Secret to smaller waistbands?

[ladydemetreis]

I've noticed that everyone's soakers they have posted here have a bit of an "indent" on the soaker waist..how is that done? Did you use smaller sized needles and get that effect? Or maybe I'm off and its the result of a decrease for the hips I'm admiring???

I'd love to be able to get this effect on my soakers so far I have not. I'm am thinking its the needles...all I own are 3 16" circs, sized 8,9,and 10 and a half. I do have a few 29" circs but have never really used them beacause I'm so new to this knitting thingy,lol

Any suggestions as to what on earth to do if in fact it is my needles I need to purchase smaller sizes of? Money is real tight right now, I'm hoping to make more soakers and I want them to look right,kwim?
TIA!

[pageta]

Generally, most patterns I've seen use two sizes smaller for the ribbing. I've also seen patterns that increase 10% after the ribbing. As for needle size, size 4 or 5 for the ribbing and size 6 or 7 for the body with a gauge of 5 to 5.5 sts in the body seem to be typical.

You could use the size 3 for the ribbing and the size 8 for the body. I would do a gauge swatch with the 8's and see what your getting and then get a 6 or 7 16" circular needle if you need to.

[Meredith]

I use 7s for my body, and 4s for my waistband.

[ladydemetreis]

TY!!!
I guess I'll have to wait to buy some more circs then! Now I'm attempting on the F&F pattern for the longies flat knit,cause I have most of all the sizes 2 through 10 in straight needles. I did my gauge in 6's and I'm doing the waistband in 4's. Will that give me a good stretchy waistband?

[Meredith]

TY!!!
I guess I'll have to wait to buy some more circs then! Now I'm attempting on the F&F pattern for the longies flat knit,cause I have most of all the sizes 2 through 10 in straight needles. I did my gauge in 6's and I'm doing the waistband in 4's. Will that give me a good stretchy waistband?

It should give you a good waistband.

[ladydemetreis]

Cool! I'm hoping this whole thing comes out good!!

[pamelamama]

you could also knit the waistband flat on smaller needles for your knit in the round soakers and continue the body in the round... then just sew up the seam for those couple of rows. :thumb

[ladydemetreis]

SO, I would just start simply knitting like the first row without the ribbing?? I'm not sure how I would attach the two together...

[pamelamama]

do the ribbing flat. at the end of the ribbing, start using your circ. go round and round. the ribbing won't be closed, but the body will be. at the end, sew up the ribbing.

[CraftyMommaOf2]

By flat she means on straight needles, not that the ribbing will be flat. It will still be ribbing, just not done in the round.

:love

[ladydemetreis]

ok, I understand about the flat knitting, but, I was'nt sure how it would become knitting in the round from not knitting in the round...kwim??

[ravingcutie]

I'm really picky about my waistband, so I use size 3 needles (2 sizes smaller than my main circs) & my waistband is about 20% smaller than my soaker body. I just increase & have cute little gussets over my hips. I actually prefer the gusseted look. Call me crazy, but the fit for the girls is great!

[ladydemetreis]

Pm'ed you!

[nyllek]

do the ribbing flat. at the end of the ribbing, start using your circ. go round and round. the ribbing won't be closed, but the body will be. at the end, sew up the ribbing.

I just did this on a soaker I made last week. It turned out great.

[ladydemetreis]

Cool! I'm trying this one tonight!!!!

[khogue]

Pamela,

THANK YOU so much for posting this! I would never have thought of doing that on my own. :) I did this to start a soaker (my 2nd) a couple of days ago and it worked great.

Until I get circulars in the sizes and types I like I'm thrilled to be able to use my straight needles since I have more of those right now.

you could also knit the waistband flat on smaller needles for your knit in the round soakers and continue the body in the round... then just sew up the seam for those couple of rows. :thumb

[pamelamama]

:cheer