Good Day All!
I haven't been here for awhile, but I have been knitting! I need some help with a new project - a checkerboard entrelac afghan. The pattern is from Vogue Knitting on the Go "Baby Blankets". It is worked in garter stitch. It is considered an intermediate pattern, but I'm stuck on the Fourth Color Row.

I'm using a solid for color A and a multi for color B. The instructions are fine through the third color row, which reads:

A ROW:
With A, pick up and k 10 sts along side of last B square (beg at outer edge of blanket). K 1 row. Cont as follows:
Row 1: K9, k last st tog with lp on side of B square to join.
Row 2: K 10.
Rep last 2 rows 8 times more.
*Bind off sts, leaving last st on needle (this is now the first st of next square). Pick up and k 9 sts along side of next B square. K 1 row. Rep rows 1 and 2 as before. * Re bet *'s across row to last square. Pick up sts along side of last B square and k 18 rows. Bind off.

B ROW
"With B, work same as A row, reversing pick-up rows."

The problem is that the B Row doesn't work up correctly. If I follow the instructions, I'd be picking up and knitting backwards.

Thoughts anyone?
Louise, the prodigal knitter
_ _ _ _ _

Louise, I have the book and have read the pattern but not tried it. Maybe you should be knitting backward. It's a great technique to learn especially for doing things like entrelac and bobbles. It keeps you from having to turn the work for every square. It feels really awkward at first but it doesn't take long to pick it up.

Hi knitterb:
Knitting backwards is scary. I tried purling it, but was too loose, so I tried purling on smaller needles. That did it, but then there's picking up backwards - AAACK!

I tried the Vogue website - they don't have any corrections to this particular pattern. I'll keep cruising the web - I've gota have this done for the end of August.

I guess I'm having trouble picturing things--I'm obviously missing something. But if this is in garter stitch, why can't you turn the piece and knit?

Hi PeggyR.: Because the pick up row will be on the public side of the afghan.

I've resolved to picking up backwards and purling on needles 2 sizes smaller, and it seems to be working. But if anyone has a better idea, please let me know!

Although each square of your entrelac is worked in garter stitch, my guess is that when you work the set of squares in Color A, you are working with the "right side" facing.

When you go back working with color B, you will have the "wrong side" facing you which is why the directions tell you to reverse the instructions you used for color B.

Assuming that with color A you are picking up as if to knit, when you work color B, pick up as if to purl. This should put the pick-up seam on the side you are working -- the wrong side.

I know that now, but the pattern could have said it right!

Those of you who have read my comments over the years know that I am not a believer in patternism - patterns for patterns sake.

I have read all of these comments carefully and I am missing something - perhaps I need to see a picture of this blanket or see the pattern in its original form. Unless it is the blanket that appears on the cover of this book, which I doubt very much, a picture would help.

Nomally the squares in an entrelac (French for interlaced) design lie diamond-wise, and are supported by a set of triangles at the base, and a triangle at the beginning and end of alternate rows of squares, with no casting off [binding off]and finish with a set of triangles. In stocking stitch [stockinet] the right side rows are pick up knit-wise, and wrong side rows pick up purl-wise.

Further infomation required please.

Best wishes, John

Louise --

Sorry to disagree with you but your "right" is someone else's "huh???" It is not easy to write instructions that everyone will get quickly 100% of the time. I like to learn by reading and even I don't get it 100% of the time right away. And I won't tell you all the times where the written directions are obvious but I'm approaching them from a different mindset/perspective and then say "duh" when the meaning is pointed out.

And if you meant your comment to be a joke, sorry if this appears like a rant response. I've been dealing with several people recently who tell me that something isn't clearly written when just about everyone else "got it."

Wow, I just got the new Cast On. It could be subtitled, Entrelac Every Possible Way. I'm sure you can find an answer to your confusion in there, probably with multiple illustrations! I'm having a hard time sticking to my swatches for Level I and my R&R project, neither of which can be adapted to add entrelac.

I had someone once who offered to teach me to knit entrelac for $20. I knew I had some books and magazines at home that could show me, so I decided to try and if I couldn't do it, I would take the lady up on her offer. She didn't get my $20.
This issue is a keeper, since there is an entrelac swatch in level 3. Presuming I ever get level 2 done (!!!), passed, and they don't change things in the meantime.

I know you'll get there, Diana.

Thanks, Peggy. Part of my problem also is that I have to stop every so often to knit something new for the JoAnn's store where I am the knitting teacher. I have to knit whatever is being taught in the next series of classes so prospective students can see what the item will look like. So far I've made a scarf, baby booties, and face cloths, and now I have to knit a cable swatch in bulky sized yarn and at least one sock, although I think I should make the complete pair.
Tonight I have a class for beginners, not sure how many students, but an evening now not available for knitting. But I accepted this as part of the package.

It would drive me crazy to have things getting in the way of the master's stuff--but since teaching is fun and you (well, I, anyway) always end up learning something, I guess it's all good.:-)

KT - my "could have said it right" meant it could have been plainer. Top say "reversing pick-up rows" could have been written "reversing pick-up rows by picking up purl-wise and purling each row."

I have been successful at picking up purl-wise and purling those diamonds on smaller needles. I might just finish by my niece's birthday party on Aug 23rd!