How to Work Sections 1-3 of the Cocoknits Method

It's time for the magic of the Cocoknits Method to begin. In sections 1-3 you'll be creating that signature 3-dimensional and oh-so-comfy shoulder that's the trademark of Julie's designs. If this is your first time knitting Cocoknits Method, it's very likely that this part of the sweater construction is going to be much different than any sweater you've knit before. But trust us, you're in for a treat. 

In this article, we're walking you through all the techniques you need to successfully complete the beginning of your Cocoknits Method sweater. We include an overview of the construction, a to-do list, a recommended tool list, and helpful tutorials. Make sure you have Julie's book, Cocoknits Sweater Workshop, all page numbers below refer to this book.

All The Things...

1

An Overview of Construction

Section 1: Stitches are cast on for the Back Neck and increases worked to create the Upper Back. When finished, this section will look like a symmetrical trapezoid. 

Section 2: Stitches are picked up from the sloped sides of the Upper Back to create the right and left Shoulders, which are then worked.

Section 3: Stitches are worked around to unite all sections. This is also where you will place Cocoknits Colorful Stitch Markers to delineate each part of the sweater yoke.

2

To-Do List

3

Tools

5

Next Steps

Once finished with the information above, you can continue moving forward with content guiding you through a Cocoknits Method sweater with our Everlasting KAL page. If you're signed up for our emails, you'll receive a new email in one week all about Filling out the Cocoknits Worksheet

If you don't know about it, our Everlasting KAL is our knit-a-long that's going on well...forever! You can join by yourself, with friends, or with an LYS. Best part? You get to pick what sweater to knit. Learn more by visiting the Everlasting KAL page

Comments

Anonymous

Hi Lindabeth, The basic video is here: https://cocoknits.com/blogs/knit-tutorials/how-to-knit-around-corners-using-modified-magic-loop, but it sounds like you need something that shows how the modified magic loop works as you are picking up the sleeve sts. Look at p. 123 in the book: the top picture shows that the loop has been pulled out and is sitting to the right; the tip of the circular is being used to knit across the picked up sleeve sts. Please email us at knit@cocoknits.com if you need more help.


Lindabeth

Hi! Attempting my first try at your method and I am so confused about Section III JOIN AND CREATE sleeve tops. I can’t tell from the pictures in the book how to get the modified magic loop set up. It seems like my needles are not in the right position! Is there a video that shows how to do this step? I found your modified magic loop video, but not one for this part of the process. Help!


Anonymous

Hi Shawna, We have a tutorial for the Backward Loop Cast-On used for the Emma B neck on our website here: https://cocoknits.com/blogs/knit-tutorials/how-to-backward-loop-cast-on.
You’ll see that the side sts are a bit stretched out on Julie’s example too. For the underarm, she fixes any slack when she seams it. For your sweater, you should find that you can ease the slack from those two stitches to the left and right to even out the size of the sts.
Please feel free to email us at knit@cocoknits with any questions. We’re always happy to help.


shawna

Hello. I purchased the Ruth on Demand but I was too scared to begin. It would be my first sweater. Unfortunately I waited until a virtual Zoom was offered for the Emma sweater. I began yesterday. Sigh. It was not a great experience other than to learn that I should have just referred to Julie’s videos and my book. It would have saved me $90 too! Oh well. I am reaching out because I am wondering if there is a tutorial casting on and shaping the boatneck? I have 2 stitches on either side of the join that are a bit longer. It is symmetrical on both sides but I don’t love the look. The woman leading the class did a quick demonstration. . .so so so fast and never returned to the explanation. I cannot find any you tube tutorials. I looked at other finished Emma sweaters on Ralvery and see the same stitches on other sweaters but not all. Any thoughts?

Is it possible for me to purchase an Emma knitalong? I am happy to pay. I don’t want to trust another online person charging too high for your method with poor Zoom quality. I hope that makes sense.


Anonymous

Hi Claudia, So glad you are enjoying your Mabel! While we don’t have a no-photo pdf, when we print for ourselves, we print just the pages with few or no pictures, then copy and paste text from a page with pictures into another document, then print that document out. Hope that helps!


Claudia

Hi! New here and absolutely loving this!
Question. Is there a way to print the pattern without the photos? I bought the Mabel patter and I want to print the instructions but the photos are using up all of my ink… Thanks!


Jan Strycker

Me again. I just watched the video and I think I get it😀


Jan Strycker

What method do you use to add more than one stitch “after the yellow marker”? Mabel


Anonymous

Hi Susan, The information about casting on for the neckline is on page 100. It sounds like you would benefit from reading pages 12-37 for basic information about the Cocoknits Method. If this is your first time knitting a Cocoknits Method sweater, Molly might not be the best pattern. You might want to start with one of the earlier patterns in the book, like Emma or Tillie. Please feel free to email us at knit@cocoknits.com if you need more help. Good luck!


Susan Tupper

Hello,

I’m planning to knit the Molly sweater, but am confused about seams. Do I start knitting in the round at some point as I see no mention of joining the sweater together anywhere. Also, I see no evidence of seams at the front or back. And also nothing about seaming on the finishing instructions. It would be so helpful if I could see a picture of the garment as it progresses.


Anonymous

Hi Marilyn, the slipped stitch edges will always be the finished, or outside, edge of the piece. They are not meant to be seamed. So in this case, the slipped stitch edges will be along the top of the neck, while the regular garter selvedge will be the part sewed into the neckline.


MariLyn

Could you provide some close up photos showing which edge to line up for the garter stitch collar? I can’t find any photos or mention in the book, the blog, or this video about whether the slip stitch edge is intended to become the seamed edge or not. I followed directions for the right collar and it looks like my slip stitch edge will become the edge of the collar/button band, and the seaming will occur along the raw garter edge. But I have a terrible feeling that’s not correct. I need pictures or a really clear explanation. Please help. Thanks!


Anonymous

Hi Mary, Check p. 7 in your pattern. It has a link to Julie’s “How to Provisional Cast On with Judy’s Magic CO” tutorial under Learn/Knit Tutorials on the menu above. Also see the tutorial “How to Work a Collar with The Cocoknits Method,” also under Knit Tutorials. Please feel free to email us at knit@cocoknits.com with any questions you have. Enjoy your sweater!


Mary G Dowd

Directions for sweater say provisional CO – casting stitches onto two needles – I do not see that addressed here.
I have the book but…it does not help! NO idea how to do this CO – use one circular needle…? Use two…?


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