Hi. I am starting a headband and have a question about slipping the first stitch to make the edge look nice.
I cast on 28 and the first row of the pattern is k1, p1, k1, p1…and ends with the same p1, k1, p1, k1.
How would I slip the first stitch and still maintain the pattern?
If I just slip the first stitch knit-wise, will it look like a knit stitch?
Or would I have to add a stitch to use the slip stitch method?
Thanks!
Are you following a pattern? If so which one? Will you be seaming it? Headbands are usually knit in the round is why I ask. If you’re seaming it doesn’t matter since the edge won’t show.
Here is the site with the pattern:
It is not knit in the round.
She supplies a chart, then just mentions in the directions that she usually slips the first stitch, so I did not know how to incorporate a slip when I am bound to the chart.
If I slip the first stitch knitwise, then p1,k1, etc., will it end up looking like a knit?
Thanks!
If you slip the first stitch of the row and work the last stitch (a purl works well as the last stitch), you’ll have a chained edge. It won’t look like a knit stitch so much as like a crocheted chain along the edge. It’ll be neater than having bumps along the edge of the band, Try it out and see if you like the look.
The ends are either gathered or seamed it looks like. I’m not sure the slipping will make any difference in that case, but Salmonmac gave you some help.
Thanks for the responses. I am going to try it both ways, as I am sure I know someone who might like the headband as a gift 
Sounds like if you really want to maintain the pattern, you would have to add a stitch to slip. Otherwise, it basically just turns the edge into a chain-look.
Thanks again!
If you add a stitch in addition to the slipped stitch, you will be adding more stitches to your headband and it will get wider and wider as you progress.
So, your options are to either do the first stitch normally (as a regular knit or purl) [U]or[/U] to slip it, [I]not both[/I]!
You are right, it would get wider…
I guess I am just confused as to how it would effect the final look of the project. I get that slipping the first stitch will make the edge look nice. But if the pattern is a 1X1 rib, starting with a knit, and you slip that first stitch rather than knitting it, how will that effect the look of the final peice?
If I slip it knitwise, will it look like a knit?
If I slip it purlwise, will it look like a purl?
hmmm… I’ll just have to experiment
Think of it like this: You have your decorative edge with the slipped stitch and then your pattern starts, so it doesn’t affect the pattern at all.
Oh, and if the pattern calls for a knit stitch as the first one, slip it knitwise. If the pattern calls for a purl stitch as the first stitch, slip it purlwise.
Just because a pattern tells you to slip the first stitch, you don’t have to. If you decide not to slip the stitch, be sure that when you do the first two stitches of a row to tug on them a little more than you normally do to tighten them up.
But by all means, experiment and see how you like both methods. That’s the only way you’re going to decide which one you like (no matter what we tell you here).
If you add 2 stitches to give an edge stitch on each side that isn’t part of the pattern and then slip the first stitch on each row before beiginning the pattern and working the last stitch either knit or purl as you choose after the last pattern stitch, you’ll have 2 more stitches and it won’t keep getting wider. I’m not being disagreeable, Antares, just pointing out that you could add edge stitches and maintain the same width on all rows.
Happy knitting!
That’s true, GG, but she did say “add a stitch” and not “change two stitches from pattern to slipped stitches,” so that’s what I was basing my answer on.
Still, another solution. Thanks for pointing it out!
Yup. I was just thinking about what I’d do should I decide to slip the first stitch. I 
the various possibilities in knitting!