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

[sonata58]

I have a question about putting a seed border around the stockinette stitch. I know that for a seed stitch you must have an odd number of stitches. The total number of stitches on my needle is an odd number. But my pattern tells me to "establish borders in seed stitch over the first and last 6 stitches". Is this right? I'm afraid it will turn into ribbing. So, I thought I'd make sure before I start. If it is right, then when I reach the last 6 stitches, do I start with a purl or with a knit?

[Jan in CA]

You can do seed stitch on even numbers, you just have to pay attention to what the stitches are when you turn. Seed stitch is knitting the purl stitches and purling the knit stitches.

[sonata58]

So, if I do 6 stitches of border around the stockinette stitch, it will be something like this:

Row 1: k1 p1 k1 p1 k1 p1 *k1, repeat from * to last 6 sts. k1 p1 k1 p1 k1 p1
Row 2: p1 k1 p1 k1 p1 k1 *p1, repeat from * to last 6 sts. p1 k1 p1 k1 p1 k1

And then I will alternate these two rows.

Is this right?

[Jan in CA]

Yeah, I think that's right.

[hyperactive]

hi!
I have just tried an idea out on a swatch:

if you want to prevent the side of st st from curling, you can do a side "hem edge". I knit this as "knitting in the round on straight needles" for 5 stitches or so.

Does this have a name? I haven't seen this before but I do not want to claim that I did invent something new. Most likely it has been done

I want to use it for cardigans, for example, where an edge of the knitting will show and be exposed.

[starrysheep]

I'm knitting a "Shifting Sands" scarf where the inside is all cables...And it's curling on the edges and bottom. Is this because of my tension, or because it's stockinetteish? Also, it's acrylic, so would putting a towel over it and ironing make the curling go away? How would I iron this to make the curling go away? Thanks so much!

[hyperactive]

Hi!
if the edges (bottom and sides) are stochinette, they will curl. If you do not like that, you can give them a border while you knit ( garter stitch, seed stitch, some ribbing....) and so on. If you have already knit a good bit and do not want to start over... try a crochet border around the scarf after you are done.
Or pick up stitches around all edges and knit a garter or ribbing edge or the like.

Blocking on acrylic is not the most efficient, mostly. And do not do it too hot as you may "burn" the fiber.

[ZoeS]

Even with borders and blocking, I found my stockinette always, always curled. I've given up and now when I knit in stockinette, I just knit in the round. Twice as much work and yarn, but it makes for some nice warm scarves with no "wrong" side.

[Gidgetsgadget]

I was aware, when I started my headband project, that stockinette rolls. Actually, I intended to make the whole thing in garter but decided to mix it up, so I cast on 4 stitches to make ties, then increased by two in each row up to to 14 stitches, all in garter. When I started in on the stockinette I made sure to keep two stitches of garter at the start and finish of each row. It is still curling lengthwise. WTF?

Michele

[suzeeq]

The 2 sts at each side may not be enough to counteract the stockinette curl. You may need more like 4 or 5.