Eek! Messed up steeks

21 years ago

Well, I'm making a knitted vest and it's the first time I've ever done steeks. Of course I decided to do some research on steeks now that I'm nearly done with the thing, and discovered I did them wrong! :( I guess you're supposed to actually knit the extra (steek) stitches, right? I thought they meant to cast on new stitches each row, sort of like a place holder, and drop the ones I cast on the row before. So now I have a long thread gap between the 2 sides of each steek.

I have too much time invested in this to not finish it, so I guess I'll just "punt" when it comes time to cut open the steek.

Thanks for listening - just needed to vent - kicking myself for not checking it out at the beginning!

Donna

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

anne_b
21 years ago
Been there, done that - you can rescue your vest yet! Sew the steek seams at the very edge of your pattern, or (in worst case) 1/2 stitch onto it. Believe me, when it is done, only YOU will see the difference.

Here's a little tip for steekers: Cast on the extra steek stitches - I use 3 - and PURL them on every row. It shows you exactly where to sew your seam, straight and true.
sheilajoyce_gw
21 years ago
Steeks, something new to me. Is this what we call a dart in sewing?
Related Professionals
Crestview Furniture & Accessories · Richmond Furniture & Accessories · Concord Furniture & Accessories · Portsmouth Furniture & Accessories · Lubbock Furniture & Accessories · Florence Interior Designers & Decorators · Magnolia Interior Designers & Decorators · Mountain Home Interior Designers & Decorators · Longview Interior Designers & Decorators · Barnstable Interior Designers & Decorators · Brainerd Interior Designers & Decorators · Victoria Interior Designers & Decorators · Morgan City Home Stagers · Stockton Home Stagers · Odessa Home Stagers
anne_b
21 years ago
A steek is a method to help you knit garments in the round, then cut them up to make cardigans. It involves casting on a number of extra stitches where you want the front opening to be (anywhere from 3-7 stitches) and knitting or purling them plain as you go up the body. Mark the middle of your steek stitches, then machine stitch on either side, and cut in the middle.
Of course there are personal variations: some knitters do not bother to sew the seams if they are working with pure wool. They feel the wool will "felt" and not unravel. I always stitch, for security (mine!) Others crochet instead of machine sew. Whatever works . . .
The raw edges are then covered with edgings.
sheilajoyce_gw
21 years ago
I have trouble seeing why you would not just knit the pieces according to the shape you want. Then sew them together. This sounds like more work. What am I missing here?
anne_b
21 years ago
This method of knitting is very common in Norway where I was born. It makes it easy to knit the old patterns with many colors, and you never have to purl.
Teh_Dkmagby
21 years ago
You're using crochet to make steak?! No wonder where you went wrong, lass!
msmeow
Original Author
21 years ago
Sheila, for this particular pattern I'm making, I would have been just as happy to knit the "usual" way by making separate pieces & sewing them togeher! It's getting kind of heavy to have the whole vest on the needles. But I've done enough Fair Isle type designs to see where it would be a lot easier to keep the pattern correct and the yarns untangled if you didn't have to turn at the end of every row. Plus you don't have to worry about getting the pattern lined up over seams. And now I know the correct way to do a steek, so that will help for next time! :)

Donna