A while back, I was helping one of our members with making some adjustments to her sweater.
The pattern called for a 6 stitch I-Cord bind off.
If you don’t know what that is, don’t worry, its not important to the story.
As we talked through the problem eventually I asked her if there was a specific reason that we had to use that bind off.
She said she didn’t think so.
I offered her an alternative method of creating the same effect.
Guess what?
It worked just fine.
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In our 6 Week Sock Challenge we recently worked on knitting the heel using something called a German Short Row.
It’s a newer technique for shaping the heel cup.
During the group call, someone asked what was the advantage of this short row technique versus something like a wrap and turn (again if you don’t know it’s not important).
I said that the difference is mostly aesthetic. The German Short Rows are a little tighter and some people find them easier than a wrap and turn.
In the end it doesn’t really matter which technique you use if the result is the same.
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If you like a different cast on or bind off, use that.
If you want your sleeves shorter, then don’t knit them as long.
If you want your shawl to have an edging, then add it.
If you want to knit the hat flat instead of in the round go for it!
You don’t have to do EXACTLY what the pattern says.
If you’re comfortable doing it a different way it’s ok to do it that way.
Do what works for you.
Knitting is about making things YOU love, so knit it the way you like it.
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