Sunday, August 23, 2015
Colour Conundrum
Here's my problem: if I knit the cardigan fronts as usual with variegated yarn, the fronts will not match each other and the stripes on the fronts will be twice as wide as the stripes on the back. I don't think that would look good. Hmmm. The answer, I decided eventually, is steeking. I'm knitting the two fronts together and will then cut them apart when I've finished. Yikes. I'm working 5 extra stitches between the two halves. That's where I will secure the knitting with two lines of sewing, cut and then fold the extra stitches back to form a facing.
I did do a little sample to make sure it will work:
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You are very brave cutting your knitting. I do hope that it works!
ReplyDeleteYou're a brave woman! My mom used steeking on sweaters she made for us when we were kids. I've read about it often, but I'm not confident enough in my knitting ability to take a pair of scissors to a finished piece.
ReplyDeleteI confess I've often read about it too, but never actually attempted it. At least you have your mum's example before you!
DeleteWow, great job!
ReplyDeleteYou never seize to amaze!
ReplyDeleteA very enlightening post. When you mentioned cutting, I had the same reaction - horrors ! Didn't know about steeking till recently....
ReplyDeleteI had a thought, though. Is there any way to kind of 'lock' the end stitch on either side all along the column... then cut between these locked stitches. Just thinking aloud...
Hmm. Nice idea but at this stage I'm just following instructions!
DeleteYou're the coolest knitter ever!! That cardigan will be stunning!
ReplyDeleteKatie V in NC
Whatever you do I am sure it is going to be fabulous!!! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, that sounds pretty daring - cutting apart the finished knitting! Still....it sounds like it will work, and the sweater will look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt’ll be just fine!
ReplyDeleteLike everyone who tries steeking for the first time, I was petrified! But, once done and successful, it is a fantastic skill to have. And it is surprisingly easy! It’s just that first snip... right? : ))
Thanks for the encouragement!!
DeleteI have steeked many sweaters. First thing is make sure you are working with wool and not acrylic. second thing that will help a lot is if you twist on stitch on either side of where you plan to cut. That will tighten those stitches and help hold them together after the cut. I usually crochet a line up on one side of those twisted stitches and hand sew the horizontal bits of yarn together on the other side. (By that I mean the horizontal bar between stitches on row 1 sewn together with the horizontal bar on row two in one sewn stitch. Then bar on row 2 to bar on row 3, etc).
ReplyDeleteThe first time is terrifying but it gets easier each time.
Thanks Teresa. I'm quite far along now, so I can't do the twisted stitches, but this will help. I've managed to convince my husband that steeking is something fairly normal!
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