Knitting can be very expressive with patterning but is one way of adding a pattern better than the other?
All right, I got into an argument in my head and needed to sort it out. I wanted to make some fabric squares based on Root but I couldn’t decide the best way to add the faces to the stitching. Option one was the knitting the face directly into the swatch while option two involved embroidering the face onto a blank swatch.
I used the same pattern to create both swatches:
Check out the Craft section of MCG for more fun patterns in strings and things or more unlimited ideas.
Process
Knitting Direct
The first method I tried was knitting the pattern directly into the swatch. This meant switching between the orange and black thread of have a mix of when the colors were knitted. I also had 1 orange strand to 2 black stands because the eyes being so far apart would have made the back of the swatch really really messy with only one strand.
One of the biggest challenges I had while knitting as on the side of the eyes that was a straight line down. This caused an issue because the black and orange stitches were effectively acting independent of each other leaving a bit of a hole between the two lines instead of conjoining them.
To get around this, I used the yard when switching colors to my advantage. I would keep the black yarn up and wrap the orange yarn around the back, and vice versa, to create a sort of lattice-like effect on the back of the pattern. Having the string interwoven in the back like this really helped keep the yarn in place.
Honestly this swatch was not very difficult to make but the back of it was a complete messy. The swatch also was curling a lot when I was sewing (and after when I tried to smooth it out. It only really became usable when I added the fabric stabilizer.
Pros: Consistent and even pattern, flat front surface.
Cons: Difficult to manage different threads, might not stay closed in the intended areas, curling
Embroidery
Embroidery
The second method I tried was knitting an orange swatch and then using a black thread to embroider the pattern on top of the swatch. Knitting an orange swatch is easy. I did a knit one row, purl one row approach (I also did this for the method above). And since it was one color, I didn’t really have to think about what I was doing. The only reason I had to pay any attention was making sure this swatch was the same length as the last one.
Then it was time to embroidery. I quickly discovered that I am very bad at being able to see stitch patterns. There was a surprising amount of confusing when trying to count rows and columns. Once I started with an anchor point, I got the hand of it.
I did an arrow stitch that did it’s best to mimic a knitted stitch, and honestly had a lot of fun creating the face. But as I kept going, I found that somehow my math of where I was wasn’t always working. I did have to take some liberties while trying to stick as close to the pattern as possible.
While there still was some curl on the project, it was able to stay much flatter than its counterpart.
Pro: More intense color, easier to do, working with one string at a time, flat surface
Cons: Raised pattern, lack of consistency (heavy human influence)
Reflections
After going through this exercise, I still don’t know which one that I liked more. They both have benefits and drawback and kind of balance each other out. For the marquise de cat face, I think I prefer the embedded method.
This method just gave me more consistency and confidence. I never questioned if I was making the face correctly because I can suddenly change rows. It felt a lot more consistent, and I felt I was able to keep the pattern more even this way.
I would choose the embroidery method for a project that was less symmetrical. But the real question is, what do I do with these two swatches? Any ideas?
Lessons
Interweaving
When knitting two colors together remember that color changes aren’t really connected. At least not directly. And when do a long section of two different colors, a hole is likely to appear in the project. Could be desired but most likely not.
When changing colors, there is a bit of string that jumps around on the back. Being aware of where this thread is and weaving it through each other really helps keep a piece together while keeping the front clean.
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