Knit & Chat | pros and cons of seamed garments

[@Preciousknits7916]

You can always tryon pieced garmets with using stitch markers by pinning it where you would potentially placing the seam so if something isn't long enough you can adjust that specific piece since its already been blocked individually. Then you'll have that try on picture. Thanks always an enjoywble watch in the morning.

[@balancedskein]

Really good tip! Thanks for watching 😁

[@marymitchell6733]

Glad you addressed this. I prefer seamed garments for the structural integrity you mentioned. Additionally, if I am making something with a strong visual vertical pattern, I always seam. When knitting in the round, the spiraling can cause that vertical pattern to torque or lean, which is annoying at best.

[@RueRiposte]

Great points, and so nice to hear favourable comments about seamed garments 👌. I only flat knit seamed sweaters and clothing. I like sewing the project together. I've never considered any of the "cons" mentioned to be cons. But - my one con would be the lack of instruction for flat knitting patterns. Patterns can be converted (with a few exceptions of course) yet they rarely are. That really limits options for those of us who hate circular needles 🧶.

[@deborahsmith-parnaby8146]

I started out knitting pieced projects, and I now knit seamless almost exclusively. When I did seamed, I left my tails long enough to sew the pieces together so it cut back on some of the work.

[@margueritefoley1262]

You make some excellent points. I have had the frustration of unseamed garments stretching to the point of being unwearable. I also really think that for many new knitters a pieced sweater is much simpler to understand and make. As you said, there can be a LOT going on at the start of a top down seamless garment. Sewing together may not be the most fun for many knitters, but it’s not rocket science either.

[@avah3643]

This was a really thoughtful video! What really throws me off about seamed garments is that the ability to make changes once the project is completed is a lot harder. I get so anxious thinking that if I knit a seamed garment, and the arms stretch out, or the ribbing gets dirty, etc, it becomes so much harder to go back and alter the garment because of the seams. With a seamless garment I could just do some kitchener stitch or cut out a bind off, and that is possible with seamed garments as well, but I would be worried about how neat it would look.

[@balancedskein]

Yeah that's a really good point! I do appreciate having that option with seamless garments

[@stephaniewilliams8687]

I don’t mind seaming. I want to learn as many knitting skills as I can because I want to make my garments last as much as possible. Good list of pros and cons. Happy Knitting 🧶

[@balancedskein]

That's a great mindset to have!

[@knittingthestash]

So nice to see you, Kendra! You make some excellent points :) as always. Love the new cardigan!

[@balancedskein]

Thanks, Melissa!

[@DQDebra]

Those were all good pros and cons. I naturally avoid seamed garments, but I want to do one now. I’ve been looking at a few sweaters I love but was about to pass up because they are seamed. Time to go for it.

[@selfishknitter]

This was a great list, Kendra! I have long thought that seamed garments would give me a better fit, but I haven’t been able to get myself over the mental hurdle to try it. Your list of pros is giving me another push. My favorite con on your list is “Ugly WIP Stage.” 😂

[@balancedskein]

I'm so glad to hear that! I hope your seamed garment adventure is fruitful. Thanks for watching ❤️

[@mariecarter3138]

Great episode. I learned to knit sweaters using seamed patterns. It has taught me how to be precise (those seamed armholes!) and enjoy purling, but I do love knitting seamless garments now, though they are a lot to manage as they grow!

[@balancedskein]

Yes! The seamed set in sleeve was my arch nemesis a couple years ago lol

[@QueensYarnBoutique]

I just finished a seamed crochet sweater using the mattress stitch. I was so tired afterwards. LOL It certainly gave the sweater more structure. I would have prefer to be able to try it on as I go though. And I also had 3 millions ends to weave in. LOL However, the fit turned out just fine.

[@Reepecheep]

I love weaving ends and blocking! I imagine I'd like seaming. Many of your cons sounded like pros to me! Convinced me to try my first seamed sweater!!!

[@balancedskein]

@@Reepecheep yay, i love that! I hope you enjoy the process!

[@SarahJo]

This was super interesting, thank you for making it! I'm someone who needs a project I like enough to get past my hesitation at any new knitting thing, and I finally found the one that's going to get me to knit a seamed garment, so it's nice to have a little more of an idea what to expect, even if it's kinda far down my queue

[@balancedskein]

Nice! I hope you have a positive experience when you do get around to making it 🤞🏾😁

[@SarahJo]

@@balancedskein Thank you!

[@themakersjournal]

I love that I get notifications of new videos coming up 😊 I’ll be so keen to watch this tomorrow arvo with my knitting 👌🏼

[@balancedskein]

Thank you for your support ❤️❤️

[@sunnyw4148]

Perfect timing. I am swatching for a seamed cotton/wool cardigan. I am looking forward to something that will fit better.

[@balancedskein]

Yay! Good luck with that project 🤞🏾

[@topstitchgirl]

Before I begin, i have to say that I started knitting during the seamed garment era, so today, I am agnostic about ot. I agree with most of your points, but there are a few where I differ. I'm the weirdo who enjoys weaving in ends as part of the knitting process, so seaming isn't an issue, especially since mastering the mattress stitch, so consistency isn't an issue for me either. I don't have second piece syndrome, but! I do knit two sleeves at a time, and that helps a lot. I feel you regarding purling being slower, especially since I now do the Norwegian purl, but I had a project that had a super obvious rowing out, so that is why I switched.

[@balancedskein]

I think it's awesome you love weaving ends! There is something very satisfying about it. Thanks for watching 😁

[@nstyle4]

Great podcast and good info :)

[@Practically_Inspired]

I don’t mind seaming. I do get frustrated at the end of seamless projects when I’m trying to manage a massive project going round and round. I’ll keep doing both types of projects though 😊

[@balancedskein]

Same here. Love having the variety of both options. Thanks for watching 😁

[@Homegrownknits]

Lovely video! Some great points. I’m considering making the pitch coat, might be a *bit* ambitious for a first seamed garment 😅 buuut I saw yours on Instagram and it looked amazing!

[@balancedskein]

Ohhh it is a lovely pattern, totally worth the effort! If you get stuck, I can try to help 😁

[@m1rknit]

I LOVE this episode 🎉

[@balancedskein]

I'm so glad to hear that. Thanks for watching! 😁

[@CountanceD]

I enjoy seamed garments too. My concern is I might forget any modifications and all my pieces could be different lengths. I like to have lots of different projects going (and am horrible at keeping notes), because you never know when one of your projects needs to be thrown into the naughty corner. 😅

[@balancedskein]

Oof yeah that can be rough. I'm only okay at taking notes, but I generally focus on one large project at a time so I tend to be clued in on what's going on at any point 😅