i.e. knitting Lines 12 - 1

Thanks for your help

ChiSaS

ANSWER: Hi,

Thank you for your question.

I have never made the pattern, but the version currently available on www.eunnychang.com already has the pattern going in the opposite direction, as the stole is made in two halves and then grafted together. This way the stole is symmetrical - am I right in thinking that this is what you wanted?

If it's the grafting that you don't fancy, (and you haven't knitted too much of the stole already), you could always start again, using a provisional cast on (http://knitting-patterns-techniques.suite101.com/article.cfm/provisional_knittin) and then pick up the stitches from the cast on edge to knit in the other direction.

However, in answer to your question about will reversing the 12 rows work, then I'm afraid that I think that the answer is no. The way that stitches are decreased changes their direction. It MAY work, if you swap the SSKs with the K2togs, and the K3togs with the sk2po decreases, but please try this on a test piece first; I haven't tested this myself for this pattern and can't guarantee that it will work.

I hope that this helps, but please come back to me if anything is unclear.

Thanks again

Lesley



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Lesley;

Thanks for responding so quickly. I have actually done the 1st half with a provisional cast on and have the live stitches on a needle hoping to knit the other half of the stole with the waves going in the opposite direction. I guess I need to do a swatch first to see if it works bearing in mind swapping the decrease stitches as you stated.

Thanks

Chi.

Answer
Hello Chi,

Thanks for coming back to me.

I'm sorry but I think I'm getting confused.

If you pick up from the cast on edge and then knit, then I think that the pattern will automatically go in the opposite direction, as you'll be working away from the piece you've already made. From what I could see of the pattern, Eunny Chang designed it so that each side mirrored the other.

If I'm missing something obvious, then I'm really sorry - please come back to me if I am, and I'll certainly try to help further.

Thanks again

Lesley