Knit Now - UK (2021-01)

ASK THE EXPERTS

If you leave long floats, this can distort the stitches as it is difficult
to maintain an even tension. It can also mean that fingers and
toes catch in the floats (particularly annoying with socks!). To get
round this problem we use the weaving in method. It’s simple to do and avoids the
issues caused by long floats. The finished appearance on the right side of the work
should be lovely and neat and the back is much tidier and less likely to snag.

In-house expert Debbie says...

If your silk yarn has an unusual smell it’s probably

because it still contains sericin. Sericin is a waxy

gum that forms part of the silkworm’s cocoon.

The finest silks are processed (degummed) to

remove the sericin before it is sold. These

silks are normally the bright white, gloriously

lustrous, reflective silks and are produced from

silkworms fed on special mulberry leaves and

diligently farmed.

Tussah and eri silks, on the other hand, are more

rustic in nature. The texture may be nubbier and

the colour a more biscuity beige or even soft grey

colour. They may have a more subtle sheen or little

sheen at all. These silks come from wild silkworms

and the chrysalis has been allowed to hatch before

the cocoon is processed. Often these silks are

less highly processed so some sericin may remain

when it reaches you as yarn.

To remove the smell you will need to remove

the sericin by degumming. This can be done by

washing the silk in cold (not hot) water with a

mild detergent like ecover delicate or a woolwash

liquid. Rinse in cold water in a bowl (not running

water) and hang out of direct sunlight to dry. It

may take a couple of washes but the smell will

eventually disappear.

I’ve just bought some gorgeous silk yarn but

it has the strangest smell. What is it and can

I get rid of it?

Pip asks...

Weaving in

Step 1: Knit in colour A to colour
change, k2 in B. Return to colour A and
bring it underneath B. Yarn B lays over A.

Step 4: K2 in B, leaving yarn A at back

of the work. K3 in A. No need to weave

in - the float is only 3 sts.

Step 2: Return to yarn B bringing it up

from beneath yarn A. Yarn A now lays over

yarn B.

Step 5: When seen from the back of the
work the woven in pink yarn A can be
seen trapped by yarn B.

Step 3: K1 in B. Yarn A is anchored at

the back of the work. Make sure that

yarn A is not pulled too tight.

Here you see a float that hasn’t been

woven in – it’s much more likely to catch

as well as create uneven stitches

Got a knitting dilemma for the team? Email [email protected] with your questions!

Deputy Editor

Jo says...

The pattern I’m knitting is stranded colourwork, and there are

sections where there are up to 10 stitches in the same colour.

How do I keep these long floats neat?

Kit asks...