how to mend vertical edge

#1

Hello!
I am working on mending the arm seam of an old sweater. It fell apart because the edging of each of the parts of the sweater (the arm and body) fell apart in some places. The actual edge of the knit broke like the thread holding the seam together was a knife.
I fixed the arm easily by undoing the seam thread, picking up the stitches, and then tying on more yarn to cast off again.
However, I can’t think how to fix the edge of the body piece because the edge that broke is the vertical edge. The edge that forms normally when knitting , perpendicular to the cast on and cast off.
Do I just have to darn it the best I can? Is there any better method?
Also, you can see there is a thin piece of yarn running the length of the seam that I am unsure how to put back because I have never made a sweater and am unsure how it was knit in the first place. I would appreciate if someone can tell me what that is or how I might mend it back in place.

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Thanks!

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#2

Could you show us a photo of the whole sweater? I am wondering whether this seam was steeked. That is when the garment is knitted in a tube and then cut open at certain points to make the armscyes (armholes) and the front opening, if it is a cardigan.

Can you tell us any history of the sweater? That might help too. And a photo of the inside would be helpful too please.

#3

If it’s not steeked, then these resources might help:

You will have to account for wherever there are broken strands. (These show dropped stitches rather than broken strands.)

Finally, these blogs have a lot of information on mending knits. I don’t know whether they have anything specific to your situation and unfortunately don’t have time to search all the entries, but the writers are very skilled and you might find something useful there.

https://www.tinkingturtle.com/blog/

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#4

Thank you I will look at the blogs you sent. I do not think it is steeked. here is a photo of the sweater and a photo of the inside seam on the arm that is not broken.

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the seam basically just looks sewn together like a serged fabric edge (though, of course it was not serged).

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#5

I finished it by mimicking the existing seams on the sweater using thread to hold the ends of the knit fabric together. The seams sure do resemble steeking like they look cut but stitched together at the seams… who knows!
thanks for the links kushami I know I will find them helpful for mending in the future :]

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#6

That’s great that you managed to mend it. You did a very neat job. I get impatient with mending – I need to practise more in the new year.

I see the sweater has a label, so maybe it was serged together. Commercial knitwear is serged/overlocked sometimes. I also just learned from watching Arne and Carlos that Norwegian knitters like to do a kind of steek with no steek stitches, just a very thin U shape outlined on the sewing machine and cutting an armhole for a drop shoulder.

It’s shown from about 9 minutes in:

It’s a lovely design and colour. Happy wearing!

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