How to Knit a Hem

There are lots of different ways to finish the edges of knitting. Using ribbing is popular on a lot of projects, because it gives you a nice stretchy edge that makes wearing garments easier, and it prevents stockinette stitch from curling.

Another option is to knit a hem into your project, either as you knit the project or after the fact.

I had to do this not too long ago when I was working on a commissioned project. I was knitting a lining piece for a bonnet style hat, and it was knit in stockinette stitch. Blocking helped calm down the curling a little bit, but not enough to make it totally flat. (I wanted the client to have the option of not wearing the lining so it was knit separately and not sewn to the main hat.)

So I decided to knit a hem after the main knitting was done by picking up stitches and knitting a big more stockinette that was then sewn to the inside of the hat.

This weighs down the edge a bit and keeps it from curing, and gives the piece a finished look.

You can also plan to knit a hem at the bottom of a hat, sweater or other project. This is typically done by knitting what will be the back/inside of the hem first, then working a turning row (purling on the right side or doing a yarn over, knit 2 together row to make a picot edge) knitting a bit more and joining the edge stitches to the working stitches when the front piece is the right length.

You can also sew the hem by hand if you like, but I enjoy doing it as sort of a knit 2 together to secure the hem.

If you want to see these methods in action, check out my post over at Our Daily Craft all about how to knit hems. If you’ve got another method you like I’d love to hear it!

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

Have you read?