Summer Flies Q&A

Gauge Questions:

Q: Is it really 24 stitches for 4 inches? I ask because I’m knitting now with 3.00 mm/US 2.5 needles and get about the 24 stitches. The pattern indicates 5.00mm/US 8 needles.

A: I had originally measured my gauge swatch I got 12 sts = 4”, but some how I thought it was for 2” when I went to write it up. All of that being said, the gauge should be: 12 stitches and 22 rows = 4 inches

 

Q: On US 8 needles, my gauge is 12 st = 2. 5 inches. on US 10 needles, it’s 12 = 3 inches. On US 8 needles, my gauge is 12 st = 2. 5 inches. on US 10 needles, it’s 12 = 3 inches.

Should I be worried about this?

A: The gauge for Summer Flies isn’t that important although it should block out to the final dimensions given on the pattern with the needle size listed. You can severely block it to make it a tad larger but I don’t recommend as some of the stitch detail is lost.

 

General Questions:

Q:Did you slip the first stitch of each row as you knit your shawl?

A: Slipping is optional.

 

Q: I’ve been searching all over and see from comments that there was a chart to download. Where can I find the chart to download?

A: A copy of the spread sheet that was used to design the shawl was available on Ravelry briefly, but was removed and is no longer available.

 

Q: Is this pattern charted?

A: Not being a ‘chart’ person, or one that easily follows a chart, this pattern was written in a way that a chart is not necessary. But I believe you can locate a chart on Ravelry that was created by someone other than Holly and Ella Knits.

 

Blocking:

Q: Can you please tell me, did you block the straight edge of summer flies straight? or curved, as some I see have done.

A: It is blocked straight across the top but either way is perfectly fine.

Picot Bind Off:

Q: It says bind off 2 sts, so do I then knit 1, knit 2, take first stitch over the second knit stitch, then knit a third stitch taking the, 2nd stitch over the 3rd stitch -  letting it drop off so I have knit 3 stitches and bound off 2 stitches? Asking because it doesn’t show how you begin the edging in the video?

A: Yes, that is exactly right.

Bind Off:

Q: I am almost to the end of this shawl and am running short on my yarn. I’m considering ripping back to the KFB section and not doing the increases, or maybe not doing as many.

A: A regular bind off or even the picot bind off would work, as well. Just bind off rather loosely if you are a tight knitter.

Knotted Openwork:

Q: I have come to section 6; knotted openwork and am having problems understanding row 67. (YO, knit 3, pass 1st knit st over last 2 knitted sts) Are you trying to say (YO, knit 3, then do slip one knit two pass yarn over? In rows 69, 71, 73, the (YO, K3,PASS) is used again.

A: No there is no slipped stitch. Instead of slipping you are knitting the stitch. So you pass the first knitted stitch over the last 2. It is spelled out on row 67 and shortened to read the (YO, K3, PASS).

 

Q: I have a question on Section 6- Knotted Openwork: I don’t understand how to make **PASS**. If I do: YO-K3- Pass 1 knit st over last 2 knitted sts, won’t that cause a decrease?

A: The YO’s take care of the decreases.

 

Q: I am currently on Section 1 of the pattern and on Row 7. I noticed the same thing happened on row 5 as well. but the amount of stitches on the needle does not add up to the amount of stitches that you are suppose to be working…ex:
Row 5: K3, yo, k1, m1, k5, m1, k1, yo, k3 leaving 17 stitches on the needle. Starting with 13 stitches before Row 5 does not add up because it says you should actually have 15 working stitches. Does this make sense. The same thing goes for Row 7. I haven’t gone much further because I don’t want to have to pull it all out….

A: After casting on and working the first few rows, I started section 1 to see if I could recreate the problem that you are having. If I understand you correctly, you are wondering how you could have 17 stitches on the needle after row 5 when you started with 13 stitches on row 4. I will break it down by row and total number of sts under each step to see if this helps you with the st count.

Row 3: K3, YO, K3, YO, K3
(3) (1) (3) (1) (3) = 13 STS

2 extra sts were created with 2 YO’s added to the original 11 working sts from row 2, making 13 sts.

Row 4: K3, P7, K3
(3) (7) (3) = 13 STS

Row 5: K3, YO, K1, M1, K5, M1, YO, K1, K3
(3) (1) (1) (1) (5) (1) (1) (1) (3) = 17 STS

4 extra sts were created with 2 YO’s and 2 M1’s added to the original 13 working sts on row 4, making 17 sts.

Each YO and each M1 add a st to your working total.

That should explain the st counts.

 

Butterfly Section:

Q:  I have run into a little snafu, which I am chalking up to my own inexperience.  It is in the section 2, Butterflies…. starting at row 23 when you have to do the psso:  When you do the YO, SL1, K1, PSSO, is the SL1 passed over the Yarn over, or just the knit one?  I have done both, and I think I need to rip this out and do those rows again because I am just not sure.

A: This particular stitch requires that you pass the slipped stitch over the K1.

 

M1’s:

Q: I am working on my new project — Summer Flies — and need help with the m1 increases. I have tried EVERY way under the sun to make these in the garter ridge sections and none are invisible or close to invisible. What did you use and/or what do you recommend?

A: All M1’s are M1R’s and are done by lifting the bar between the stitches with the right needle from the back and placing them on the left. Knit through the front of the loop to close the space.  They are not entirely invisible but this seemed to be the method that worked best for me.

 

Tab Insert:

Q: When I pick up the stitches to start Summer Flies it doesn’t look right. Do I pick up 3 sts down the long edge, and 3 sts back up the other side?

A: Yes, that sounds exactly right. It makes a little “U” shaped tab. It may seem a little awkward at first, but it will smooth out as you knit on. See more details here.

 

Making a Larger Shawl:

Q: I love this pattern and have made one, however, I want mine a little wider to wrap around me.  What is the solution?

A:  I have had many people ask about expanding the original pattern, thus ‘Autumn Flutters’ was born. I think this may be what your looking for. It is larger, although it is in a sock weight yarn. It also comes in two different sizes in the same pattern with two different edge techniques.