Shaping in Pattern Shaping in Pattern

Beyond the Pattern: Shaping in Pattern with Vickie Howell with Patty Lyons

Shaping in Pattern Few things strikes fear into the hearts of knitters more than reading “shaping, staying in pattern”. No need to fear, as long as we remember our goals and a few simple guidelines, all will be well!

Shaping a Cable Pattern Many knitter’s use the simple “if I don’t have enough stitches to complete a cable, I eliminate it” rule of thumb. However, this can leave you with unwanted section of stockinette in the middle of your all over cable. In addition, since cable pulls in your fabric, the shape might change if you eliminate a cable.

Goals: • Keep the cabling as close the edge as possible • Maintain a selvage stitch for seaming

Tips: • Create you increase or decrease at least one stitch in from the edge (this will maintain your seaming stitch) • On a cable cross row, after your shaping is complete, see how many stitches you have left and do a partial cross (e.g. if you have 5 stitches to do a 3/3RC, just cross 3 stitches over 2 instead).

Shaping a Pattern in Lace With lace we have a new wrinkle in our shaping job. Not only do we want to keep the pattern as close to the edge as possible while maintaining a seaming stitch, but now we have to worry about stitch count.

In lace when a bind off or decrease eliminates an increase, it’s paired decrease also has to be eliminated. This also means a double increase or decrease might have to change to a single to stay balanced. Just like in cabling, if you simply knit every time you have fewer stitches than a lace repeat, you might not get the same look. There is a better way.

Goals: • Same as above plus . . . • Keep stitch count correct (double check each time!)

Tips: • Use a chart to help you see where you will restart your pattern • Replace double decreases or increases with single when needed, eliminate YO or dec when needed. • Remember that after a BO you will automatically have worked one st following BO • Remember to keep a stitch on edge for seaming, never start with a YO after a BO. You don’t want to seam into a YO • Use visual cues (like the K2tog is made up of the YO + K st from lace row below) to halp you find where to start

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