Made it to Riga, Latvia, this afternoon and I went in search of information on how to handle a third and maybe even a fourth color in a given row of stranded knitting. I had given up on the more complex patterns in Knit Like a Latvian due to frustration with managing more than two colors per row.
I went to two shops looking for advice and this is what I was told:
1. At Sena Klets (upscale national handicraft center): a young shop clerk who spoke English well acted as a translator for an older woman employee who spoke no English. She said she doesn’t worry about securing the strand of a third or fourth color even if they are carried for 10 stitches or so. What she does is tack the strands down using a tapestry needle and yarn when the project is complete. So, that’s one possible solution – from an experienced Latvian mitten knitter.
2. At Hobbywool Riga (this was my source online for the book “Knit Like a Latvian” and my first Latvian mitten yarn) – I spoke to the manager who is quite proficient in English and was very helpful. She took out a project and showed me how she handled a third color. Basically as she picks up the color to be used next she ensures that the strand is moved over the top of the other strands, and so on with each color change. Although this creates a twisted mess, on the following round she moves the strand to be used under the other strands and so on with each color change – basically untwisting the strands that became twisted on the previous round.
Also, she said that if a row called for the very infrequent use of a third color she used the duplicate stitch method after the project was complete and didn’t bother carrying the third color when knitting.
Don’t know if that’s of use to anyone – but clearly there are different methods for different knitters and doesn’t seem to be a “right” way of doing this.
Photos show Sena Klets, Hobbywool, and the meager purchase of 5 skeins for my next mitten/glove projects.
Happy Knitting!
MikeH
Thank you for this post! I recently purchased the Latvian mitten book, and also a beautiful Christel Seyfarth poncho pattern, where 3 colors are used in certain places, and I’ve been researching how to manage the third color.
I’d love to hear how you get on with this. Please leave another comment if you find a method that works for you!
I have never been taught how to do stranded knitting. I just worked it out on my own (it was pre internet when I learned) and actually, I have used all 3 methods you mention above depending on what I am designing. I don’t really get on well with ladderback and other styles. With a hat or a throw, I don’t weave in any colours a all they just stay stranded at the back over any distance and after one or two uses or wears, those strands just bed down on their own (even with non-wool yarns). If it is a small item that fingers could get caught in, then I favour duplicate stitch. I think when you work out stuff on your own you rarely do anything that is new. You just find your way to the same practical solutions that others did. I did once get threatened by being banned from a stranded knitting group because someone asked me how I got such a smooth surface on my blanket squares and I explained that because a throw was going onto a bed, I had not worried about strands being too long, so I just dropped and picked up again as I used yarns. It caused outrage because it isn’t traditionally accepted etc. But really who cares if you find it easier and you like the result? I am hoping now many people who knit just do their own thing and there is more inventiveness over techniques that is accepted. Knitting can be quite political.