Hi :) .
I'm a first time knitter, and I've knit a piece that looks great, but the outside edges are curled in (bad tension on my part?). Can you press something like this through a cloth? I assume that you aren't supposed to get wool wet if you don't want it to "felt", but would pressing it without steam work, or is there a particular knitting technique that I should know for uncurling these edges?
Thanks very much for any insight!
I'm a first time knitter, and I've knit a piece that looks great, but the outside edges are curled in (bad tension on my part?). Can you press something like this through a cloth? I assume that you aren't supposed to get wool wet if you don't want it to "felt", but would pressing it without steam work, or is there a particular knitting technique that I should know for uncurling these edges?
Thanks very much for any insight!
posted by:
|
SF Bay Area
|
-
Re: Knitting query.
Sat, November 29, 2008 - 10:50 AMIn pressing the piece, a lot depends on the type of yarn that you used... and I think that you can lightly steam (emphasis on lightly)...
Something that has been recommended to prevent edge curling, is to slip the 1st stitch of each row, (aka slip 1, knit 'x', turn slip 1, purl 'x'. knitting or purling the slipped stitch) -
-
Re: Knitting query.
Tue, December 2, 2008 - 9:25 AMSlipping the first stitch (or some people slip the last stitch) makes a very neat selvedge, but it does nothing to prevent curling.
-
-
Re: Knitting query.
Sat, November 29, 2008 - 11:05 AMCurling of the edges will always happen if you knit it in stockinette (knit on one side, purl on the other). It's the nature of the beast.
- if you plan in advance, you can knit a garter or moss stitch border of 3-4 stitches. This will help.
- after knitting, you can block it. You can definitely get wool wet, but what you can't do is use hot water **and** agitate it. That's what causes felting. So, use cold/cool water and just a little mild soap (a drop or two of ivory liquid in a sinkful works if you don't have a special wool soap; don't use Woolite!). Soak that sucker for 10 min or so, then g-e-n-t-l-y squeeze out the liquid. Wrap it up in a towel and stomp on it, getting out more water. Then, lay it out in the shape/size it is supposed to be and pin it down (or weigh it down).
Those edges will still curl back in. Consider it a "design feature" instead of a "bug" and you'll feel better ;)
That's all that blocking is, though -- setting the shape.
There's a great article on Knitty about blocking here:
www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinte...nitter.html
Good luck, and welcome to knitting! -
-
Re: Knitting query.
Sat, November 29, 2008 - 4:47 PMThank you both! That helps a lot : ).
-
-
Re: Knitting query.
Tue, December 2, 2008 - 9:23 AMWell, what type of fiber did you use? Wool would block the best, and cotton and synthetics will not block much at all. DO NOT IRON KNITTING! You will flatten the stitches. If you want to try it, hold the iron slightly above the knitting and steam it. (You won't be wetting and aggitating the wool, so it won't felt). Don't press! AND DO NOT IRON ACRYLIC, PERIOD!!!!!! Heat will melt the yarn.
Really, the only way to completely get that curl out is to add a border wide and heavy enough to pull it back flat. If you crochet, running a few rows of single crochet or a crab stitch around the edge is a great fix. You could also sew a fabric backing, or, e.g. for a scarf, knit another piece, same way, and sew them back-to-back for a flat, and double-sided, scarf.
