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Seed stitch problem :(

31 replies

LittleNutTree · 12/12/2012 20:57

I found a lovely pattern on Ravelry for a striped seed stitch/stockinette stitch blanket but my seed stitch keeps coming out as a rib!! I've tried it twice and worked 5 or so rows each time (to give it time to develop, hahaha!) and have followed the pattern to the letter but it just doesn't seem to be working.

Can anyone help? I feel like crying!

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LittleNutTree · 12/12/2012 20:58

Sorry to seem melodramatic, I'm 9wks pregnant with the recipient of said blanket and I may be slightly hormonal! Grin

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SlimJimBra · 12/12/2012 21:01

seed stitch is like rib but offset, how maky sts are theree? or link to the pattern and I'll have a look

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SlimJimBra · 12/12/2012 21:02

maky=many Blush Blush

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alarkaspree · 12/12/2012 21:02

Maybe the pattern is wrong? I am quite new to knitting myself so I'm sorry if this is eye-rollingly basic for you, but if you look for other people's projects knit on the same pattern and see if any have comments, sometimes people will mention that there are mistakes in the pattern.

For seed stitch, you need to knit and purl alternately but if you're knitting back and forth this will come out as starting with a knit stitch (or a purl stitch) at the beginning of each row.

Can you link to the pattern?

And don't worry. You have 7 months to knit this blanket! You will get there.

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LittleNutTree · 12/12/2012 21:13

Thanks for the speedy replies!
It was a paid pattern so not sure if I'm allowed to link it? I'm new to Ravelry so feel free to advise Smile I'm off to check and see if any errors have been reported.

There'll be no eye rolling here alarkaspree, I'm new to knitting too so any help is gratefully appreciated Smile

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SlimJimBra · 12/12/2012 21:16

of course you can link it, but i wont be able to see the pattern without buying it! will see if i can work it out from the pics though

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LittleNutTree · 12/12/2012 21:20

Thanks SlimJimBra, the link is here

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SlimJimBra · 12/12/2012 21:24

Ok, it looks nice and simple. How many stitches do you cast on and do you start with k1 p1 all across the sts?

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SlimJimBra · 12/12/2012 21:27

It looks from the pic that its around 130 sts, but is it an odd number or an even one? If its even you should start each row with the same stitch, if its an even number you should start row 1 on k1, and row2 on p1 if that makes sense

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LittleNutTree · 12/12/2012 21:28

Grin I thought it looked simple too! Maybe it's me who is too simple for the pattern!

You CO 120 stitches, then K1,P1,K1,P1,K1, K10, then K1,P1,K1,P1,K1,P1,K1,P1,K1,P1, K10, etc until last 5 stitches where you K1,P1,K1,P1,K1.

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SlimJimBra · 12/12/2012 21:28

Its a lovey pattern, by the way, simple and pretty :)

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SlimJimBra · 12/12/2012 21:33

Ok, so row 2 should read k1 p1 k1 p1 k1 p10 p1 k1 p1 k1 p1 k1 p1 k1 p1 k1 p10 etc to last 5 sts then k1 p1 k1 p1 k1
For seed stitch you knit the knit sts on both sides and p the p sts on each side, whereas with rib you p the back of the k sts and k the back of the p sts

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SlimJimBra · 12/12/2012 21:34

(Don't you do a few rows of just seed st first though - to set the bottom of the border?)

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LittleNutTree · 12/12/2012 21:34

The next row is P1,K1,P1,K1,P1,P10,P1,K1,P1,K1,P1,K1,P1,K1,P1, K1,P10, etc until last 5 stitches.

Does that sound right?

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LittleNutTree · 12/12/2012 21:35

X-post, sorry! So the pattern sounds wrong? It doesn't say anything about knitting a border. I did wonder about that.

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tribpot · 12/12/2012 21:36

Seed stitch is a real pain in the bum for newer knitters. It should be simple but unless you keep a very careful count, you need to be able to recognise the difference between a knit and a purl stitch visually so you know what stitch you should be doing next.

If you're doing seed stitch on an odd number of stitches it's easier because every row starts with k1. If the bands have an even number of stitches you will have to remember which row you're on as well - extra bum-ache.

And on top of that, if you're not used to having to move the yarn from behind to in front of the needle between every stitch it can be very slow going. All in all, I've stopped advising our newer Woolly Hugs knitters to try seed stitch.

I would start off with a test swatch where you just try to master the seed stitch bit. if you cast on, say, 11 stitches you should find you can do k1, p1 all across the row and end up on a k1. Same thing on the next row and you should start to see how the pattern develops.

If you want to post just the bit of the pattern instruction that talks about how to do the seed stitch, we can advise further. This shouldn't break any copyright - or you could discuss it on Ravelry where the author can see it. We have a group of our own there.

I will say it seems quite possible the pattern is wrong - no-one has knitted yet except you.

Finally I would say as well there are a lot of free patterns on Rav. That one is perfectly nice but I'm not sure I would have shelled out $5.50 for it. Do look around for ideas. But first off let's see if we can get you started on this one!

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SlimJimBra · 12/12/2012 21:37

The pattern looks wrong to me, but only the first 5 sts, the rest of it looks fine, the seed st in the middle is the right way round but the border seed st is wrong in the pattern

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tribpot · 12/12/2012 21:39

x-posted with you. The pattern is definitely wrong, it has you purling the knit stitch from the row before, which will create the rib effect you're seeing.

The blanket definitely has a border on, does the pattern say anything about doing that at the end?

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LittleNutTree · 12/12/2012 21:39

I know $5.50 does seem a lot looking back on it now, especially since it seems that the pattern might be incorrect based on SlimJimBra's post Sad I should have just asked here first!

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SlimJimBra · 12/12/2012 21:41

Ooh, I didn't know there was a mn woolly hugs ravelry group :)

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tribpot · 12/12/2012 21:41

To be honest, I would comment on the pattern on Rav and say you're concerned it may contain errors. The author has the right of reply but you might give another newer knitter pause for thought.

I'll chart up what I think this is meant to look like for you but in the meantime I would build your confidence by doing a bit of seed stitch as a test piece so you know what you're looking for.

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SlimJimBra · 12/12/2012 21:42

Sorry :( (but$5 isn't that bad)

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SlimJimBra · 12/12/2012 21:45

Will hand over to tribpot for the drawing up of a new pattern, I was meant to be having an early night! Good luck :)

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LittleNutTree · 12/12/2012 22:01

Thank you so much for all of your replies, what a lovely bunch you are Smile Don't worry about pointing out the pattern mistake even though I'd paid for the pattern, I'll look more thoroughly for nice free patterns next time!

If you could chart it for me tribpot that would be great Smile I'll go and report the error too.

Thanks again. I've knitted a couple of cardigans and various hats before, so although I'm a beginner, I was sure I could manage this!

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tribpot · 12/12/2012 22:16

Okay - this is my first go at it.

Have a look at the 'Written' tab for the instructions that should match (sort of) to what you have, except I've put the border in.

I wouldn't attempt to do this on 120 stitches straight off, though. I'd cast on 40 and ignore the repeats in the instructions in rows 7 and 8 until you're happy you've nailed it (and the instructions are correct!)

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