The best way to sew seams in knitting is to work with the right side facing, so you can match stitches or row ends to give an almost invisible join. Using the tail of yarn left over from casting on or binding off makes a neat start. To join a new length of yarn, simply run the needle through a few edge stitches to secure the end, then bring the needle up to continue stitching. When the sewing up is complete, darn in ends from joining in new balls of yarn along the seams.
Mattress stitch
Use this to join side and sleeve seams. Working from side to side alternately, insert the needle under the strand between stitches, one stitch in from the edge. Every 2 or 3 stitches, tension the yarn to bring the edges together.
Mock grafting
This is a good way to match stitches when joining bound-off edges. Bring the needle up through the center of the first stitch of one side, then take it under both strands of the corresponding stitch on the other side and back down through the center of the first stitch. Bring the needle up in the center of the next stitch and continue joining stitches, tensioning the yarn every now and then to bring the edges together.
GRAFTING STITCHES
This is a way of joining stitches by working an imitation row using a long end of yarn and a blunt-pointed needle. When stitches knitted in the same direction are joined, the join in stockinette stitch is perfect. If the two sections are worked in opposite directions, such as when joining a shoulder, the join will be a half stitch out but will still be almost invisible. Because the stitches have not been bound off, the join is soft and flexible.
With the right side of the knitting facing, arrange the stitches to be joined on 2 needles with points to the right and with one set of stitches above and one below. Thread a blunt-pointed needle with a long end of yarn left from the lower piece. Insert the needle up through the first lower stitch, down through the first upper stitch, up through the 2nd upper stitch and down through the first lower stitch, then slip the joined stitches off the needles. Repeat to join all the stitches.
Twisting strands together makes the yarn stronger. The thickness of the cord will depend on the type of yarn and the number of strands used. The diagrams show how to make a two-color cord, if you want just a one color cord, have the knot at one end. Always allow plenty of yarn: The loop of yarn before twisting should be at least four times the length of the finished cord.
Cut equal amounts of lengths of yarn in each color. Knot the ends together to make a loop. Place one end of the loop over a fixed hook or a doorknob, lining up the knots at the center. Stretch out the loop, then insert a wooden dowel or pencil at the other end.
Turn the dowel over and over to twist the yarn until it’s tight and springy.
Bring the dowel end to the hook to fold the yarn in half. For a long cord, ask someone to hold the center knots while you do this; when they let go, the yarn will twist around itself. Smooth out the twists, then knot each end and trim to make tassels.
PICKING UP A DROPPED STITCH
Dropping a stitch is a beginner’s nightmare. But don’t panic—here’s what to do. Pop the dropped stitch onto a stitch holder, then slip stitches back to the place where you dropped it. If the stitch dropped is only one or two rows down, you can pick it up with the tips of your needles. If it’s dropped down farther, you’ll need a crochet hook. Always check that a picked-up stitch is facing the same way as the other stitches before continuing to knit.
Picking up a dropped stitch with the needles
Insert the right needle into a dropped stitch, then under strand between stitches on the row above. Use the left needle to lift the dropped stitch over the strand and off the right needle. Slip stitch to turn it to face the right way, then slip stitches back to your place in row.
Picking up a run with a crochet hook
Insert a crochet hook into a dropped stitch, then catch the strand lying between the stitches on the next row and pull it through to make a new stitch on the crochet hook. Continue until all strands have been turned back into stitches, then pop the last stitch onto the needle.
