Another New Week

Here I am, quietly mushing along, trying to go to the gym, trying to finish some sweaters, so that my grandsons will have them in May to wear to the beach, no doubt, and along comes a controversial subject to get me all riled up.  Why do such things happen, I wonder? 

I decided to dial up one of my favorite online periodicals at www.knitty.com.  There are always new and interesting patterns in every edition, and some of the best knitting philosophy I find anywhere, especially what Jenna Wilson writes.  I saw an article entitled "Hey Loosen Up, You," by a woman named Lisa Kartus.  Apparently, Kartis is a knitting teacher who has developed a theory regarding why some people knit tightly (as opposed to "tight knitters"), based on the behaviors of some of her students.

Kartus thinks that people knit tightly because they add a "5th step" to making a stitch, wherein they tighten up on the yarn, thus causing the stitch to be too tight.  She has pictures to illustrate her theory and contends that it is "the" reason knitting can be too tight, implying that it is a handicap to knit tightly, and that having to substitute needle sizes to get gauge is some sort of disadvantage. 

I knit fairly tightly, and I do nothing like Kartus' "5th step".  (Makes it sound like a milestone at Knitters Anonymous, doesn't it?)  I never drop the needles to wrap the yarn, nor do I give it a tug.   

It seems there may be a myriad of reasons why knitting could be tight.  Perhaps the knitter clutches the yarn in a death grip due to stress, or maybe they work down on the points, like I knit, which makes the work tighter.  At any rate, if omitting the "5th step" helps some people, I don't think it works across the board. Kartus also promises the knitter will use appreciably less yarn, thus saving hard earned stash money.

Take a look at the article, and at the magazine.  See what you think.  I'm not sure I agree with the theory or the cure.

Good knitting,

MEM

Comments

[Nanette]

I'm a tight knitter (and a fast knitter - this was even commented on by AS herself in an Aran knitting class) and I don't make any extra tug on the yarn.

I've never had the idea that I was using extra yarn for a project either. I rarely run out.

[monkeemaven]

I thought that the article was off when I first read it - I tend to knit loosely but I usually tug my stitches a bit to make them more even. Knitting styles vary so much, a person can't blame all tight knitting on a single tug....

[Jenipurr]

Oh, I'm glad I'm not the only one who read that article and thought it was missing the point. I'm a 'tight' knitter in that I usually have to go up one needle size to meet guage. But when I'm using exactly the same yarn as called for by the pattern, going up one needle size meets my guage exactly (row and width) so I fail to see how this could possibly make me end up using more yarn. Plus I don't do the extra 5th tightening step either.

[vanessa]

if you have to go up needle size to get gauge for a tight knitter, or down needle size for a loose knitter, i can't see how either would affect the amount of yarn used. as long as you end up with the correct gauge.

[elka]

Oh gack I went and read the article after posting~ if your fabric isn't as soft as the ball! & If you need more yarn to complete a garment!?!? That's gauge baby. If you go up several needles to obtain gauge it doesn't matter. If your gauge is the one called for in pattern then the resulting fabric has the same damned drape as the designer intended and it shouldn't take "three times" as much yarn. This woman teaches knitting? Thanks for raising my blood pressure ....

[elka]

Oh jeez ~ and what if the designer was a loose knitter. Looser than usual so that if your a "normal" knitter you have to go down a needle size and gasp! think your a tight knitter. No wait I am getting confoozled. Knit on babes