FAQ....Is your STOCKINETTE CURLING? Here's the solution!

#1

every time i try to do the stockinette stitch, the bottom edge of the work curls up. is there any way to prevent this? i have tried knitting the first 2 rows before purling but it creates a raised edge and still curls.

#2

you also need to do a border on the sides too. basically a three row border on the top and bottom and about three stitches on either side will likely take care of the problem.

and yes, it will create a raised edge but stockinette will always curl so you have to do something…garter stitch border or seed stitch…whatever you prefer.

#3

Im gonna change the name of this thread a smidgen and make it “sticky” at the top…SO many newbies have this question, and it will make it easier to find the answer! :thumbsup:

#4

I’m working on a scarf, a nice newbie project, and while the sides aren’t curling (each edge has about a 1-inch rib), the scarf is sagging in the middle where I’ve done stockinette. When I lay it flat, the scarf looks fine, but when I pick it up, it rolls up into itself.

Am I doing something wrong? Is my tension too tight or too loose? I don’t think it’s either, but then again, I’m new to this and don’t really know what I’m doing!

Thanks in advance for your help!

#5

It could be a tension/yarn issue. My bet is that once you give it a little blocking when you’re done, that’ll help. It wouldn’t with true curling, but its got definite possibilities with this type of thing.

#6

Thanks Ingrid!

Now the next issue for me is blocking :slight_smile:

I’m using an acrylic that is machine wash/dry–I’m not ready for animal fibers or cotton just yet!–so, will washing it and blocking it work; or do I wash/dry and cross fingers; or do I need to block first?

(In other words, does blocking create a kind of “memory” for the yarn, or will I have to block each time it’s washed & dried? I don’t anticipate having to wash/dry this scarf often, but the answer will still be handy to know for other projects.)

I’m sorry if this question is answered in another thread; you can send me there, certainly. (I did follow Amy’s link to the blocking article, but I was still a bit confused.)

Thanks again!

#7

Blocking won’t work super well for acrylic–when you wash it and dry it, it’ll go back to where it is now. You can, however steam it a little with the iron and it can help it relax. Don’t iron it–just a little steam.

#8

[color=darkblue]Isn’t there a way to add something through the bottom where it rolls to help kept it in control? I mean like could you take your embroidery needle and stitch some yarn through there? I of course don’t have a clue. LOL
I guess the best way is to NOT do total stockinette.
Susie
[/color]

#9

im confused! ive knttingthe entire thing and it curls. when you knit in the round it automatically makes it stock-stich right? ive already doen quite a few rows, is there anyway i can fix it now?

#10

stockinette by itself is going to curl. if you don’t want it to curl, you have to border it with something else, garter, seed, whatever. depending on what kind of yarn you are using, sometimes blocking will help but in general, stockinette is going to curl.

#11

What are you making? Knitting in the round will give you st st and will curl, just the way it will in flat knitting.

Your options depend on what your final project is.

#12

i was trying to make a scarf

#13

If you knit a scarf in the round, and it curls, just closing up the open end will fix it. No sweat!!

#14

yup i just closed one up the other day by hooking some fringe through it!

#15

hey but how bout this lady i saw at a craft fair told me that i could prevent curling by using a crochet needle or something like that??? of course i didnt know what the heck she was talking about… :thinking:

#16

Maybe she meant to crochet a border on a curling scarf. You can knit on a border, too, by picking up stitches and knitting a border on.

#17

I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong, but it’s obviously something! :blush:

I knit a few rows, then knit three stitches and purled across, then knit another 3 at the other end of that row. The next row I knit all the way across. Rinse, lather, repeat.

My problem seems to be switching from the knit stitch to the purl stitch. Can anyone instruct me on how to do it properly? Thanks!

#18

Just knit those three, put your yarn between the needles in front and start purling. When you get to the end of the purls, put your yarn in back and knit.

If you’re getting little gaps when you switch, try tugging that first stitch a little bit and keep your needles close together.

If you’re getting eyelets and extra stitches, you’re forgetting to move the yarn to it’s proper position.

#19

Thanks, Ingrid – I’ll try it and let you know how it goes!

#20

When you talk about putting a border on a scarf, do you mean do two (or three) rows of garter stitch before starting the pattern? I’m having this issue, too with a scarf I’m trying to make that involves ribbing. It was curling at the bottom which was extremely annoying!

To prevent the sides from curling in should I keep knit stitches on the outside? This is kind of an awkward question to phrase, but instead of alternating knit/purl on the first stitch, should I keep knit stitches consistent as my first/second stiches to prevent curling?

Sorry for all the questions. I’m obviously a newbie :oops: