FAQ....Is your STOCKINETTE CURLING? Here's the solution!

tiffyp · 10-25-2005, 12:27 AM

every time i try to do the stockinette stitch, the bottom edge of the work curls up. is there any way to prevent this? i have tried knitting the first 2 rows before purling but it creates a raised edge and still curls.

brendajos · 10-25-2005, 12:29 AM

you also need to do a border on the sides too. basically a three row border on the top and bottom and about three stitches on either side will likely take care of the problem.

and yes, it will create a raised edge but stockinette will always curl so you have to do something....garter stitch border or seed stitch.....whatever you prefer.

JordanP · 12-01-2009, 11:14 AM

Sorry, But I am confused by what you mean. I am knitting a sweater in the round. You wrote "you also need to do a border on the sides too. basically a three row border on the top and bottom and about three stitches on either side will likely take care of the problem."

When you say a 3 row border at the top and bottom do you mean of the curling area? to frame, so to speak, the area i want to curl? and what did you mean by 3 stiches at either side? do you mean the right and left side of the sweater?

suzeeq · 12-01-2009, 11:37 AM

She was speaking more of a stockinette scarf which curls on both edges as well as the cast on and bind off edges.

For a sweater in the round, you only need to worry about the hem. And you'd want to do at least 3 rows in garter, 5 or 6 is better or about that many in seed st or ribbing unless you want the bottom edge to curl up, which some patterns do.

JordanP · 12-02-2009, 10:27 AM

The pattern I am working on calls for a sweater in the round with a curled edge at the bottom. My problem is that it won't stop curling. I have now knit about 6 inches or so and it just curls up to the needles.

Is there something I could have done as I started to allow it curl up once at the bottom but kept it from continuing to curl up?

Also, I am also contemplating how to fix it, since I don't want to rip out (I am working with several balls at once to blend different dye lots of the main color of the body). Could I tack it down somehow? What about folding it over and making a hem, so to speak? Any thoughts on those solutions? I don't want to create a bigger problem

suzeeq · 12-02-2009, 11:18 AM

Yes, you can knit the bottom inch or 2 on smaller needles, then switch to larger ones and it won't curl past the switch. A hem works better if you have a purl ridge on the knit side, it makes a natural fold.

Elenalong · 09-10-2012, 10:20 PM

I find that even when I do a border, my scarf will always curl. I have tried 2 or 3 stitches in garter and seed stitch, and it still always curls. What can I do?

suzeeq · 09-10-2012, 10:51 PM

You need more stitches in seed or garter to keep it from curling, maybe 5 or 6, and it still might not lay flat. This article from Techknitter's blog might give you some ideas, and she has a 4 part series with other solutions that starts here.

KellyK · 10-25-2005, 12:51 AM

Im gonna change the name of this thread a smidgen and make it "sticky" at the top....SO many newbies have this question, and it will make it easier to find the answer!

10-28-2005, 06:15 PM

I'm working on a scarf, a nice newbie project, and while the sides aren't curling (each edge has about a 1-inch rib), the scarf is sagging in the middle where I've done stockinette. When I lay it flat, the scarf looks fine, but when I pick it up, it rolls up into itself.

Am I doing something wrong? Is my tension too tight or too loose? I don't think it's either, but then again, I'm new to this and don't really know what I'm doing!

Thanks in advance for your help!