August 21st, 2012
Tuesday’s Knitting Tip – Keeping your Edges Neat
If you’ve struggled with messy edges on your knitting projects, you’re not alone. Knitting the first stitch of a row is tricky to get just right. I like to keep the edges of my project neat by slipping the first stitch of every row. This slipped stitch is then knit (or purled) when you work back on the next row.
Some people strive for their projects to look as perfect as possible while other choose to embrace the imperfections of hand knitting.
Do you have any tricks for keeping your knitting neat? Or do you let the stitches fall where they may instead?
Customer Service Liaison at WEBS - America's Yarn Store
I started working at WEBS in September 2010. I learned how to knit 5 years ago and have been crocheting since childhood. When I'm not knitting, I love to be outside with my Black Lab, Ellie.
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Tags: knitting, knitting tips, Tuesday's Tip
August 21st, 2012 at 12:34 pm
do you slip them knitwise or purlwise?
August 21st, 2012 at 12:36 pm
I agree that slipping the first stitch on each row will leave a nice edge but only when that edge will show (be left un-seamed). If it will be seamed, slipping the first stitch often leads to tension problems on the second stitch, which will be the first stitch showing beyond the seam — and hence leading to sloppiness at the seams. So slipping is nice in some cases but should be used with thought and consideration; not to be used all the time.
August 21st, 2012 at 12:43 pm
My grandma always slips her first stitch and knits her last stitch.
August 21st, 2012 at 1:28 pm
I always slip my first stitch as if to purl and knit my last stitch on the row. Doing this makes my edges look like the picture shows. I really like it!
September 28th, 2012 at 12:00 am
Do you have the yarn in front or in back??? ( I know that to do a purl stitch u put the yarn in front but am not sure when u do a slip stitch as if to purl)
October 14th, 2012 at 6:57 am
If you pick up the bars inside the stitches when seaming you end up with an invisible seam.
October 27th, 2012 at 11:51 am
I usually slip the first stitch knitwise (yarn at the back) and purl last stitch of all roes. The method of slip as to purl and knit last helps those who knit loose… The last stitch gets twisted unlike the method I use. You do slip with the yarn in front btw.
December 9th, 2014 at 3:10 am
How does this work if I would like to knit in the round? For example if I would like to make an infinity scarf how would I go about this tip to have my final piece look neat?
January 15th, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Hi kitkat086,
If you’re knitting in the round then you won’t have edge stitches so you won’t have to worry about them being neat! š
October 14th, 2015 at 10:45 am
y do i have problems with laddering on straight needles knit 2 purl two seems to be very loose no matter how hard my tension is \help
October 15th, 2015 at 8:59 am
Hi Judy,
It’s hard to answer that question without a visual. Is there a local knit group that you could visit, or a yarn shop near you with a help night?
Here’s a list of groups by state – http://stitchnbitch.org/Find-a-Group/index.html
or you could try contacting the TKGA to see if there’s a guild chapter near you – http://www.tkga.com/
February 14th, 2018 at 10:32 am
I agree with you regarding the start of a row: It looks a lot better when you slip the first stitch. However, you have to be very careful when joining the pieces: you have to use the second stitch of the row. If not the seam is a little too open. Joining by the second stitch results in a very neat seam. I prefer to join the pieces with a crochet hook, but that is just a preference.
May 20th, 2020 at 12:45 am
I have found when I knit or purl that first stitch of every row, if I pull the yarn tight around the needle and knit or purl it off and hold it tight and also pull tight around the second stitch then I have a neat row of stitches up each side of the piece Iām working on. Also you can relax the rest of the row till you get to the other end. Works for me.