Attached Edge Finishing Technique – For Crazy Knitters

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An elegant attached finishing edge technique for your knitting project. It could be anything – a sweater, gloves or even socks.

I finished the top-down raglan sweater. I didn’t want to use ribbing or other edges that I used before. Instead, I came up with an idea to attach a double stockinette edge. It works great as a substitution for ribbing. It won’t stretch and hold shape well. Most of all, I love the look of it – simply elegant.

To demonstrate this sweater finishing edge technique I am attaching it to the sleeves. Exactly the same way I attached it to the neckline.

Tools:

1. Crochet hook;
2. Piece of scrap yarn;
3. Pair of knitting needles (use slightly smaller needle size than used on ready garment);
4. Working yarn;
5. Two stitch markers.

Knitting Techniques:

1. Provisional cast-on;
2. Stockinette stitch;
3. Mattress stitch;
4. Double stockinette.

Knitting techniques to make attached finishing edge

I created a detailed video tutorial where you can watch every step in the details.

Provisional cast-on using a crochet hook

I tried different ways (longtail cast-on, Italian cast-on), how to get live stitches back, and, in my opinion, provisional cast-on using a crochet hook works less confusing at the end.

First of all, decide how wide your edge will be. In my case, I have 11 stitches to get 1.5cm (0.59”) wide edge. Of course, in total 11 knit stitches would be 3cm (1.18”), but we divide by two because of double stockinette.

VIDEO – Provisional cast-on using a crochet hook

Double stockinette edge

Double stockinette is a great pattern to get a good-looking edge on both sides. Usually, the pattern says to cast-on even amount of stitches, but I want it to start and finish with a knit stitch, so, I cast-on 11 stitches. Here is how my pattern looks like:

1. Set-up row – K1, * P1, K1*, P1, K1
2.row – * Slip 1 with yarn in front as if to purl, K1*, Slip 1 with yarn in front as if to purl
3. row –  K1, *Slip 1 with yarn in front as if to purl, K1*

Question: How long edge to knit?
Answer: Rows count are the same as bind-off stitches on the ready garment you want to attach it to. For example, my sweater’s sleeve is 60 stitches wide, which means,  finishing edge is 60 rows long.

Getting live stitches back

Joining tube-edge with stockinette stitch

This is the trickiest part because now it is time to join both ends with a Kitchener stitch. I split the stitches by 6 and 5 on each needle.

By joining both ends with a Kitchener stitch, we create 1 extra row. Don’t tighten it up! This extra row compensates the row we unravelled to get live stitches back.

Attaching finishing edge to the ready garment using a mattress stitch

Now, when the edge is ready, let’s attach it finally!

Using a mattress stitch, attach it carefully to the ready garment.

Now you can apply this attached edge finishing technique in your work! I hope you liked the tutorial. Please share!

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