If you've been around me at all, you know that I hate to miss a party. I'm a social-events joiner - and that especially includes KAL's (Knit-A-Longs). All I need to hear is, "Wouldn't it be fun if we all...?" and I'm grabbing my needles, buying yarn, and downloading a pattern.
So I was a sitting duck when I asked my friends from Twisted Yarns some questions about the Lizard Ridge afghan from knitty.com. Did they knit separate squares, strips, or Version 2 - all one color? I heard back from Janet (aka Twisted Knitter) and she suggested a KAL! (Run for the needles, buy yarn, print pattern!) Within minutes we had the Lizard Ridge KAL set up on Twisted Yarn's Ravelry site here.
We were all set to start on May 1, but being the weak person that I am, I jumped ahead. (If this doesn't sound plausible, ask Nancy Bush. I don't think she was too pleased when I jumped ahead in a sock workshop of hers. And Nancy, you were right, I got into a mess!) I'm not a big fan of Wrap and Turn's because the wrap yarn always stretches when I lift it up to knit with the stitch. But I learned something great from my partially finished (I promise, I will finish it!) Hanne Falkenberg Mermaid - you don't have to W&T to get the same effect!
Using the Lizard Ridge pattern, purl to the first W&T location, turn without doing the W&T stuff, yo (as usual, from front to back) and knit the required number of stitches. Now turn as before, without the W&T stuff, yo, and purl the required number of stitches. (This last yo is again from front to back, and then forward again to purl.)
After doing this as the pattern instructs, you will get something that looks like this on the purl side:
It looks like multiples of the gaps that occur in turning a heel of a sock, and you treat them much the same with "closing the gap" by working the two stitches on either side of the gap together. On the purl side, purl the 2 stitches together through the back loop. This can be a little awkward at first, since the needle is going into the two stitches through the back from left to right, but it becomes easier with time:
You need to p2togtbl to get the correct twist to the stitches. If you just p2tog it will look like you forgot a to pick up a wrap.
When closing the gap on the knit side, you just need to knit 2 together in the usual way:
I'm loving this pattern. Way to go, Laura Aylor, the genius designer!
The "egg crate" bumps disappear. "It all comes out in the wash (or blocking)."
What a beautiful square!!! I have been tempted to do the Lizard Ridge, but so far I have resisted. Sarah saw the one up in the shop and loved it. She loved the colors and the graphic quality of it. I may do one eventually, but right now I am trying to work out of my stash.
ReplyDeleteI understand the stash thing! One nice bit about the Lizard Ridge is that you can collect stash slowly for it. See a color you love? Buy one skein, knit a square, set aside. (Written as FYI only - not as arm twisting!)
ReplyDeleteYea, I was doing the "turn yo" same way. Great photo & explanation. Hey, do you think one could use left over sock yarn for a 'lighter' LR? Nah on a starting diet, for two more weeks or two finished ufo's, which ever comes first
ReplyDeletePat, you sure could use sock yarn. It would make a much smaller square (I just measured barely 4 sts/in in Kureyon) so you'd have a small afghan or need to make more squares. The squares are fun to knit, and are very easy once you get the hang of them. I've been saving my sock yarn ends for something. They make me think of old patchwork quilts. Each color of yarn, or piece of fabric tells a story.
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial! Thank you! (and love the color of the Noro)
ReplyDeleteAnn brought her LR square to the shop the other day to explain your technique. Sometime during this crazy week, I hope to have a finished square!