So i’m currently working on a vintage sweater and i’m all done, I just need to knit the collar. The pattern tells to pick up 96 stitches for the collar around the neck edge but I only picked up 79 stitches, do I need to pick up 17 stitches more or is it alright with 79 stitches ? (The pattern : https://freevintageknitting.com/spool148/357-man-of-action-pullover-pattern)
You might try putting the picked up sts on some waste yarn or a cord. That way you can check that there is enough stretch in the neck to easily go over the head.
If that fit seems reasonable, you can always evenly increase some number of sts on the first round to get closer to 96sts. Often, you don’t need to do this but it may make the collar more comfortable and not so tight on the neck as you work the rib.
I tried getting it over my head and it did not working… should increasing the edge by a few stitches make it looser?
Is it the bind off edge at the neck that is tight rather than the picked up stitches? If the neck edge is tight you’ll probably need to undo the cast off and redo it with a stretchier bind off or larger needle. Did it fit over your head before you picked up the stitches?
It fit over my head but it was already kind of tight
You’ll need to pick up more sts, closer to the recommended 96sts. Divide the neck into quarters using markers and try to pick up 24sts in each quarter. The total should be divisible by 4 if you’re to work 2x2 ribbing.
The turtleneck will be uncomfortably tight if it’s just fitting over your head.
Thank you! I think I’ll try to redo the bind off and then pick up more stitches than I did before
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You might have a favourite stretchy bind off methods. If not, I often use a needle 2mm bigger. It sounds like a lot and can even look a bit loose during the bind off row but afterwards it stretches nicely and looks neat. It will anyway be hidden inside.
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