Steeking!

...or, to the non-knitters out there (esp. those who were expecting another gig review!), cutting your knitting.

I love teaching this workshop as it's a technique that lots of people don't try but that is really awesome when you've got the hang of it. And it really isn't difficult! Practice on a swatch before you dive in, use the right yarn and sharp scissors and you will be amazed at how much it speeds up your knitting, especially colourwork.

So why would you do it? Well, with a bit of planning, a sweater can be reduced to virtually no seams, even when knitted from the bottom up. Sweaters can be knitted in the round from the cast on edge.  Add your bridge stitches for your steek at the armholes and keep knitting in the round, right to the top of the shoulders. Snip open the armholes and pick up and knit the sleeves in the round (so no sleeve seams). With a 3-needle bind off (so no shoulder seaming), there's only the neckline to deal with and the steeks to tidy up. And if you're doing colourwork there are barely any ends to darn in as you're mostly working in the round. Fantastic! You can use steeking for armholes, to convert sweaters into jackets, for thumbs in gloves, handle holes for tea cozies, all sorts!

Here's my class at Purl City Yarns taking the plunge.....

All looking very calm...


Getting those scissors out....


Snippity-snip


And checking the end result - perfect!


And in true Blue Peter tradition, here's one I prepared earlier.....

Swatching for the steeks (the jacket is steeked down the front and armholes, the little vest top has steeked armholes....

And here's the lovely Georgina, kindly modelling the finished jacket and top (thank you to mum, Liz)....