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Learn the Right Way to Pick up Stitches for a Button Band

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picking up stitchesOne of the biggest problems knitters have when knitting sweaters is accurately picking up the right number of stitches evenly across the garment when working the button bands on a cardigan (or a neckline, for that matter).

Kelbourne Woolens has a great tutorial on their website all about how to pick up stitches in a way that makes a lot of sense. You need to know your own blocked gauge and, yes, do some math, but it’s not that difficult, and this little bit of work can make your finished garment look so much better.

It even shows you what to do when the math isn’t pretty, which is always a nice feature.

Have any tips for picking up stitches? I’d love to hear them!

[Photo via Kelbourne Woolens.]

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Comments

  1. I like to pick up my stitches with a crochet hook, using a hook that’s about the same diameter as my knitting needle. I collect about 10 stitches at a time on the hook, and then slide them off the back end of the hook onto a knitting needle. If you put the hook OVER the yarn when you make the stitch, rather than under the yarn as you would for a normal crochet stitch, the new stitch will be mounted correctly on the knitting needle.

Have you read?

Summer Headband Knitting Patterns

Some knitters have trouble coming up with projects they can both knit and wear when it’s warm outside. Especially if you’re not ready for garments (thought tank tops and summer tops are great first garment projects!) it might seem like there’s nothing to do when it’s hot outside.

One way to remedy this situation is by knitting headbands. Headbands are great any time of year to keep hair out of your face and make you look a little more pulled together without any effort. Wider headbands double as ear warmers when it gets colder, but skinnier ones are great throughout the year.

A couple of great examples are from designer Elly Donner, who has a set of headband knitting patterns on Ravelry you can buy individually or as an ebook. Homebody, shown here, is worked in garter stitch (the ties are crocheted but you could also use I-cord), while Slipstream uses slipped stitches and garter ridges, and Sounds of Spring has little cables. The patterns use DK weight yarn and are a great way to use a little leftover yarn from another project.

I also recently came across the lovely Plush Braided Headband by Yevgeniya Li. A free pattern on Ravelry, this wider design is covered in lush cables for a sleek and fancy look. It uses worsted weight yarn and you can customize the length for a perfect fit.

Celeste Knitwear’s Spikelet is a simple twisted headband with columns of eyelet lace to keep it from being too heavy. It’s worked flat and sewn together to make the twist, and uses DK weight yarn. It has three sizes available.

This skinny lace headband from Lusi Knits is another cute choice. It calls for fine weight cotton yarn, but you could use heavier yarn if you have it on hand to make a wider headband (or use any fine yarn you have available). It uses ties to customize the fit.

And if you want to go super basic but still really cute, try the easy ring headband from Lulu Pattern. The sample is knit pretty wide, but you could make a narrower version if you want, and the little ring turns it from a plain loop into a bow with very little extra work. It calls for worsted weight yarn but you could also use whatever weight you like for this one to change up the look and size.