Help from the knitters please!

dandy-candy

I love knitting jumpers and I can do each piece beautifully with nice even tension, but when I have to join the pieces together it really spoils the look.
Do you use wool and a certain stitch, or just sew the bits together with normal needle and thread? Or use a sewing machine?
Are there any good sites with instructions on how to do it neatly? Please help!

FairyPrincessk

No tips, but watching with interest as I'm just about finished knitting the pieces of my first cardi!

Stevie_Palimo

Try here : http://www.allfreeknitting.com/Knit-Cardigans/Stockinette-Stitch-Hooded-Cardigan

TiredTrophy

Hi dandy-candy:)
I use the same yarn and a to and fro stitch called mattress stitch. You get a needle from the wool shop.
You can crochet them together but it looks different.
Remember to block the pieces first.
I am a good plain knitter! No colour work or lace cos I get tangled up.

purplethreads

I also use mattress stich.
Knitty has some good articles from a few years ago on finishing up your work nicely.
The article that includes mattress stitch is here

ETA I also use three-needle (IIRC) bind-off for the shoulder seams.

Dclutterchique

Yes, mattress stitch is good for most knitting. If you go to http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-tips and scroll down to 'Finishing' (it's quite a long way down) there are videos on how to do mattress stitch on both the right and wrong sides of stocking stitch.

dandy-candy

Thanks for the great advice and links. I'm making this jumper http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/your-victory-jumper
I'm thinking to do the mattress stitch in navy. Is that what people here would use? My jumper is in navy, red and white btw.

meritaten

yes - another fan of mattress stick here too! it works for most seams. except for straight shoulder seams I don't cast off but leave the stitches on holders (or spare needles). then I put the pieces together and use a method called 'Three needle cast off'. its basically knitting the stiches from both needles and then casting off normally. video on you tube taught me how. it gives the most beautiful matched seam with less bulk - marvellous on baby items and also on chunky knits.
if I happen to have the same colour yarn but in a lighter weight, like if the main pieces are knitted in DK and I have the same colour in 3ply I will use the 3 ply to sew up.
Don't use normal polyester or cotton thread - it looks fine until you wash the garment then it will all go pear-shaped! literally!

Callie22

I can really recommend the Very Pink Knits channel on Youtube - her mattress stitch video is here. She's American so the terminology can sometimes be different, but her tutorials are really clear and helpful.

sashanut

Hi all :j

Have posted this on the Knitters Thread but not sure if it is still active at all? So if there are any OS knitters....does anyone have an easy (ish) shawl/stole/wrap/shrug pattern they can recommend please? I can knit & crochet a bit so either method will be fine......I was planning on making a couple of these for gifts so need to get a move on...and going away next Thurs with no TV or internet, so an ideal opportunity to get stuck in :eek:


I know I can look at Ravelry etc but if someone has a pattern they can recommend, that would be great! Thank you !