I try to knit/purl the last stitch tight so I have nice, clean edges. What would be the best thing to do? I’ve heard something about slip the stitch, but when I tried that, I had a gap between the last stitch and the one before that! Any suggestions? 
For scarves I slip the first stitch as if to purl and knit the last stitch of every row. I don’t get a gap, and the edge looks nice and neat. I don’t do anything special when I’m going to sew the sides–I like to have an equal st count on each side rather than have a neater edge.
Personally, unless the pattern tells me otherwise, I always slip the first stitch of my row knitwise, and give the yarn a little tug to tighten it up. It doesn’t make a flawless edge, but much neater IMO. Ingrid does something similar, but I’ll let her explain it since it is her method, and it sounds pretty cool to me too! 
Edit: HA! I knew Ingrid would post her method too! Just didn’t realize that she’d sneak in while I was writing my post! :roflhard:
I slip the first stitch of each row. Ingrid told me how she did it and I don’t know if I’ve got it exactly right, but what I’m doing makes a nice edge.
I slip the first stitch as if to purl (with the yarn forward), then I bring the yarn to the back to knit normally.
I haven’t done this with purling, but I imagine you could just leave the yarn forward and purl on those rows.
So Ingrid, I slip stitch purlwise and knit last stitch no matter the type of stitch/pattern used? (I’m making a scarf)
Wow Jan, I want my scarf to look like that! I’m going to have to start over!
Yes, I don’t include those stitches in the pattern count–they’re extra. As Jan said, if the first stitch after the slip is a knit, bring the yarn around under your needle to the back to knit it.
If the st after the slip is a purl, bring the yarn around the back and then up between the needles to the front after you’ve slipped the first stitch and purl the next one.
If I was home I’d take a picture of the nice ridged edge it gives. If you want, I’ll do it when I do get home.
I’ve seen the pictures you posted on how you did this, but I never quite understood this specific part. It seems like it would add a stitch. Anyhoo I do the rest and the edge is so nice!
If you go to my blog Tita you can see the whole thing. It’s not perfect, but because I’m going to felt it I didn’t worry about it too much.
Ingrid, “PWEEEEESE” can you take a picture when you’re home? This will be so helpful!
Jan, thanks so much!!! 
I took some quick pics of the scrunchable which has a knit after each slip, and the Karaoke scarf that has seed stitch on the edge, so the k, p alternates.
Wow…what neat edges!! It’s something that I’m going to try. My edges definitely don’t look like that. I’m just getting started in knitting…and have alot to learn. Ingrid…what do you mean when you say that you don’t do anything special when you’re going to sew the sides…that you’d rather have an equal st count than a neat edge? Don’t you always have this slip stitch at the beginning and end of the pattern stitches?
OK so let me get this straight. If the next stitch is a purl, I already have the yarn in the correct position but I still need to wrap it around the right needle counter clockwise and between both needles and purl as usual? Why wouldn’t I just purl it as is since the yarn is in the correct position anyway? (it may be a really dumb question but had to be asked!) :oops:
By the way, I am greatful for all the responses and help! :cheering:
OK so let me get this straight. If the next stitch is a purl, I already have the yarn in the correct position but I still need to wrap it around the right needle counter clockwise and between both needles and purl as usual? Why wouldn’t I just purl it as is since the yarn is in the correct position anyway? (it may be a really dumb question but had to be asked!) :oops:
By the way, I am greatful for all the responses and help! :cheering:[/quote]
Not a dumb question, at all–it makes perfect sense, and you could do it that way. The edge still looks neat, but instead of having a little wrap around the edge every row, you have one every other row. Both look good, I just like the other better.
After knitting a skadillion stitches, I don’t have loose edges anymore. So when I am going to seam a sweater, for example, I like to do mattress stitch, and it’s easier for me to keep things lined up if I have edges that have a stitch for each row. I shouldn’t have said equal, since if you do slip both edges they would be equal, anyway. It’s certainly OK to slip the first stitch, but I never got into the habit, and my edges are pretty tight without it.
Ingrid…so are you saying that you don’t slip stitches on the sides that are going to be sewn together…that you just knit them? Wiill this make it easier to do the mattress stitch. I did the mattress stitch on my sweater…it turned out wonderful…thanks to you for your advice .
But when I did the mattress stitch on my sweater sides that I had slipped stitched…it was alittle difficult in finding the stitches. Maybe that was the problem.
Right–that’s the point I was trying to make, if each row has a bar to pick up for the mattress stitch, then it’s just easier.
Thanks again for your great advice, Ingrid. All the tips we get on this forum just makes for a more professional finished piece. It’s a great tool for beginners like me. If we get stumped we usually always get the help we need. It wouldn’t be possible if all you experienced knitters wouldn’t take the time in your busy life to help us out!! So here’s a big thank you to all the “teachers”!
:cheering: :XX:
I, for one, really love doing it! The first place I stop in the morning is the How-To section. So keep those questions coming! Helps me to feel competent in at least one area of my life. :rofling:
yea, I had to do this with my socks, you just yarn foward and turn the work around and then just start knitting, if I have this correctly in my head, and the yarn just “lassos” the first stitch so that you dont actually knit it, or purl it - whatever the case may be.
OK, ya’ll probably think I’m mental or something, but I’m still having trouble w/the slip stitches. Here’s what I’ve been doing:
Stockinette Scarf
-W/the yarn haging in front, I slip the st purlwise
-I then take the yarn and move it counter clockwise around the back of my right needle and then knit the second st
-Then, I cont to end and knit the last as usual
-Flip the project and bring yarn down and slip st purlwise again
-then bring yarn counter clockwise around the back of the right needle and down between both right and left and then purl to end
-Last st I knit and start over
It makes 2 st on the needle when I do it this way. Is this correct? :??