SHoulder seam looks bad. Is there a better way?

[G J]

WHen you shape your shoulder seams, do you do the whole "cast off the first 6 sts at armhole edge 3X, then CO remaining stitches"? Or is there a better way to set up the shoulder seam? Is there a trick to not having holes? Do I need to pull really tight, CO looser? Any tips would be great!

[CarmenIbanez]

The few pieces I have designed have straight shoulders, no stepped BOs. Your bind off should be loose, that helps to keep the seam nice and even. But when you are seaming, don't pull too hard, that make the seam "bunch up". I still think, kitchener is the right one. It might be that you aren't grabbing the stitches in the right place. That is why I wanted to be able to show an example, but I don't have one, so I'm looking for one online.

[sara_jayne]

If you can get your hands on a copy of Vogue's Ultimae knitting dictionary or the smaller of it they have a great section on seaming and grafting, which shows tons of different ways to graft seams. I've used that to do shoulder seams with much success.

[G J]

Should I redo the top front and back so the shoulder is straight? Is there a way to shape it earlier in the process so the seam on top doesn't have holes, but has the needed slope? THanks SO much for your help.

I'd love to see your designs!

[sara_jayne]

Middle of the page has a piece on seaming shoulders if this is still the route you want to go.

[G J]

That looks helpful. I wish it had pictures of the stepped BO, b/c that seems to be my problem (no pun intended ). I used this seaming method to set in the sleeve and it looks great. Of course, I'll have to take it out if I re-do the whole shoulder. UGH!

So, take out and make a straight seam? Or re-do the stepped BO looser? Tighter? Or just live with imperfection?

Input, anyone?

[candy]

The Kitchener st is invisable but is it weaker? I just noticed most people recommend the three needle BO for the shoulder seam but I was wondering why the kitchener st would not be better because then you don't notice it.

[Ingrid]

You can shape the shoulders before using the 3 needle bind off by using short row shaping. The Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques has great pics.

Basically you knit up until where you should have bound off for that row, wrap and turn, and then work back to where you should have bound off for the next row, wrap and turn, etc. On the final row you pick up the wraps. That's for the back.

For the front, you only have to w&t at the shoulder edge.

As for Kitchener, it's my understanding that you need a seam for strength, too.

[candy]

I have not done the short row for the shoulder yet because the sweater I am working on does not have the steps but the next time I would like to try it.

As for three needle bind off, I knew there must be some reason for using it over kitchener st. Thanks

[CarmenIbanez]

The photo you posted, what method was that?