Today’s topic for Friday Finishing is Mattress stitch seaming in Garter stitch fabric.
Once you’ve worked your Figure 8 start to line up the cast on edges (view that blog post and video here), you are ready to work your seam.
Here is a video tutorial I made on working mattress stitch in Garter stitch fabric:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU4dBhrc44k&w=560&h=315]
The keys to working a good mattress stitch seam in garter stitch are:
- Pick up smiles on one side and frowns on the other. Always pick up the same type on each side – all smiles on one side and all frowns on the other.
- Make sure you are picking up every single ridge. (This will work out to every other row.)
- Use 1/2 selvedge stitch on one side (pick up the first frown at the edge) if you want to reduce the bulk of the seam.
- Pull the seaming thread tight, but not too tight or the seam will pucker. Make sure there is still a bit of give to the fabric vertically along the seam.
Then you can finish off the seam at the bind off edges (view that post and video here).
Next week we’ll cover working mattress stitch seaming in Ribbing.
Until then, Happy Knitting!
(See the next post in this series here.)