How to Finish Stretch Knit Neckline
If you have knitted a pullover sweater or shell, chances are you want to retain the stretchy quality of the neckline for easy wearing. Adding an inch of ribbing around the outer edge will accomplish this. Create the stretch knit neckline after the rest of the garment has been sewn together, as this will make the process simpler than trying to do each piece individually. The neckline can even be done in a contrasting color to give the item of clothing some panache.
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Instructions
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1
Pick up the stitches around your garment's neckline with the circular knitting needles. Do this by sliding the point of one of the needles through the loop created by each cast-off stitch around the neckline. Allow the new stitches to rest on the flexible cord that connects the two knitting needles, as this will leave enough room for the incoming stitches. Do this until all the neckline's stitches are on the circular needles.
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2
Cast on an extra stitch by slipping a loop of yarn onto the right-hand needle. Pick this loop up with the left-hand needle and knit the first two stitches together. This will join your stitches together in a seamless circle.
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3
Knit a ribbed pattern until the neckband reaches your intended length, such as an inch or an inch and a half. Experiment with ribbing patterns until you find one that suits your garment well. Some examples include knit two, purl two, or knit three, purl one. Continue your chosen pattern until you reach the chosen length above the point at which you started.
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4
Bind off the stitches using a ribbed pattern, as this adds greater flexibility to the stitches. For example, knit one, purl one, then lift the knitted stitch over the purled stitch with the left-hand knitting needle. Reverse the pattern and continue until all the stitches are off the knitting needles.
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5
Knot your final stitch and trim away the excess yarn.
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Tips & Warnings
If your neckline is a V-shaped neck, do not connect the stitches in Step 2. Instead, begin from one point of the V and work your way around to the opposite side when picking up stitches. Sew the two sides together after casting off.
References
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