Category: Techniques

Friday Finishing Series, Techniques

Friday Finishing Part Five

Heather

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:

The keys to working a good mattress stitch seam in garter stitch are:

  1. 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.
  2. Make sure you are picking up every single ridge. (This will work out to every other row.)
  3. 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.
  4. 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!

 

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Friday Finishing Series, Techniques

Friday Finishing Part Four

Heather

Today’s topic for Friday Finishing is Mattress stitch seaming in Reverse Stockinette 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 reverse stockinette stitch fabric:

The keys to working a good mattress stitch seam in reverse stockinette stitch are:

  1. 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.
  2. Make sure you are picking up every single row. Do not skip rows.
  3. 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 Garter stitch fabric.

Until then, Happy Knitting!

 

Friday Finishing Series, Techniques

Friday Finishing Part Three

Heather

Today’s topic for Friday Finishing is Mattress stitch seaming in Seed 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 seed stitch fabric:

The keys to working a good mattress stitch seam in seed stitch are:

  1. Plan ahead to line up your seed stitch pattern across the seam.
  2. Make sure you are picking up the bars in the correct space – the space between the columns of stitches. Moving over a half stitch to either side will ruin the look of your seam.
  3. Make sure you are picking up every single bar. Picking up two bars at a time will weaken the seam and make it not as attractive.
  4. 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.

Here is the video tutorial on finishing off the bound off edge at the seam:

I’m hoping this series has been helpful so far! I have more coming, so be sure to check in each week for a new post and video!

Next week we’ll cover working mattress stitch seaming in Reverse Stockinette stitch fabric.

Until then, Happy Knitting!

Friday Finishing Series, Techniques

Friday Finishing: Part Two

Heather

Today’s topic for Friday Finishing is Mattress stitch seaming in Stockinette 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:

The keys to working a good mattress stitch seam are:

  1. Make sure you are picking up the bars in the correct space – the space between the columns of stitches. Moving over a half stitch to either side will ruin the look of your seam.
  2. Make sure you are picking up every single bar. Picking up two bars at a time will weaken the seam and make it not as attractive.
  3. 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.

And here is a video tutorial on finishing off the bound off edge at the seam:

Hopefully these videos help you with your seaming!

Next week we’ll cover working mattress stitch seaming in seed stitch fabric.

Until then, Happy Knitting!

Friday Finishing Series, Techniques

Friday Finishing: Part One

Heather

Hi all!  Today I am going to start a weekly series that will run for several weeks – covering the topic of finishing work for hand knitting.

Today’s topic is the Figure 8 start for vertical seams.

The Figure 8 method for beginning vertical seams is an excellent way to start a seam, since it lines up the pieces to be seamed perfectly, and it makes the cast on edge of the seam look virtually seamless (our goal when seaming!) It can be tricky to work correctly, however.

Here is a video I made on working the Figure 8 start:

The keys to working the Figure 8 correctly are:

  1. Insert the needle from the WS to the RS, on both pieces.
  2. Go in the space between the selvedge stitch and the next column, directly above the CO edge.
  3. And always use the exact same space (and again from WS to RS) when you return to the other side.

This ensures that your Figure 8 is clean and can look the best that it can. Like I said in the video, I prefer to go above both strands of the CO edge when long tail CO has been used. I think the finished product looks much better that way. But, that is my preference! Experiment and see what you like best!

Next week we’ll cover the Mattress stitch seam in stockinette fabric.

See you then! Until then, Happy Knitting!