How to Finish a Knitted Seam

The mattress stitch creates almost invisible finished seams.

Every stitch is important when knitting, but a poorly finished seam stands out more than anything else. If you've spent hours, days or even weeks on your project ensuring that every stitch is perfect, you're going to want a neatly finished seam. One of the best ways to accomplish this is with the traditional mattress stitch.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn needle appropriate to the weight of your yarn
• Yarn identical to the yarn used to knit the pieces to be joined

Instructions

Finishing the Seam

1. Place the two pieces of knitting to be joined on a surface that is both flat and hard, with the right sides of both pieces facing up. Line them up so that they are even and the seam you intend to create can be sewn without having to move either piece. Place the knitted pieces so that the edge where you will start the seam is closest to your body.

2. Thread the yarn needle with a length of yarn at least four times as long as the seam you intend to create.

3. Use the tip of the yarn needle to pick up the first stitch of the piece on your left, inserting the needle into the right side or top of the knitted piece. Start at the bottom of the knitted piece and work your way up for easier stitching. Slip the needle between the rows of stitching. This should allow you to catch the invisible stitch that lies toward the back side of the knitted piece. Pull the yarn through the invisible stitch, being careful to leave a tail of approximately 4 inches.

4. Insert the needle into the first invisible stitch on the knitted piece on your right side. Pull the yarn through the stitch, but leave it loose enough to slip the needle through easily. If you pull it tight, you will make it harder to finish the seam.

5. Pass the needle through the second invisible stitch on the knitted piece to your left. Pull the yarn through, again leaving it just a little loose.

6. Make a few more stitches, moving from the piece on your right to the piece on your left until you have completed six stitches. Pass the 4-inch tail of yarn up through the loops and pull the stitches tight to keep the end from unravelling.

7. Continue your stitches, moving from left to right and back again until you reach the top of the seam. You may pull each stitch tight since the tail has been secured.

8. When you reach the top of the seam, thread your needle back through six to eight stitches. You may have to loosen the stitches to get the yarn needle through cleanly. Pull the yarn through and tighten the stitches again. This will help secure the end and prevent unravelling.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful not to over-tighten your stitches in order to avoid puckering.

• For a cleaner look, use your yarn needle to weave in the yarn ends at both the beginning and end of the seam. They can be easily hidden inside the knitted stitches.

References

• "The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques"; Nancie M. Wiseman; 2002.