This post was inspired by a reader who posted on my FO Friday entry about my Toy Gromit, made from the Border Collie pattern in Knit Your Own Dog by Joanna Osborne and Sally Muir.
Emily says …
I have the same book and am working on the Scottie dog. I cannot for the life of me figure out the “pult” stitch. Could you help me? I’m pretty sure all the dogs had this stitch in them.
I feel her pain! All (?) of the dog patterns in this book use this stitch at the end of short-row shaping in the head sections. It helps close the holes created by short rows, so the stuffing doesn’t show through. I’ve done a lot of short rows in my time, mostly in sock heels and toes, but this pult stitch was new to me. At first I wasn’t sure how to do it, but I muddled through and got reasonable results. I’m not promising that I’m doing it right of course–only that this is what worked for me.
Here is the description of the stitch from the book:
pult pick up loop below next st on left needle by inserting tip of right needle from back of work through loop–this stops a hole forming when turning work–then turn, leaving rem (number stated) sts on left needle unworked
There are a few key bits:
- First is identifying the loop to be picked up. In Cat Bordhi terms (from her video on lifted increases), we are focusing on the “mother” of the first stitch on the left needle.
- Second is making sure to pick up it correctly: poke the right needle into that mother stitch from back to front, and leave it on the right needle.
- Third is turning the work without losing any stitches. This is trickier than it sounds. Trust me.
- Fourth is making sure to follow the directions for the next row correctly–every time the pult is used, the first thing on the next row is a k2tog or a p2tog, which joins the picked-up loop with the first st of the row. This ensures that the stitch count stays constant–no stitches are created or destroyed in the use of this short-row technique.
So, without further delay, here is my video of my interpretation of this technique:
One thing I would like to try is using some other short-row technique, and see if I like the results. I usually just “wrap and turn” and then work the wraps together with the wrapped stitch. Maybe when I make my next toy dog!
I can see the Cat Bordhi video, but not the you video – it just says “(vid link)”.
Thanks Laura — I’m working on fixing that!
Your technique here has 1 left behind stitch, then 2 the next row then 3, then works its way back down. That’s great because your are pult into a different stitch each row.
The problem with the “knit your own dog” pattern is that it tells you to leave behind 3 sts on each side and pult into the same left- behind stitch 4 times (West Highland White terrier, p57, rows 5 through 10.)
I can’t pult into the same mother stitch that many times without it looking awful.
Am I reading the pattern wrong?
You’re right Aimee! Some of the dog patterns do pult into the same stitch again and again. The BC did this too, if I recall. I tried to keep the re-used stitch from stretching out, with moderate success. Ultimately I ended up tightening up the hole during seaming.
I am reading the pattern from the net the Jack Russell dog in which they also use the term “icos.” Any idea what this means ? This is also from the same book, and there is a brief explanation on pult , just not on icos. Any suggestions on icos ? thanks
I don’t see any “icos” — but I do see the term “ibos.” This is defined in the glossary as “including bound off stitch” and relates to counting stitches after binding off several at the beginning of a row, then counting worked sts.
I think icos means increase by one stitch? That is what I did anyway. I am using the free pattern from the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/05/knitting-pattern-jack-russell but I find it rather unclear in places, there also seem to be some mistakes. Is the book better?
This is a great website, thanks,
Hooch
I’m fairly certain it was a typo — should have been “ibos” (including bound-off stitch), which is in the list of abbreviations and is used a lot.
I haven’t found the patterns in the book unclear — but I’ve only worked a few. I didn’t find any mistakes either — unlike the other “knitted toys” book I own.
Is anyone else having trouble understanding how to knit the neck and head in the “knit your own cat” book? I don’t undersand it as you seem to go from having 18 stitches on the needle,to the instructions on row 11 which says “K15 (18 stitches on left hand kneedle) – I’m confused! Help please!!
I haven’t seen the “Knit Your Own Cat” book, but if you are interpreting the directions correctly, there certainly is a problem going from 18 to 15+18 in one row!
There is a rav group devoted to the “Best in Show” books — you might try asking for help there!
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/fans-of-muir–osborne
Many thanks- will have to have a look!
[...] right body. The neck and tail are worked from held body stitches. The head does use those crazy PULT short-rows that have stymied more than a few knitters! I’m especially proud of the tail [...]
I really don’t like this PULT stuff. I’m knitting the scottie terrier. I never had any problems with the ol’ wrap and turn short rows but I’m determined to get through this. Video helped a lot but I don’t think the results are that great as far as not leaving a hole.
P.S. You know what would be GREAT?
If you would show another short row technique, like the wrap and turn, on this same pattern. (pretty please?)
I think I remember the designers commenting that they changed the short row technique for the next book — I haven’t checked to see if this is the case, however.