Avoiding Ladders
Ladders are an issue for many knitters when knitting with double-pointed needles. A ladder is a column of loose stitches. Ladders occur at the intersection of any two needles.
Knitters often advise other knitters to gently tug either the last stitch on the double-pointed needle or the first stitch on the next needle to tighten the stitch. This needs to be a conscious effort. The movement is one that must be rememberered, therefore often forgotton.
However there is an easier way to control the tension on double-pointed needles. First determine whether you knit by throwing or in the Continental style.
Throwing would be defined as any method in which you hold the working yarn in your right hand and passing the yarn over the working needle and completing the stitch.
Continental would be defined as holding the working yarn in your left hand and using the working needle to pick the yarn from one of the left fingers to complete the stitch.
Throw Method
To avoid ladders, insert the free needle under the last working needle.
In the picture, at the left, the last work stitches are on the needle labeled B, the new working needle or free needle is A, and the first stitch to be worked on the next needle is labeled C.
Instructions would read: position free needle (A) under last working needle (B) and insert into first stitch on next needle (C).
Continental Method
To avoid ladders, insert the free needle over the last working needle.
In the picture, at the left, the last worked stitches are on the needle labeled B, the new working needle or free needle is A, and the first stitch to be worked on the next needle is labeled C.
Instructions would read: position free needle (A) over last working needle (B) and insert into first stitch on next needle (C).
Filed under: Techniques by cwulster
Dear Carole…
I took a class with you years ago at Stitches, King of Prussia, PA and have both of your Sweater CD Wizzards. I use your software all the time and love it; however, I would like to know if you are planning any updates in the near future. I am an experienced knitter enough to figure out details which you do not have included on your CD, but I have to confess, I am “lazy” when it comes to my own design and the math involved. I’d love to see additions for details such as surplice necklines for cardigans, etc., “slightly fitted waists”, sweaters knitted sideways, and simple details which give all sweaters updated looks.
I am living in Sun City Hilton Head, South Carolina now and miss the Stitches events which were held in K of P and Atlantic City.
Hope you are feeling well and continuing what you love to do most.
Regards…Janet Bolno
I have looked at these pictures carefully and think you have reversed the pictures with the instructions. Are the pictures correct for the different knitting styles or are the instructions correct with the continental/throw method named?
Hi Carolyn,
Yes, they are correct. It is really hard to see on the second picture that Needle A is over Needle B and inserted in the first stitch.
When I learned to knit on dpns, I knit Continental, and never had ladders because I was taught the over the last needle method.
Years later, I switched to throwing, and always had ladders, until I discovered that you need to insert the needle under the last worked needle when throwing.
Carole
Any thoughts for using the magic loop? I am a continental knitter. I wasn’t having problems with ladders when I was just knitting but when I started doing ribbing, I started getting a problem with the purl stitches.
Hi Carol,
Just found your site and I love it. I am a new knitter and thank you so much for your technique pages. I do think the last commenter was correct on your photos…it looks like the pictures are labeled wrong.
Sincerely,
Dolores Jones
Good Morning - I am learning to knit with double points, and I throw - in the picture it seems to me that needle A is over needle B - I cannot see Needle B over Needle A - is there help available? thank you