Bond Machine Knitting - Seaming Techniques
From: annduncan@iname.com (ann)
Subject: [BOND] Kitchner stitch
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 22:01:49 GMT
Kitchner stitch is weaving the open stitches together to make it look
like it was done in one piece. It is used only for the 'working' edge
of a piece - where the stitches are still open
Various seam styles are used to provide different finishes and
support along the seam. The kitchner stitch is "soft" - just like the
fabric - and will stretch. So you wouldn't want to use it for
shoulder seams if you had a stretchy fabric that could be pulled out
of shape by the weight of the sleeves. The advantage is it is flat
and completely invisible.
The more common alternative for the shoulders is to bind off, then
seam the bound off edges to the inside. The bound edges provide
support to prevent the weight of the garment from pulling the shoulder
out of shape.
Still another alternative is to rehang the facing sides of the pieces
together and knit a row across both stitches, then bind off those
stitches. This leaves a join with more give than the bind off-then
seam, and less than the kitchner.
A blind seam is invisible from the front, but leaves the last stitch
from each piece folded to the back so therefore has extra bulk. But
it is very good for providing support and strength while still being
somewhat elastic.
I have also done a variation on the blind technique using only the
outer edge of a stitch that leaves a flat, nearly invisible seam. It
is stretchier than the blind seam so wouldn't be appropriate for a
high stress area. I used it to join the sections of a sweater to make
the front and back big enough. (This was before I got my second
machine to make a double bed.)
If I hadn't been doing a pattern stitch that would have shown the
join, I would have used the seam-as-you-go because it leave a very
nice, flat, almost invisible join. And the added advantage is it's
done once it comes off the machine! (I REALLY hate taking as long to
seam as it took me for the sweater!)
While I haven't tried it myself (other than experimenting) you can
also use the method of rehanging the stitches, knitting a row, then
binding off when you are finishing edges. What I found in my
experiments that fine gauges - with high number of rows per inch -
were too tight to make this an easy solution. The heavier yarns -
using KP 3, 4 - had enough give to rehang.
Hope that helps!
Ann Duncan - The Computer Tutor
annduncan@iname.com
wanda@mclv.net
aduncan@mclv.net
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Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 13:40:13 -0500
From: Jody Tapley
Subject: Re: [BOND] sewing up sweater
I do all my seams on the machine itself. Hang the first piece back on
your needles with the right side facing you. Push behind the latches.
Hang the second piece on the same needles and push behind the latches.
Then knit one row, and bind off. Presto! This makes a much nicer seam than
any I've been able to do by hand or any other method.
Hope that helps.
Jody in Granbury, Texas
jodylt@itexas.net
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Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 14:15:47 -0500
From: "Dean Yotter"
Subject: Re: [BOND] sewing up sweater
Pam do you know how to do the mattress stitch and also called something
else? That's how you sew up the seams. Also you can backstitch the seams
and also a crochet backstitch. Hope I helped you. Do you have the book
that came with your Bond. It has the instructions on sweater finishing.
Betty in West kansas
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Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 10:57:51 EDT
From: Munderliz@aol.com
Subject: [BOND] Joining Technique
I have a joining technique to recommend (as a "graduate" of Camp Iwannaknit
Super Beginner School, I think I'm "entitled")..... The baby blanket is knit
in 3 panels. As I was knitting the left panel (when looking at the Bond), I
put an eyelet one stitch from the edge every 4th row on the left side edge.
When knitting the center panel, every 4th row also, on the right side edge,
use a 2-prong transfer tool, reach through the eyelet hole of panel #1, remove
2 edge stitches from the needles and pull them through the eyelet hole and
rehang them on their needles. Be sure to make another eyelet hole on the left
side edge of this row also for joining to panel #3. Then knit the row as
usual. This makes a seam that looks like braiding (a little) and is very easy
to do. It's especially nice with the 2 different colors on right and left
side.
Liz
Bremerton WA
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Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2000 17:56:50 -0600
From: stitch@ruraltel.net (Shannon and Eric R.)
Subject: [BOND] alternative joing method
Recently I purchased an out of print book on afghan by Alles Hutchinson.
This book is really great and has some wonderful tips and patterns. She
calls the joining most of us use the Hairpin Lace join. She gives
another alternative call the Big Knit Stitch that my friend Marilee has
tried out and it is so pretty and less open. You will be picking up
loops just as you would with the braided join but instead of picking up
two from one side panel and pull two from the other panel you do this:
pick up one loop from the panel on the right and one loop from the panel
on the left (two loops on hook); again pick up one loop from the panel
on the right and one loop from the panel on the left and this time pull
those two loops through the two on the hook. Continue picking up one
from each side and pull through the two on the hook.
This produces a really pretty join that looks like and oversized knit
stitch going up the strip. What makes this really neat for us (we are
working on Friendship afghans) is that the join is almost identical to
the mock cable stitch! I could probably get a couple of pictures put up
if you guys need to "see" how it comes together. I was really excited
to find something different :-)
Shannon aka Quilty stitch@ruraltel.net Otis KS USA
Taking time to stitch isn't a luxury ..... it's a necessity!
Check out our Bond Club Friendship Afghan page!
http://www.homestead.com/BondClub/FriendshipAfghans.html
Author : Steph Thornton.
Last modified on : 8th February 2000.
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