CREATIVE CORNER: Knit and Crochet in a Different Direction

By Carolyn Hanson

Most projects are worked vertically; top-down or bottom-up.  What is the difference when a project is worked side-to-side?

Sweaters can be made in several directions.  Bottom-up and Top-Down have the same look and feel and design choices.

• Bottom-Up means beginning at the bottom edge/hem and working upward to the neck.  This can be done in separate pieces (front, back, sleeves) or in one piece leaving spaces for the armholes and picking up stitches to make the sleeves. Most sweaters are bottom-up.
• – Top-Down means beginning at the neck and working toward the hem leaving spaces for the sleeves where the stitches are picked up and the sleeves are worked downward toward the cuff.  This method is becoming more popular since it does not require seams.  The popular sweater style that has a designed yoke uses this method.
• – Side to Side means that the garment is worked from one sleeve cuff to the other, adding stitches for the front and back and then decreasing for the second sleeve.  This method is less popular since it gives a totally different look, feel, and drape. Any here is why.

Read more ‘Creative Corner’ articles here: https://theconnectionsnj.com/category/creative-corner/

Design Presentation:  When created from side-to-side, vertical designs are horizontal and horizontal designs are vertical.  For example, a cable design is usually a vertical design.  However, it can be horizontal, like a stripe, if the garment is made side-to-side.

Feel and Drape:  Since the garment is made starting and ending with the sleeves, they are created the same as a top-down or bottom-up sleeve; the first sleeve is created bottom-up and the second is created top-down.  However, the body of the sweater is created working each row from the neck to the hem and back again giving a different feel and drape. The stitches are sideways and can stretch vertically.  With this in mind, it is better to use a stitch that is not too loose.  Smaller tight stitches are best.

Something to keep in your sights when working a side-to-side garment:  Once committing to the overall length, it’s impossible to shorten or lengthen the body without ripping outback since the body length is generated with the end of each row and not a single row.  Even if the pieces are created separately, there is no choice but to start over.

Find these lovely patterns that use this method.

All can be found on Ravelry.com

BTW, Socks are still top-down or toe-up.  Maybe if doing a tub sock it could be side-to-side, but I’m not going there.

Carolyn Hanson is a local knitting and crochet designer, teacher, and fiber artist. She can be contacted at cchanson3@gmail.com.