Each strip is made of alternating sections (parallelograms, in fact) of horizontal and vertical garter stitch. That means that for the first section in strip #1 (first strip in the lower left corner) I will be working a horizontal section starting at the bottom and at the end of the section I will leave the stitches live on the needle. For the section above it, I will be working vertical by casting on some stitches and working side to side, joining with the section below it as I go. This is similar to an edging which is knitted on to a shawl. For section three, it will be horizontal again, so since I am working on to the edge of the section below I will pick up stitches along that edge and knit upwards again.
I need to have some shaping to make this sweater shaped rather than an infinitely large piece of fabric. This means that some of my parallelograms will actually have flat sides rather than a diagonal side. To do this, simply skip the increase or decrease on that side. Continue on the other side, so that you have a piece which is diagonal on one end and flat on the other.
One more note, I like to knit my last stitch of every row through the back loop and slip the first stitch of every row purlwise. This gives me a nice edge to pick up later.
Here is exactly what I did for my first section:
Strip 1, Section 1:
Cast on 33 stitches.
Row 1 (WS): knit across
Row 2 (RS): slip first stitch purlwise, knit to last three stitches, k2tog, knit last stitch through back loop
Row 3 (WS): slip first stitch purlwise, knit to last stitch, knit last stitch through back loop
Continue rows 2 and 3 until you have worked 18 rows or 9 ridges, ending after working a WS row. Do not bind off, leave those stitches on the needle to join up with the next section and cut yarn.
Strip 1, section 2:
Cast on 10 stitches.
Row 1 (WS): knit across
Row 2 (RS): slip first stitch purlwise, knit 8 stitches, k2tog with 10th stitch and 1st stitch from previous section.
Row 3 (WS): Turn and knit back across the 9 stitches, knit last stitch through the back loop
Continue rows 2 and 3 for three inches, about 14 ridges, or until you have 10 stitches remaining on your previous section. From here on you will be working a decrease in section 2 for every row that you join a stitch from section 1. This way you will run out of stitches at the same time.
Begin decreases to shape end:
Row 1 (RS): slip first stitch purlwise, k2tog, knit until last stitch in section, k2tog with last stitch and 1st stitch from previous section.
Row 2 (WS): Turn and knit back across, knit last stitch through the back loop
Continue rows 1 and 2 until you run out of stitches. Personally, I stop when there are three stitches left and k3tog because I don't like the little tab sticking out. This gets sewn up later so it doesn't really matter. Experiment to see what you like. Cut yarn and fasten off.
Strip 1, section 3:
Before I start this section, take a look at my chart. Notice how there are four sections in this strip, but the last section is only an inch wide and an inch tall? I decided not to make that a separate section, but to just continue section 3 up that little extra bit. I thought it would make it less bulky. You can do that section separately if you like.
Pick up stitches 14 stitches along the top edge of the previous section.
Row 1 (WS): knit across
Row 2 (RS): slip first stitch purlwise, knit to last three stitches, k2tog, knit last stitch through back loop
Row 3 (WS): slip first stitch purlwise, knit to last stitch, knit last stitch through back loop
Continue rows 2 and 3 until you run out of stitches (or decide it is close enough and k3tog). Cut yarn and fasten off.
Congratulations, strip 1 is now complete! It should look like the triangle here. The start of strip 2 is also shown:
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