Need help with seams

[Antares]

I am trying to seam the shoulder pieces together, and I'm having lots of trouble with it.

I've viewed the video for mattress stitch (which is what the pattern recommends using); however, the video only covers side seams; it doesn't cover using mattress stitch for bound off edges, so I have no idea really where to insert the needle.

I've tried going under the top two strands on my bound-off edge, as well as the "inside strands" using Tunisian crochet. Neither method looks good at all!

I considered using the three-needle bind-off; however, the shoulder seams are not even all the way across (as in, I bound off a few stitches one row and a few more the next).

So, now it's time to call for help: HELP! HELP!

[Jan in CA]

I think you can still do 3-needle bind off...

[Antares]

Okay, so I can use the three-needle bind-off even though the shoulders are bound off on two different rows?

Here's a link to the pattern if that helps: http://www.patonsyarns.com/pattern.php?PID=4966

Instead of doing a normal bind off, would I just do the three-needle bind-off for both rows?

For example, would I do a three needle bind off for first 6 stitches, knit (or purl) the rest of the stitches. Then, turn the work, and bind off the remaining stitches using the three-needle bind-off?

Or can I just bind off the stupid thing in one row and forget about the slightly raised section on the next row?

[suzeeq]

To do a 3 needle BO, you need to undo all the bound off sts. Go back to the end of the row before the first BO occurs and stop 6 sts before the end. Turn and knit the RS row, turn and knit the WS row but stop 6 sts before the place you stopped before. That would be for the fronts I think. For the back you do the same for the row before the first BO is supposed to be, stop 6 sts before the end, turn and knit to 6 sts before that end. Turn and do the WS row stopping 6 sts before you turned before then turn and do the RS row the same. That should make all the shoulder sts live so you can do the 3 NBO on the inside of the shoulder.

[knotwit]

Hi I'm having the same trouble with a vest i'm working on. Did you get an answer to this problem yet?

[knotwit]

OK I see it now. Thanks