Short rows and stripes

[Cajunrose]

I want to knit a pair of pants with stripes, but for the life of me, I can't figure out the logic of stripes with short rows. Wouldn't they be uneven in the back b/c of the short rows? Is there a way you need to compensate for that? I have never knit stripey pants so this is new ground for me. I haven't even mastered wrap hiding yet.
Any tips?
Thanks so much
Stephenie

[cassdarrow]

Your stripes with short rows will be wider in the back. No way around that.

[mommomrebecca]

I have two pairs of striped pants with short rows knit by someone else "in the flat" and the stripes are fine. In the round you should try crochet :brow Undetectable short rows and perfect stripes! Come on, you know you want to do it. Just a little?

[mhurst]

I guess how bad the extra thickness of the stripe would depend on how you do the short rows, ie a bunch at once (like the LTK longie pattern) or one every few rows (like the LTK soaker patttern).

I don't think the strpes would be too thick if you did it the second way, where you added a short row every 1/2 to 1 inch.

DISCLAIMER: :D I've never tried it, but I think Theresa posted something about this once.

[cassdarrow]

Yes, I did not think of flat knitting. Yoy could even it out that way.

[pageta]

Stripes lining up because the pants are knit flat and short rows issues with stripes are two completely different issues. Yes, stripes can be lined up if you knit them flat - otherwise you get a jog. With the short rows, wide stripes (10 or 12 rows) would make them less noticable than narrower stripes since 2/12 isn't as obvious as say 2/6.

The other trick that will compensate some would be to add more fullness in the back - when I add 20% more sts in back I can get away with about 50% fewer short rows. In other words, knit the waistband as usual, then kfab every 4th st in the back only. Then you can reduce (or eliminate) short rows. I do twice as many generally for Ben, and when I add the extra fullness, I just do what the pattern I'm using calls for and it works fine. If you don't usually add extra short rows beyond what the pattern calls for, try the fullness trick instead of the short rows and see what you think.

[pmcgary]

Yes, stripes can be lined up if you knit them flat - otherwise you get a jog.

I know this is off the topic a bit, but you don't HAVE to have a jog with stripes in the round...

see http://www.socknitters.com/kickback/joglessjog.htm
This technique is by Meg Swanson who happens to be Elizabeth Zimmerman's daughter.....

[Susan_WW]

The other trick that will compensate some would be to add more fullness in the back - when I add 20% more sts in back I can get away with about 50% fewer short rows. In other words, knit the waistband as usual, then kfab every 4th st in the back only. Then you can reduce (or eliminate) short rows. I do twice as many generally for Ben, and when I add the extra fullness, I just do what the pattern I'm using calls for and it works fine. If you don't usually add extra short rows beyond what the pattern calls for, try the fullness trick instead of the short rows and see what you think.

This is an awesome tip! Thank you so much for posting it!!! I do my increases evenly spaced all around, but it would make so much more sense just to do them in the back! I'm going to try this with my next pair. Wish me luck :thumb

[littleturtlemama]

If I'm doing pants with sripes, I normally do one short row per stripe (if the stripes are thin, say 3-4 rounds per stripe) or 2 shrot rows per stripe for larger stripes. You really can't tell the difference that way, just be sure to end the short row before the exact sides, becuase then it gets more noticeable if it's directly on the sides.

[pamelamama]

Lots of great tips here!

[imonion]

When I do pants w/ stripes, I do short rows in each stripe. The stripes are wider in the back than in the front, but I feel the difference is pretty minimal. I just happen to be working on a pair of striped pants tonight, so here are some pics for you--
http://sitonknits.mywahmweb.com/fpdb/images/pantsshortrows.JPG

http://sitonknits.mywahmweb.com/fpdb/images/shortrows2.JPG

I also do increases in the rear :)

[averymybaby]

:lurk