Tip #4

Would you please explain how to do decreases with a garter bar.  I thought of this when I saw your free hat pattern.  This would be great for our NICU, but would be so much easier using the garter bar as you mentioned. - Jackie R.
     There is more than one way to do this, but here is how I do it for the rolled brim hat (see pattern above).  When you begin the top shaping, you need to decrease from 62 to 31 sts.  Begin on the left side and move the end needle to the adjacent right needle.  Move EON needle in this manner across the bed.  You now have 2 sts on 31 needles.  Pull all needles to Hold Position and push the hat behind the latches.   (click HERE for pix)
     Set your needle guard into place.  (The straight edge will be on the machine right behind the needle butts, and the teeth will be in front of the pegs between the needles).  Hang the garter bar onto the hooks of the needles.  (click HERE for pix) The latches must be closed when you remove the piece onto the garter bar, so watch as you carefully pull the hat off the needles onto the garter bar. 
     If you accidentally dump a stitch, use the pointed end of the crochet hook that comes with your machine, insert it into the back of the stitch, and slip it over the tooth of the garter bar where it belongs.
     Remove the needle guard, push the extra 31 needles to NWP (non-working position).  Replace the needle guard.  Hang the garter bar on the 31 needles and slide the first 2 doubled stitches from the garter bar back onto the first needle.  Move garter bar over so the second set of doubled stitches is on the second needle.  (click HERE for pix)  Push the hat back against the machine, leaving the needles in Hold Position. Remove the needle guard and knit the required number of rows to the next set of decreases.    
     You can also decrease by removing all the stitches onto the garter and making the decreases right off the garter bar.  "That Final Touch" by Norbon gives detailed instructions for this method of decreasing.  It also explains how to remove a garment from the machine onto the garter bar, turning with the garter bar, ripping out stitches using the needle guard, and decreasing with the garter bar and ravel cord when you have a tight tension or a yarn that might be easily split or stretched when using the garter bar.  
     The garter bar can be a great time saver, but it takes a little practice.  Hang in there and you'll master the technique!

Click HERE for more information on "That Final Touch."