Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

How to Get a Neater Edge on Your Knitting

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If you’re looking to refine your knitting techniques in the new year, or you’re new to knitting and wondering why your edges look so weird, you might enjoy this deep dive into edge stitches, why they look that way and what to do about it.

The truth is that your edge stitches are pretty much always going to look a little different from the stitches on the inside of your knit fabric. That’s just because of the way knit fabric is structured — all the other stitches have support on both sides, which helps even out the tension, but edge stitches don’t have that.

Also it’s super easy to change your tension on that last (or first) stitch, to pull too tight because you think it will make them look more even, or to leave it loose because of the way you’re making the stitch.

Nimble Needles dives into all of this in detail, showing exactly how those edge stitches can get wonky and how they often don’t look perfect even when you’re trying really hard to make sure they have the same tension as the other stitches in the project.

So what do we do about it? You’ll have to visit the blog post for all the details, but the answer is working selvedge stitches or slipped stitches at the edges of the work. This takes some experimentation to determine the method that works for you (and honestly a lot of practice to remember to do it consistently, which is probably why I don’t do it, because I just don’t remember to) but it does make a nice edge if the more organic look isn’t something you like.

You can find all the details at Nimble Needles.

Do you work the edge stitches any special way when you knit something flat? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo: Nimble Needles]

Five Fun Ways to Finish Your Knit Edges

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Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.