Avoiding the Curl

General Knitting
1

Hi there.

I’m a self-taught knitter and have lots of hats and scarves to my bag of finished projects. I have even attempted and completed a cable sweater (8 years old and my favorite)! The only reason I decided on a cable sweater was because of the hem curl that I could never avoid with the very clean looking knit stitch. This time, I want to make a sweater that is plain, plain, plain!

I have started it, and I have knit 6 rows of ribbing. I thought I could avoid a curl by using a few rows of ribbing, but I can’t seem to avoid it. Any suggestions? I want as little ribbing as possible for “cleaner” look, and I don’t want the ribbing to end up pulling the hem or cuffs in. How do I achieve an even drape?

If it helps/matters, I am using:
100% wool
size 10 (6mm) needles

Thanks in advance.

2

The Techknitter suggests fabric relaxer!

3

How about a few rows of garter stitch instead of ribbing. that should keep it from curling and also won’t pull in like ribbing will.

4

Ribbing also EATS yarn. Like, it gets used up super fast.

5

If you want it to look like plain stockinette all the way down how about a hem?

6

I often use a seed stitch border on knitted items when I don’t want it to either curl or gather in (like ribbing does).

7

I was trying to think “out of the box” with this, and thought of a couple things:

  • a grosgrain ribbon hem finish on the inside of the garment;

or perhaps

  • sew in a light dressmaker’s chain on the inside of the garment near the edge.