I have just about finished a ruana for my mother in law; It has about a 3-4 inch 2x2 ribbing on each end. I had to pick up stitches on the sides to add the 2x2 ribbing. I did so, but the “seam” seems a little bulky; unfortunately, when I was knitting the body, I slipped the first stitch or each row for a smoothe edge…problem I think.
I’m not frogging the whole thing, but it is a nice pattern, so I would like to do it better next time.
Suggestions please.
Carol in KY
I recently knitted a hat, the band was knitted sideways and I picked up stitches from a slipped stitch edge for the crown of the hat.
I picked up 1 stitch in each slipped stitch for the first row using a smaller needle, the second row changed to a larger needle and worked a kfb in each stitch; any additional increases I also worked into this second row.
I’m happy with how this seam turned out, it is neat without a lot of added bulk.
Hope this helps.
If you know you’re wanting a piece ribbed, start with the rib, change to your stitch pattern for the main body of the piece, then finish with rib. If it’s afterthought rib, then try Claire’s suggestion.
I don’t think there is an easy answer for this because determining what works best, has to do with the gauge of what you knitted and the gauge of what you are adding on/picking up.
Ex. The body of your garment is 4 rows = 1".
*If what you are adding/picking up along the side is 3sts =1" then you would need to pick up 3sts over those 4rows.
*If each row was fully knitted (no slipped edges) then its a 3:4 pick up and fairly easy to count, but gives a bulkier seam and may be tough to execute if the edge sts are sloppy or rows tight/narrow.
*If you slipped the edges then you only have two edge sts over those 4 rows and now need to pick up 3sts over every 2 edge sts (3:2). It’s easier to see and less bulky when done, but harder to execute evenly (IMO).