23: Working the Neck
Band of a Sweater (cont.)
When using a smaller needle, if the decreases
that form the slope are six or more rows apart, and the edge
stitches are not too elongated, pick up one stitch for every row
[pic 25].
25: Using a smaller needle for the band means that the
width of the stitches is less. The slope is not very pronounced, so
pick up one stitch for every row and the neck will sit flat.
If the shapings that form the V are close
together, the slope of the edge stitches will be longer, and there
will need to be extra stitches in the band. Measure the required
length for the neckband from the point of the V to the shoulder
seam, and then measure the number of stitches that equal this
length. That will be the number of stitches you will need to pick up
on each side of the neck. After picking up one stitch for every row,
add the extra increases at regular intervals on the second row of
the neckband [pic 26].
26: This slope is more pronounced, and so more
stitches will have to be added. Increase at even intervals on the
second row to keep the neck sitting flat.
These extra stitches will allow the band to
sit flat, but do remember that the stitch sequence must be correct
if you are working a rib or patterned neckband.
To knit the neckband with shoulder seams
joined, use twin pins or a set of double pointed needles. Work from
the centre front of the V, around the back of the neck, and then
continue working down to the centre front, decreasing one stitch at
each end of every row. This will make a mitred V shape when the seam
is joined at the centre [pic 27,28].
27: (left) The edges ready to be
joined when the neck is mitred.
28: (right) The mitred neck band join.
If you don’t want a mitred centre, keep the
edges square, then stitch one end over the other at the centre front
[pic 29].
29: An easy and effective way to
finish a V neck without a mitre.
Some knitters leave one stitch on a stitch
holder at the centre when working a V neck, and use that stitch as
the central stitch of the mitre when working a band on double
pointed needles. You can find directions in knitting books. My head
swims when I think about doing that sort of neck.
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