First, I finish the Mangyle and join the front and back. And pick up and knit the arm holes.
Looking good then i realise the neck looks a little small.
It won't fit over his head.
I'm not going to undo it. No Way In Hell am i ripping it. So how do i solve this. Well first how much do i need to enlarge the neck by.
You can just about see the safety pin in this image. It actually finishes 2 yellow points higher than this. So about 2.5 inches. Not a small amount. Bugger.
Ok so haven't got alot of options but keep hearing about steeking.
In knitting, steeking is a shortcut used to knit things like sweaters in the round without interruption for openings or sleeves until the end. After completing a tube, a straight line is cut along the center of a column of stitches, in order to make room for an opening or place to attach another piece. The steek itself is a bridge of extra stitches, in which the cut is made, and is usually 6-10 stitches wide. This technique was developed by the knitters of the Shetland archipelago and is particularly associated with Fair Isle sweaters, although it can be used for solid colors as well.
After the steek is cut, the edges are tacked down on the wrong side of the fabric in order to create a neat finishing. The stitches can also be picked up and knit from, for example, to create a sleeve. Alternatively, a sleeve can be made separately and sewn onto the steek. After the garment with a steek has been worn and washed a few times, the facings will full and become durable finishes on the inside of the garment.
Steeks can be used for front openings (such as on a cardigan), armholes, or necklines. It has several advantages: For many knitters, faster at knitting than purling, it goes faster, and allows one to work with the right side of the fabric facing them all the time, and thus follow an intricate pattern more easily. It is also easier to maintain an even tension and, as the color changes can be hidden, there are fewer ends to weave in.
In general, there is little risk of unravelling the sweater with a steek cut, as knit stitches are unlikely to unravel from side to side. They can be further strengthened by using a sticky hairy animal yarn (Shetland wool, the traditional choice, is a good example), and using frequent color changes (such as a 1x1 rib or a check pattern) to secure the yarn. In addition, the sides of the steek can be reinforced by crocheting or sewing.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Just the idea of cutting my knitting after all theat work, especially with such beautiful yarn that wasn't cheap, has alway scared the living daylights out of me. However seems the only optioin and a lot of knitters do swear by it including Kelly Petkin from Knitpicks. So research it and find lots of info on turning a sweater into a cardigan but not alot of neck steeking. Using a combination of Eunny's crochet tutorial,
Libbykin Knits
and Knitty's tutorial on Steeking
I decided since my hand sewing leave something to be desired, and i don't have a sewing maching, but am quite proficient at crochet, the crochet steek is the way forward and providing i go a stitch or two further than i cut, there is no reason why i can't do a short steek as opposed to the long ones shown. So i crochet my steek edges.
Now you would normally cut, however being a scaredy cat and a wimp, I decide to leave it for the moment. You see obviously these edges might be secure but i still have to pick up and knit the neck. And knitting around the base will cause stress on the cut. So i decide to do that first.
This shows the stitches picked up. I then completed the 6 rows of stocking stitch and cast off.
Now i can't put it off any longer. It has taken 4 hours to get to this point. If i'm going to do it now is the time.
Be brave My friend.
Be still my beating heart.
And all that.
1.....
2.....
3.....
Ta Da Post cut/steek
As you can see i have cut down the centre of the 2 crochet rows and it appears to be a success.
I give it a tentative tug and doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
Neck isn't quite as good as it could be but given everything i have been through i am really not fussed.
It is drying as i write this, the steek survived being washed. and will post pics of OH actually wearing it. I am still not overly happy with it. But i am very happy it is over. And i did learn ALOT.
Swiss darning
Matress stitch, which i had never used before, always used back stitch but this is going to revolutionise my knitting.
And of course the point of this whole post...Steeking. Which i have to say, once you've done your first one and it goes ok, i think will be a really handy thing to do and will be using it again. Just think. Knit a jumper on the round. Then cut down the middle, no measuring sides and getting one slightly longer. So am happy with what i have learnt.
