Every neckline should be as tidy as the one on the right. Unfortunately, most are written like the one on the left. Since I can't travel to every corner of the world to teach this in my European Finishing class, I'm posting instructions for the Proper Cocoknits Neckline for every knitter to use and enjoy
If you are leaving your neckline raw, these techniques are a must. Even if you are picking up stitches to finish the neckline, look how much easier picking up stitches will be around the neckline of the sample to the right. I have worked this sample in Stockinette stitch but the technique works just as well when working in stitch patterns.
Comments
Hi Sarah,
Use this tutorial in conjunction with the pattern for the sweater you are knitting. Julie is telling you how to adapt the pattern to avoid the stair steps, but you should use the instructions from your pattern to tell you how many to bind off, where to begin knitting, etc. Given that this is your first time, you are probably best to follow the designer’s instructions for the left and right sides of the neck, with Julie’s instructions and pictures to clarify how it is done and allow you to bind off more neatly.
Julie does each side individually, so check your pattern to see if it tells you to do them at the same time with two balls of yarn. You may want to do them one at a time, starting with the right front.
Thankyou so much for your instructions. I am not an experienced knitter and about to get to the point where I start shaping the neck on my first sweater. This may seem like a stupid question but, it appears there’s an extra row on the second side shaped. Does this matter and why not start with the right side facing to even up the number of rows? Many thanks.
I was so pleased to find this tutorial online. The instructions were clearly and simply stated and the photographs added to the clarity of each instruction. The example used “BO 3 sts once, 2 sts once, 1 st 3 times” was exactly what my pattern required me to do and I was at an absolute loss on how to proceed. You can imagine my delight in finding this guidance online.
Hi Sam, Yes, this will work fine in garter stitch. Be sure to bind off in the knit stitch on the right side and purl on the wrong side, so you will get the same “horizontal equivalent to a vertical selvage stitch” that Julie mentions here.
Does this same technique work for a sweater done in garter stitch? I am a new knitter and experimenting with my first neckline. The way my pattern outlines shaping the neck, I get the step ladder look, and yours is much prettier!
This tutorial saved the neck on my first sweater. I was stuck on the instruction (knit both sides) but I was able to use your tutorial to understand how to proceed and adapt the instructions to my pattern. Thank you so much!
I really enjoy coming back to this post and reading it for my future projects. I wanted to tell you “thank you” for such a detailed tutorial and very well made.
Thank you so much and God keep blessing your job.
Very nice and clear instructions!!
Thank you
Hi Doina, You shouldn’t be binding off the same stitch 3 times. I would suggest trying the instructions once more and if that doesn’t work, please email us at knit@cocoknits.com and we’ll be happy to help you figure it out.
I just tried this and I am having problems with the enlarged bias BO stitches especially when I have to BO 1 stitch 3 times . I am afraid this will leave holes when I pick up these for the neck band. Any help would be appreciated – as the pictures in the tutorial show a perfect neck line with no enlarged BOs.
Finally after 60 years of knitting a tutorial that will make my necklines beautiful. I can’t wait to use it
As someone who freestyle knits regularly, I have always been afraid to make a sweater. I recently made it to the neckline of my fair isle sweater and was at a complete loss. Your tutorial is one of the most thorough and useful knitting tutorials I have seen in a long time. Greatly appreciate your attention to detail! The technique described above has made my project look extremely professional.
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