Hello
For a drop sleeve sweater (not a modified drop sleeve) that is knit in the round do I just separate at the underarm and leave the stitch count for front and back as it is?
Or should/can I add a stitch each side of the underarm (1 front piece and 1 back piece for each armhole) as a selvedge to go into the sleeve seam?
If I do add a selvedge stitch each side is this likely to cause problems in some way for the construction or will it be fine because it’s getting used in the seam?
I would leave the stitch count as is. Usually I’d pick up sts around the armhole and knit the sleeve down. In that case I’d be working one stitch in from the edge, effectively a selvedge stitch from the front, back and bottom end of the armhole.
Adding an extra selvedge stitch front and back would probably work but does it create a little fudging at the bottom of the armhole where front and back split?
Thanks.
I can feel another swatch coming on!
Adding the extra stitch for the selvedge was something I thought might help simplify the colour chart I’m using which I’m continuing onto the sleeve (knit flat bottom up, seamed in), but I did wonder about the fudginess of the extra stitches. I’ve never done a drop sleeve so I’m just imagining the 3 dimensionality of it.
Maybe I’ll swatch and try and increase rather than a cast on so there’s a stitch each side but tapers to a point in the hole.
Just a guess.
Just an update on this.
I did decide to add a selvedge stitch to front and back when I separated for armholes. Thanks salmonmac for the improved kfb (knit front slip back loop) tip on another thread, I used this and it worked great.
I seamed the sleeve before setting in. The underarm worked fine and seamed well enough, I added a couple of duplicate/faux graft stitches right at the centre of the underarm.
Adding the selvedge made it easier for me to have continuity in my chart pattern between back and sleeve and sleeve and front.
And, not that anyone is inspecting my armpits (ha ha), but the pattern also matches across the underarm seams.
And the sleeve/back seam with the chart pattern working across the seam
As an experimental sweater it’s working out OK.
Some of my stitches are quite different in size because I did loose colour work, I wanted the soft drape on the larger needle so I’ll put up with some inconsistent stitch size.
Beautiful work and fine detail. It all contributes to the finished look.
