In this video Julie will teach you how to add 1 x 1 ribbing to a V-neck using mitered decreases. She'll demonstrate on an Emma Version A, but you could apply this technique to any sweater. We like to add this to patterns when the neckline is more open than we hoped. It's also a great way to clean up the look of a neckline if things got a bit messy.
First, pick up the neckline stitches and knit one round, beginning at the left shoulder/back join. Be sure you have an even number of stitches total by decreasing on the knit round if necessary. We have two tutorials to help you with this: How to Pick-up Stitches Around a Neckline and How to Pick-up Stitches for a Button Band or Collar.
Note: Julie decreased a lot of stitches in the knit round to show how drastically (and quickly) you can bring the neckline in. You may want to knit every stitch you pick up, or decrease every 4, 5, or 6 stitches...it is really personal preference about how much you want to bring the neckline in.
Mark the stitch at the bottom center of the V-neck with a hanging marker. Our Split Ring Markers work well for this (they're what Julie is using in this video).
Count and determine whether you have an odd or even number of stitches between the beginning of the round at the left shoulder and the marked center stitch. Be sure there is an equal number of stitches on the opposite side of the V-neck. If the number is odd, start your 1 x 1 ribbing with a purl. If it's even, start with a knit. This will ensure that your center stitch is a knit. Work one complete round in rib. Begin next round, stopping one stitch before the marked center stitch.
Now it's time to work the mitered decrease (MD). This is in our glossary if you want to find the full description.
The first two stitches on your left needle will be a purl and the center stitch. Slip these two stitches together (as if to knit together) onto your right needle. Knit a stitch, then pull the two slipped stitches over the knit stitch. You've done it! That's the mitered decrease. Now continue in your rib pattern, following the mitered decrease with a knit. You will have three knit stitches in a row; that's okay. The next time you do a decrease it will go back to purl, knit, purl.
Now continue working the rib in the round and using the mitered decrease as much as you'd like. You could decrease every round if you don't intend on adding a wide neckline band. If you're doing a 2" neckline you may prefer to decrease more like every other round.
As you continue working, move the stitch marker up to keep track of the center stitch, and be sure to work the rib stitches as they appear. Every other time you work a mitered decrease, your rib pattern will be thrown off, so knit the knits and purl the purls.
If this look is a bit too formal for you, there are other options for bringing in the neckline. You could pick up the stitches and immediately bind off. You could also crochet around the edges. Just play around with it. Don't feel like you have to throw out a project because a neckline is too open or messy for you - you have options!
Comments
I finally sent an email to you with photos of the jumper (sweater) that I plan to knit and the pattern that is closest to it, but missing the neckband. Appreciate any suggestions you may have now that you a visual! Thanks.
Hi Frances,
If you knit the ribbing back and forth from shoulder to shoulder, you will end up with a corner of ribbing sticking up at each side. You could attach them to the back of the neck, but this may not give you the look you want. Another way to add ribbing only to the front of the v-neck is to pick up stitches all the way around the neck, then use short rows to add ribbing to the front (and avoid the tab of ribbing sticking up at shoulder). You could then bind off in ribbing or otherwise on the back neck. Hope that helps! Feel free to email us at knit@cocoknits.com, including the Cocoknits pattern you are working on.
This is great, thank you! For the pullover that I am going to knit, however, there is no ribbing along the back…is the basic concept the same, with the exception of beginning on one shoulder and picking up along to the other shoulder? Thanks so much for the advice.
Great to hear!
Thankyou so much for your clear and helpful answers! I have gone back to watch the other video and have finally gathered the courage to tackle my new neckline – and it is all working out! your videos are the clearest I have found anywhere. Thanks again!
Hello,
Yes, you are knitting a round after the pick-up and during that round you can decrease as much as necessary. Note that by pick-up, Julie means put the stitches on a needle, but don’t knit them. See the “How to Pick-Up Stitches” tutorials for help with that.
While the total number of stitches around the neckline will be even to give the needed even number for the ribbing, the total number of stitches from the left shoulder, down to the point of the ribbing, and back up to the right shoulder will be odd, to allow for the single knit stitch at the point of the V. This means that the number of stitches on the back neck will need to be odd.
Hope that helps, and feel free to email us at knit@cocoknits.com if you have more questions.
Hi, I have a couple of questions about the video… are you decreasing stitches as you pick up around the neckline, or are you knitting one round before starting the rib pattern? Then when you mentioned the centre stitch, my jumper has an even number so the picked up stitch will be to one side… not in the centre? Thanks so much for your great instructions.
Hi Vera, We’re so glad! Thanks for letting us know. :)
So glad I found your site, I have been trying to find a clear
way to work a mitre at thr front of a sweater. This has
Proved difficult, but when I read your tutorial I understood how to do it as it was clearly demonstrated.
Many thanks
Hi Carol, Julie uses a standard bind-off in pattern (so for 1 × 1 rib, she k1, p1, pulls first stitch over second) for necklines. For the bottom of sweaters and sleeves, she likes Jeny’s Stretchy Bind-off using a much smaller needle. You can see her tutorial here: https://cocoknits.com/blogs/knit-tutorials/how-to-work-jenys-stretchy-bind-off
Very helpful video, thank you. What is your fav cast-off for ribbing on a neckline?
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