Now A Steek Question

You have more courage than me:( I have never dared to do it! I will be very interested to hear if you go ahead!

Ophelia

Hmm. I have never used Devon though I have used other yarns that Elann sells directly. I have steeked mainly on Norwegian patterns using Dale yarn or Peer Gynt. I do use Falk and Baby Ull for steeking routinely and both are marketed as machine washable 100% wool - which I assume would be a similar claim as to be "unshrinkable" -- as in not useful for felting purposes.

The Dale patterns are pretty clear when it comes to how to manage the steeks. I always secure my steeks with two lines of machine stitching on all sides before making the cut.

I haven't tried the pattern you are planning to use, so am not sure if it differs in the method used. Maybe someone else has used Devon or the pattern you mention.

Most steeked patterns call for 100% untreated wool because wool is grabby. 1) the cut ends will hold themselves together long enough for you to pick up and knit on whatever it is you cut the steek for and 2) the cut ends will eventually felt together with wear and secure the cut edges for eternity.

If you run a line of short machine stitches down the column of stitches on either side of the line you're going to cut for the steek you should be good to go. You can also "crochet up" the steek, but it requires a different initial setup than a traditional steek.

Tip: use a one/work one approach. Cut a single steek, do whatever you need to do to finish that edge, then move on to the next steek.

Tip: Use sharp scissors.

Tip: Look twice, cut once. Make sure what you're about to cut is what you should be cutting :D

Great advice. I also usually run a contrasting thread down loosely right where I wish to cut so I don't get "lost" while wielding the scissors. The thread comes out when the cut is made but helps keep me properly oriented.

It is one of those things I would like to acutally SEE done before I attempted it.

Do you mean run the thread after the piece is knit, using a tapestry needle?

Hesira

JCT wrote:

LOL, Me too! But I'm going to take a shot at it anyway. I think I'll knit a swatch in the round and practice it before I commit to cutting a sweater that has a 200+ cast on.

Hesira

Yep. Think of it as a roadmap.

And if you machine-stitch the edges before you cut be sure to use MATCHING thread!

Good luck:)

Isn't it possible (or perhaps not advisable) to hand sew the reinforcement? I don't have a sewing machine, but could borrow one if pressed. If I hand sewed it, how tight should the stitches be?

PS: I really appeciate your help on this.

Hesira

WoolyGooly wrote:

I think if you do a back stitch or double row of running stitch making sure the thread goes through the yarn, it will work. I would do the stitches so they look snug but not so tight that they pull up the edge. Try it out on your swatch. Assuming you will be picking up and knitting a band along the steeked edge, give a good yank after you have done it on the swatch to be sure it's OK. If not, then you know you will have to borrow a machine.

Hmm -- never tried handsewing. Has anyone? The length of stitch I use is pretty small when I am doing baby sweaters on 4 ply(fingering) and maybe slightly longer for sport. I don't think I could manage the baby sweaters by hand - don't know on worsted as I haven't tried that. I think I would take some cookies to a machine sewing friend and get her in on the fun - or some such. I am no great shakes with a sewing machine but do have one - mainly used otherwise for doll clothes.

Good idea - I guess I would feel more secure with back stitch but I am a chicken-steeker. I always do two rows of machine stitch and sometimes three across the bottom of the cut. On the other hand, DGD#3 is wearing sweater made for DGD#1 ten years ago and the steeks have done fine. All the years that Norwegians have been wearing steeked sweaters should tell you something.

Macar> I think if you do a back stitch or double row of running stitch making sure

I never dared to Steek , have seen people do it and thought "OH NO " And than i learned to weave and was told i should Cut my woven piece , i think i was extremely afraid to do it ,,, but it had to be done ,,, My wonderful Weaving Teacher in BU Frank Shipman ,, told me to relax just make aline with a colored embroidery thread on both sides of the place to be cut , and use the 4 step zigzag twice once going and than working my way back , once thios is done on both sides ,,, cut between the two sewn lines ... Than i bought a book called Knit Art By Frene Geller Cone , Van Nostrnad Reinhold comp. 1975 . She has a chapter about Fitting clothes where and she shows you that it can be done ,,,, cutting knitted pieces ,, after it i dared to do it when needed ,, i still am not facinated by doing it ,, but i am not afraid anymore. mirjam

hand stiching , i just did that , the sweater i opened at the side stiches, i made a mistake and cut some cm into the real crochet , [ my seams are /were always invisible] , thus i just sewed threw the stiches layer after layer with sewing thread, as if repairing a hole in a cloth ,,, i am not sure i would have spent that amount on a whole sweater front ? mirjam

Maybe it tells us we should learn to ask nicely in Norwegian , ask the threads to behave ? it must be some National secret thing .. mirjam

If you are able to get your hands on a copy of Lucy Neatby's Knitting Essentials II DVD, she goes through the whole process. After I watched that video, even 'I' would try it. ;o)

Gosh thank you willi!! I shall try to find that, especially because there are a few things I would like to do.