2-up knitted garter ties (a la Arlen)

[sydnie7]

Arlen's great instructions for knitted garter ties finally got me back to the needles, and I completed a pair in bottle green. But I didn't count rows on the first one, and found it tiresome to compare lengths as the second tie neared completion. I've got some circular needles coming and am going to attempt a pair of 2-up hose, which got me thinking -- why not 2-up garter ties?

And so. . .



I'm working from two independent hanks of the same yarn, of course. If you didn't have that luxury, you could make two different colors at a time and then knit the companions -- at that point, you're back to comparing lengths, but hey! I don't have all the answers! and often I'm not even sure of the question. . .

[Nighthawk]

I need to learn how to knit...

[BroosterB1]

Ditto.

I wonder if crocheted would work...ith:

[NewEnglander]

You said the ties are on circular needles? What size are you using? i have a pair I used to use to make hats, back in a former life. I wonder if they'd work.

[Chirs]

The 2-up is a great idea! Crochet would also work. When I get a moment I'm going to try Tunisian Crochet and see how that goes. One concern: tunisain tends to not have as much flex in it as crochet or knitting, but you can get some great pattern.

Here's a question: how wide are you going? I was thinking of 1.5".

[sydnie7]

You said the ties are on circular needles? What size are you using? i have a pair I used to use to make hats, back in a former life. I wonder if they'd work.

The ties are on size 5 straight double-pointed (DPN), the same needles I have used for kilt hose.

I've got circulars on order to try my hand at the 2-up kilt hose method. I thought there had been some threads on this forum showing the process, but can't locate them right now. Here's a link to a book at Amazon, instead.

LINK

BTW, as for learning to knit -- I hadn't ever until just 1-2 years ago. First project was kilt hose, which is not recommended for beginners but I've never been afraid to dive into the deep end -- sometimes hitting my head in the process, I'll admit.

Best resource I found is the site KnittingHelp.com -- the videos make things much clearer than illustrations in books. She is a bit fiddly and wordy on camera but eventually gets around to showing you the methods!

These garters are dead easy to start with, it's all knitting back and forth. I'm using a worsted weight yarn (same as I use for hose) which means the strand of yarn is made up of 4 threads (vs. 2 threads for what is sometimes called "sport weight"). First pair I did 10 stitches wide but they are just a bit too wide so this pair is 8 stitches wide. All credit to Arlen's thread for getting me started!

[Calico]

I have never knitted - so I do not see it:

What is the advantage of 2-up, please?

Or maybe you already answered my question - is it so you can more easily keep them the same length?

[sydnie7]

I have never knitted - so I do not see it:

What is the advantage of 2-up, please?

Or maybe you already answered my question - is it so you can more easily keep them the same length?

That is the main benefit I hope to gain. Also, knitters speak of the "second sock syndrome" where you complete one sock but run out of gas before completing the second one. Knitting both at once takes care of that issue, too -- although I do that by having both socks going at the same time on separate straight needles sets. I knit one cuff, then the other cuff, etc.

Toe-up knitting is supposed to be easier to try on during the process (ditto with circular vs. straight needles) which should also help me get the length correct, not just the same

We'll see about that. . .

[piperdbh]

As the resident advocate for toe-up knitting, I heartily recommend it.

Those garters would look really nice felted. Just make them extra-long.

[sydnie7]

As the resident advocate for toe-up knitting, I heartily recommend it.

Those garters would look really nice felted. Just make them extra-long.

I've never felted anything (deliberately, anyway ) and not sure I've seen that mentioned in relation to garter ties. What does the process do to the stretchiness quotient?

Or are you just saying it will hide my less than stellar stitching. . .