Need advice on picking up stitches neatly....

[KnitInYourPantsMama]

Hi all,
I've been making long pants with a gusseted crotch. I start at the top, knit circular down to hips, pick up live stitches for a crotch gusset which is grafted onto the other side. I then pick up the live leg stitches and pick up and knit stitches along the edge of the crotch gusset- then knit down to the hemline.

I'm having varying degrees of success with the area where the crotch gusset meets the live stitches. Sometimes I have to go in and tighten the stitches/add some reinforcement.

Is there a "proper" way to do this? Should I be doing some sort of increase at the corner where the gusset and leghole meet?a decrease?
I've done so many ways and nothing seems to work out everytime. I just end up doing it over. Am I just being tooo picky?
I have tons of knitting books but as always can't find what I want when I need it.

suggestions?
Thanks,
Elizabeth

[Susan_WW]

Hi Elizabeth,

I have the same problem as you. My pattern has a gusset, and in the "corners" it is always a little wonky. I've done tons of web searches (even studying how to do neat sock heels) and I haven't yet seemed to find anything to help. I often will pick up the stitches and knit a few leg rows, then purposefully drop a stitch or two to fix the corner stitch. Also, when I pick up the gusset stitches, I will do it with two completely seperate pieces of yarn, so that I can play with the 4 tails after the fact.

I hope Laura reads this thread because every time I see the crotch gusset on her WonderPants I drool at how neat it is. Maybe she'll give us some pointers ;)

[pamelamama]

There's no picking up stitches in the WonderPants. It's an increase and a decrease to make the wide crotch. It's a totally different animal than the kind of stuff you're doing. In other words, I have no idea how to be of assistance!! Sorry! :hug

[CraftyMommaOf2]

I tried to do it this way when writing my pattern for my pants/shorts and I couldn't figure it out :LOL Still working on it so I'm :lurk

[KnitInYourPantsMama]

There's no picking up stitches in the WonderPants. It's an increase and a decrease to make the wide crotch. It's a totally different animal than the kind of stuff you're doing. In other words, I have no idea how to be of assistance!! Sorry! :hug

Darn, that's what I suspected you clever thing! Maybe I should rethink how I'm doing mind but I like the fit.
I guess I'd better hit the books - first pick would be Zimmerman, then maybe the one on knitting ganseys... :chin