FAQ....Is your STOCKINETTE CURLING? Here's the solution! - Page 3

Ingrid · 11-23-2005, 09:26 PM

You've got the right idea. Knit the first and last five rows or so, depending on your yarn, and always knit the first five and last five of every row with your stockinette stitch in between.

FallenAngel · 11-25-2005, 12:24 AM

Thanks, Ingrid! It worked

Ingrid · 11-25-2005, 12:29 AM

knitting4babybear · 12-05-2005, 01:07 AM

Is three at the beginning and end of each row enough? I see 5 mentioned - is that the drop dead "no less than that number"...?

And is that why my scarf with only three knit stitches on the beg and end of still folds - even if it's not curling? :rollseyes:

It's folding. Like a little knitted corrugated box. It looks REALLY...er...special.

amy · 12-06-2005, 12:09 AM

Yeah k4bb, 3 stitches isn't enough to prevent sides from curling. And even 5 stitches can look like it wants to curl in, if you know what I mean. Even if it stays in place, the stockinette can look puckered, like it's trying to curl.

Stockinette's tendency to curl is VERY strong. I personally tend to just avoid stockinette altogether for scarves, unless it's knit in the round.

If you like the stockinette look, a similar effect is to make a scarf in k1p1 ribbing. It lays flat and looks very stockinette-ish, since it contracts and you end up looking at all V's. Rather like a reversible stockinette. But you have to like working in ribbing, or want to get good practice at it.

Izze · 12-08-2005, 04:55 AM

I already have half of my scarf done with stockinette stitching, and have to finish by Thursday of next week at the latest so I can't restart, and it's curling width wise.

If I just crochet a border onto it, will it make it stop curling?

Ingrid · 12-08-2005, 05:11 AM

I can't say for sure, but I don't think it will. I think the scarf will take the edging with it, because of the direction of the stitches. I could be wrong, but that's my gut feeling.

knitting4babybear · 12-09-2005, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by amy

Yeah k4bb, 3 stitches isn't enough to prevent sides from curling. And even 5 stitches can look like it wants to curl in, if you know what I mean. Even if it stays in place, the stockinette can look puckered, like it's trying to curl.

Stockinette's tendency to curl is VERY strong. I personally tend to just avoid stockinette altogether for scarves, unless it's knit in the round.

If you like the stockinette look, a similar effect is to make a scarf in k1p1 ribbing. It lays flat and looks very stockinette-ish, since it contracts and you end up looking at all V's. Rather like a reversible stockinette. But you have to like working in ribbing, or want to get good practice at it.

Thank you, Amy. I knew I wasn't crazy!

I think I looked at afghan patterns and just assumed they were transferrable to anything knitted flat. I am learning so much about fabric and dimensions and stuff here! Cool Stuff!

KnittingKeepsMeSane · 12-17-2005, 02:05 AM

This is what I'm facing. This is a Christmas gift for a family member who lives a bagillion miles away. Pattern is

row 1: k5, k5, p1, k9, p1, k5, k5
row 2: k5, p5, k1, p9, k1, p5, k5
row 3: k5, k5, p1, c6f, k3, p1, k5, k5
row 4: repeat row 2
row 5 & 6: repeat row 1 & 2
row 7: k5, k5, p1, k3, c6b, p1, k5, k5
row 8: repeat row 2

this constitutes the whole pattern and it folds at edging between the outermost k5, and the repeating p5, k5 to form the stockinette? What to do? I've used a k5 border before and not had this problem. The yarn is red heart 75% acrylic, 25% rayon.

thanks,

Heather

susieface · 12-19-2005, 08:23 PM

I have just completed a scarf in stockingette stitch and the edges are curled in. I realize it is too late now to do different stitches on each edges to prevent this from occuring. But what can I do now to flatten it out? Would crocheting around the edge help? Any other solutions that you know of?