Invisible Seam for "Spine Stitch"

It's a cliche that a beautifully knit project can be ruined by sloppy finishing work, but it's true. Knowing how you're going to assemble the work before you start is one key to finishing it well. Once you've swatched a stitch you like and have some thoughts about how to use it, it's time to start thinking about how everything will go together.

It doesn't always take extra swatches. When I wrote the initial instructions for "Spine Stitch," all I did was add two stitches, one for each edge, to be knit on the right side and purled on the wrong side. It turns out to be perfect for a very neat finish.

If you've tried the spine procedure, you'll have noticed that the method leaves half  a stitch prominent on each edge of a repeat. In Spine Ribbing, the purl stitches recede leaving these half stitches to frame the spine; in the plain stitch, these half stitches come together to form columns of what appears to be upside down stitches. Using a basic ladder/mattress stitch seam, this result can be replicated on the seam line. (If you are not familiar with this technique, a search on "mattress stitch seams" will lead you to any number of tutorials and videos.)

The diagram shows how to find the horizontal running thread between the whole selvedge stitch and the half stitch next to it. Take a tapestry needle under each running thread in turn moving from side to side. (You can start on either side.)

And here is the result. Even with a contrasting sewing yarn, it is almost invisible! The seam can be touched up a bit by using a tapestry needle to pull on any receding half stitches. Then mist the seam with water and allow to dry.


Until next time!

Spine Stitch

Continuing with the theme of Spine Rib, what happens if we leave out the purl columns? It's no longer ribbing, of course. On the right side, the fabric is flatter and the spines are less prominent, but it still bears a resemblance to the ribbing. The wrong side, both unblocked and blocked, has a lovely texture, but it's just texture; there are no outstanding features.

Instructions for Spine Stitch

Very loosely cast on a multiple of 3 sts plus 2. (The extra 2 stitches are for a plain 1-stitch selvedge on either side.)

Preparation row (RS): Knit all stitches.

Row 1: Purl all stitches.

Row 2: K1. *Insert the LN from front to back into the stitch 2 rows below the last one worked. Insert the RN as well and knit up a st. Slip the new stitch to the left needle, then slip 2 together k-wise. (This will be the new stitch with the one immediately to the left of it.) Insert the RN from front to back into the st below the next st on the LN and knit up a stitch. Pass the 2 slipped stitches over the new stitch. K1.* Repeat from * to * across row, end k1.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for the pattern. Bind off very loosely in pattern.

 

I always have such fun with patterns that change colors every two rows, that I decided to try it with this one. Not very impressive. Still, there was something about it, so I tried separating the contrast stripes by six rows (three repeats). Much more interesting! The right side made me think of sparks, so I tried it in a sparkly yarn. It didn't look right with the plain wool, but I think exploration with a more appropriate background would be productive.

What can I say about the wrong side? It certainly will keep other knitters guessing how it's done! It has a surprisingly different look when it's upside down! Actually, it has me wondering how to use it in opposing stripes. Hmmmmm . . .

Until next time!

Spine Rib

Hello, everyone, and welcome to my blog.

I own over a dozen stitch dictionaries. Even with hundreds of stitch patterns at my fingertips, sometimes I need (read want) to make up some of my own! I call this one "Spine Rib" because it has a distinct raised line down the center of each rib.

I have to admit that, at first, I wasn't thrilled with what I considered to be the right side. On the other hand, the wrong side was brilliant!

After I blocked it, though, the right side really came into its own. And the wrong side remained brilliant!

Instructions for Spine Rib

Very loosely cast on a multiple of 5 sts plus 2.

Preparation row (RS): P2. (K3, p2) for remainder of row.

Row 1: K2. (P3, k2) for remainder of row.

Row 2: P2. *K1. Insert the LN from front to back into the stitch 2 rows below the last one worked. Insert the RN as well and knit up a st. Slip the new stitch to the left needle, then slip 2 together k-wise. (This will be the new stitch with the one immediately to the left of it.) Insert the RN from front to back into the st below the next st on the LN and knit up a stitch. Pass the 2 slipped stitches over the new stitch. K1, p2.* Repeat from * to * across row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for the pattern. Bind off very loosely in pattern. If binding off loosely is a problem for you, you might be interested in trying Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind off.

Unblocked, the wrong side would make lovely cuffs or the main part of a cap or socks. When blocked, the fabric would make a beautiful scarf or stole; I'm going to work on designing decorative side selvedges for it.

Until next time!