The great black hole of knitting. There's no right way that works all the time. Seams have a bit more rules about them. Just get Nancy Wiseman's Finishing Techniques and you should be fine. But with picking up - ok, there is the 3/4 rule going down a straight edge. That works pretty well when you are in that situation.
My current project has me adding contrast bands around the bottoms of sleeves, body, button band and neckband. I thought I was so smart to pick up AND KNIT the stitches twisted, closing off any gaps, I thought. I did this on the button bands, body bottom, one sleeve, and then I just knew it was ALL WRONG. The twisted stitches became more visible as they turned to close the gap. On the second sleeve, I became the boss of my knitting, poked my needle in a full stitch down and picked up (not picked up and knit) and voila, a perfect smooth edge on the right side.
One sleeve was then knit correctly. I then ripped the second sleeve and am re-knitting. And am considering undoing hours put into the button bands and body bottom. A minor set-back at a time of year when there is little margin for such types of error. If I do it, the cookies won't get baked, cards sent dangerously close to December 25.
I'm going to sleep on it and make a decision tomorrow.
I almost always go in a full stitch and pick up and knit. What do you think is the advantage of the full st without the "and knit" part? I've read that a good rule of thumb on straight knitting is to pick up the ratio of sts to rows in the yarn's gauge (so 3:4 is common as 18:24 is a common gauge).
Posted by: Lauren | December 10, 2005 at 10:22 PM
Send the kids out with Dad and Just Do It! You'll be much happier. I ripped out hours of work on Pete's vest and I'm still alive to tell about it, right? You can always send out cards after Christmas. I love receiving cards the week between Christmas and New Years. The kids do, too. So there. :)
Posted by: Kerstin | December 11, 2005 at 03:58 AM
just do it.
Posted by: Kathleen | December 11, 2005 at 06:46 AM
Just do it, you know if you don't you will always look at it and regret not doing so.
I have just finished MIL socks and they look wrong- I can't put my finger on why but I have just started a pair of jaywalkers for my mum and as soon as they are done I will re do MIL's in the same pattern - I'm cutting it fine !
Posted by: janine | December 11, 2005 at 08:46 AM
Don't send out cards! Don't bake the cookies! Everyone will survive without the cookies or the cards----at least that's what I'm telling myself. :)
Posted by: Annie | December 11, 2005 at 09:06 AM
Whenever I want to re-do knitting and I wait to make a decision, I always decide to rip. Now I just save time and rip. Rip, rip, rip - whenever something bugs me. LOL
Posted by: Nanette | December 11, 2005 at 10:59 AM