Steeked Sweater 101 - Page 8

MaryS · 01-31-2007, 06:15 PM

Hi,

For those of us AFRAID OF EVIL

SEWING MACHINES, you can do a steek with a crochet hook and yarn. In place of the two rows of machine stitching, you chain stitch up the center of the steek hooking into one half of the center stitch and half of the one next to it. (Works best on steeks with an odd number of stitches). When you've finished both sides, you have two rows of chain stitch and half of the center stitch of the steek has been used in each crochet chain. Just cut between the two crochet chains and you get secure steeks WITHOUT going near the evil machine - or finding someone who has one whenever you need to steek. The crocheted chain gives a nice finished edge to the steek which is easy to tack down if you want to. You can either use the yarn you're knitting with, or something lighter if you're knitting with a bulkier yarn.

If you google "crocheted steeks" you can find some entries with pictures or drawings to make this a little easier.

You never have to worry about those sneaky sewing machine needles.

And you can steek wherever you are: sometimes it's really hard to stuff that sewing machine into your knitting bag when you're KIP

The first time you take scissors to unfelted knitting is an adventure but to quote the Yarn Harlot: " Veni, Vedi, Steeki

Mary

frogging queen · 02-26-2007, 11:26 PM

Ingrid~
New to the blogging thing, and haven't been knitting all that long, so excuse my ignorance (in both depts!)
In any case, your detailed instructions on steeking are really helpful and informative. I ran across an afghan pattern knit in the round that uses steeking, though, and had no idea what it was. Of course, grabbing every book I own and looking it up, I found instructions, such as yours, for sweaters. I guess my question is whether or not the technique would be the same for the afghan? Yes? No? Not sure the advantage of knitting an afghan in the round anyways, and with steeks, since the pattern still calls for me to pick up and finish off both the side and top border? Suggestions?

Ingrid · 02-27-2007, 12:26 AM

When a pattern, afghan or sweater, has a stranded color knitting pattern, it's much easier to knit it all on the right side, so I suspect that's why they have you knit it in the round. I've seen a rug pattern like that. I use the sewing machine for the sweater steeks, but I don't know how you'd fit an afghan in there, but I'm definitely not a sewing person, so there may be a way I'm not sure of.

Crochet steeks are an option, too.

frogging queen · 02-27-2007, 07:47 PM

Well, actually, the pattern is all one color...but I understand the ease of knitting all on the right side - and the pattern was saying the same thing you said - but, uh..yeah...I'm not a seamstress either & can't feature stuffing a 40"x65" afghan in my little WalMart sewing machine...
Pattern directions: "st and cut steeks"....Hmmm...Well, that clears everything up...
But I just love the pattern! O.K. - thanks for your input. **sigh** Will have to think a bit before tackling this one...maybe I can figure out how to knit it back and forth instead of in the round - that way I could take on steeks at a another point in my knitting career! (Sorry, no pun intended!)[/list]

tish · 03-15-2007, 01:22 AM

Until right now, I've never heard of the word "steek". Is it a way to finish off an edge, like aroung the neck??? I'lll be looking in knitting books to satisfy my curiosity. Thanks for the new info.

Ingrid · 03-15-2007, 02:05 AM

A steek is a set of extra stitches that you add to a sweater so you can knit in the round all the way up. For a pullover, you basically knit the sleeve holes closed with the extra stitches and then cut them when you're ready to add the sleeves. For a cardigan, you knit the front closed and cut when you're done.

Braden · 04-09-2007, 03:24 AM

This is a GREAT tutorial. In case you didn't know, Ingrid, I'm the reason this is a sticky

!

Well, me and Hildie. She did the sticky-ing.

KarenKlopfer · 06-06-2007, 05:03 PM

A very beautiful sweater. The patterns line up so perfectly.

Did you do anything to finish the steek edges at the armholes? That's the point where I could use help.

Ingrid · 06-06-2007, 07:41 PM

Thanks!

No, I left the ends there. Lots of instructions say to stitch them down, but I didn't bother. By now I'm sure the ends have felted themselves together, and nobody sees the inside of the sweater except for me--and even then I don't look.

KarenKlopfer · 06-08-2007, 01:56 PM

Thanks for the info.

Karen