I just finished my first Balsam and I say “first” because I’m not totally happy with it and I’s going to make another. I have a few problems with it, one of which concerns the cast off bottom edge.
I cast off as loosely as I thought I could and it’s still tighter than the knit/purl rows above so the edge flips up, which drives me NUTS! I’m including a picture of it where it’s being held down by my overalls but when I wear it with a t-shirt the edge rolls. It’s also too short but that’s a problem I think I can fix.
My other question is that I want the shoulder section looser and the cowl tighter, can I achieve this by using smaller needles on the cowl and bigger on the shoulders? It’s knit with #6 for the top and bottom edge and #8 for the body. Could I do #6 then #7 then #9 then #6? Then maybe bind off with a bigger needle? Or a different bind off that would be stretchier?
My picture is too big to upload so here is my Ravelry page for it:
Did you try going up 2 or 3 needle sizes for the cast off? Have you blocked it, that can help with the flipping up, which may be due to it being a stockinette based pattern. I see you have 2 garter ridges but that may not be enough to counteract the curling.
For the shoulder part to be larger, I’d go with size 9 or 10s and you probably don’t need to use the smaller needles. That could be another reason the edge is flipping up, try using the same size needles throughout, rather than going down to 6s.
I used the k2tog for my fingerless mitten edge. It worked great.
Here’s how - k2tog then place the remaining stitch back on the left needle. K2tog and place the remaining stitch back on the left needle… etc. It really does seem to be stretchier.
you might also try using a crochet hook (a size up from knitting needle) in your right hand… instead of a knitting needle.
a crochet hook also makes it easy to do a picot cast of (super stretchy.
bind off X (2? 3? 4?) then chain 2 (or 3 or or 4) then go back and continue to bind of the chain stitches make little loops on the edge, (pretty) and make the edge much stretchier)
Wow, I have always wondered how that works, is there a video out there so I can see how that works? I am totally not a crocheter, I have a friend who is but she doesn’t do any knitting and she doesn’t do anything fancy at all. I’d love to learn that type of cast off. Where should I look???