Finalizing steeking - The messy edges

Hello lovely knitters :-),

After all the wonderful feedback on Instagram, I've prepared a tutorial—or let's call it a guide—on how to clean up those messy edges after cutting and knitting a buttonband. Please note from the outset that this tutorial isn't about the entire steeking process (but I can create one if you'd like?), it's specifically focused on concealing the untidy edges on the inside of the garment as you see here:

Not a great look!

There are three methods to fix this look:

1. Sew in the Threads: When working with multiple colors, this method can still leave the edges looking somewhat messy. Have a look at this Forestfox cardigan I made a while ago:

The Pattern for Forestfox can be found here or on Ravelry 

While outwardly stunning, this cardigan conceals a hidden flaw.

Be aware that I crafted this cardigan back in 2020, and it has since been a staple in my wardrobe, regularly worn. As a result, it may exhibit some signs of wear.

Now, this doesn't look too bad, but if more colors are used, it will definitely not look very clean. So let's take a look at option 2.

2. Sew in a Buttonband: While this creates a neat finish, I prefer to stick with just one fiber—wool—so we'll focus on that option in this guide for the following reason:

If you are trying to hide the seams with this technique on a sweater, for example, which is made to be used outdoors, the band can trap moisture and will take longer to dry than the rest of the garment. For me personally, this is not a great option, which is why I go with the following option instead:

Today is easter so Waya went go searching for Easter eggs! The hat Waya is wearing is called Waya's hat (Ravelry)

3. Knit in a Fold Over: A knitted patch placed over the seam. This is the technique we'll be focusing on.

This is the basic result we will achieve using this technique. There are ways to make it appear more elaborate, which I will describe later on.

Let's get started.

Long winters in the northern regions unfortunately entail shorter days. Consequently, this guide was primarily photographed during the dim hours of dusk.

Let's have a look! We've already sewn down the edges along our cutting, cut the garment, and even attached a buttonband. It's crucial to complete these steps first, as the result won't be as clean otherwise. What you see here is a rather messy steek, as I opted for the "just cut it" technique. There are ways to make this look a little less messy, but this guide does not cover that.

Now, we'll turn our garment inside out with the messy edges facing us. In the first step, we'll pick up stitches on the wrong side of the button-band. We'll choose the "backstitches," which are simply the stitches that won't be visible on the outside. Throughout this process, we'll always check how the right side of the garment looks to ensure we only work on the wrong side.

Also, please note that the stitches we will pick up are those of the knitted buttonband and not the ones from before we picked up for the button-band.

We will pick up as many stitches as necessary to cover the entire seam. Since we knitted a ribbing earlier, resulting in a stretchy ribbing, I recommend skipping approximately every 6th stitch. This will prevent the foldover from becoming too wide.

The needle is barly visible on the outside.

While picking up the stitches, it's advisable (and can also be done beforehand) to double-check if all the trims are as short as possible. Less bulk is better, ensuring the foldover doesn't become too cumbersome.

 

The less the better :-)

Once all stitches have been picked up, we will now knit. The first round will be quite tight, so it's essential to proceed carefully, especially depending on the yarn you use (Here, I use Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, which can break easily if too much pressure is applied). It will become easier once the first row/round has been completed.

 

From this point, we will simply knit back and forth or work in stockinette stitch in the round until our foldover is long enough to cover the messy edge.

Once you have reached the desired length, we will proceed to bind off or bind off while simultaneously attaching the foldover.

Tip: A particularly stylish bind-off method is the Latvian braid bind-off.
I utilized this method on the hood of my Honovi Sweater.

The Pattern for Honovi can be found here or on Ravelry 

 

We will go for option 2: I am doing a regular Bind off.

1. Begin by binding off regularly using your preferred bind-off technique ( or do the Latvian Braid Bind-off :-)). Then, sew in the edge afterward.

2. Bind off while simultaneously attaching the foldover. To do this, bind off 1 stitch as usual. Before binding off the following stitch, slip in a stitch or a float (ensuring it's tight but not visible on the outside), then bind off with the additional slipped stitch.

This will look like this:

A slipped float should be placed between the first and second bind-off stitches.

After the first stitch has been bound off.

Now repeat this process until all stitches have been bound off.

You can now double-check that everything is tight and tighten the entire foldover if necessary.

And this is the result:

If you like, you can add an additional multicolored or different colored braid at the top—just an idea.

In the case of Waya's new vest, The Heirloom Vest, I will need to repeat this process for the other side of the opening as well as the arms. Blocking will be necessary afterward, so the following are just a few in-progress photos!

The hat in the photo is called Waya's Hat , you can also find it on Ravelry

And for everyone wondering—yes, Waya found an Easter egg!

This is the first and only chocolate Easter egg this year for Waya. ( He got a knitted rabbit, wooden eggs and bunnies ) He doesn't regularly eat chocolate, but for now, this treat is reserved for Easter only. ;-)

I hope you enjoyed this little guide and found it helpful! It's always a joy to share my insights and experiences with fellow knitting enthusiasts like yourself. If there's anything specific you'd like me to cover in future guides, whether it's a particular knitting technique, a specific one of my pattern, or even tips for caring for your handmade creations, just drop a comment below. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping the content I create, so don't hesitate to let me know what you'd like to see next!

Until next time, happy knitting!

Talk soon, xo

Waya, the little adventurer.