June 25, 2003

We. Are. Smoochin'! With photographic proof, because yesterday Monsieur Le Hubby fixed my digital pencam in about two minutes flat. (I don't know how he does it. Really. He's like Inspector Gadget meets Mr. Fixit in a cuter package.) So we have pictures until my blasted digital camera gets here, already. Which has me wondering: Did everyone order a Coolpix 3100, too? I'm beginning to think so because it's taking forever to get here. Anyway, here's the back of my Smooch tank:



Pardon me, my sides are curling.

After one gets passed the lace cast-on, it's really quick and smooth knitting. Then it comes time for the armhole decreases plus double chain selvedge, which may cause confusion for some people doing this tank. The armholes are free edges, so the pattern [cleverly] instructs us to do a double chain selvedge (the slipping stitches and picking up horizontal strand at the end of rows), which provides a smooth edge (slipping stitches) AND tightens up (picking up horizontal strand) at the same time. It is ideal for free edges but is not, in my opinion, a good selvedge for edges that will be joined with ladder stitch, because it may cause holes in the seam. It's good for backstitch, though. And crochet edgings, too. Anyway, the pattern doesn't specify how to pick up the horizontal strands when doing the double chain selvedge (and I haven't found it in any of my books, either), but I do this: Pick up from the front on purl rows and pick up from the back on knit rows. That way it looks the same on both ends. And don't I sound fancy with my knitting lingo?

P.S. The double chain selvedge is one of the many types of selvedges illustrated in Montse Stanley's The Knitter's Handbook. Do you have this book already? I've mentioned it countless times here and can't imagine being without it; it's an excellent reference of knitting techniques for all levels of knitters.

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