Steeks with Knit Facing Tutorial | Purl Soho

For an updated version of this tutorial, click here: • Steek With Knit Facing...
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[@Chantwizzle]

The last part for the bind off is super easy with a crochet hook too. It gives a nice edge as well. I just find it's less fiddly.

[@anavelaeshomestead]

I've been knitting for over 50+ years and this is the best steek method I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing.

[@published1789]

Something I could have read over and over and never understood without the demo. Thank you for the video tutorial.

[@rosannazerafa3422]

I did read it repeatedly but the video makes it easy!

[@jennywalker9572]

Thank you so much! This has just saved a couple of months worth of knitting. Perfect, simple and just brilliant.

[@indyw3458]

I’ve been knitting for decades, I’ve never seen this technique but it’s fascinating. I’m very open to knew skills in knitting. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@eviedun]

Wow! You have just amazed me. I am 69-years-old and have been knitting since I was 6 or 7. I have never seen this process before. Is it something new? I was born and raised in England (now live in the USA) and have never come across this technique. I can't wait to share this with fellow knitters. Thank you for the video.

[@latetotheparty4785]

Yvonne Dunmore Right! How did I miss this? I’ve been knitting 53 years, this makes me wonder what else is out there in knitland I don’t know about yet!

[@Jen-cx9sf]

I’ve been knitting for decades, fair isle, Aran, circular needles you name it but this I have never seen!! What is the purpose of steeking.

[@Jen-cx9sf]

Found it!! Now I understand what steeking is for. Watching the video without sound so not to wake the hubby.

[@Reuben-]

Thank you for this demonstration. I see that I can incorporate this into my knitting practice by making dishcloths knitted in the round and then steeked! Thank you!

[@d.vaders1178]

So clear and understandable. Thank you from Seattle.

[@joanneyoung1081]

Thank you this makes steeking clear and uniform..

[@amarasharon]

Such a great new technique--made understandable with your wonderful clear tutorial. Thank you very much!

[@HeikeWie]

This is by far the clearest and most comprehensible tutorial on steeking I have ever seen. Thank you for that. Does it also work that way with stranded or Fair Isle knitting?

[@deloreschildress5569]

I was terrified of this method. But watching how to do it I think I will have to do some swatches and practice. This video made it less intimidating. Thank you

[@trueamnisias]

Very neat and tidy, thank you!

[@billygordon4522]

What a great tutorial! Thank you so much.

[@anacoba3210]

Hola ! Thank you so much for this video! What a great way of doing steeks.

[@normamurphy2827]

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!!

[@PaulaSimoes67]

Amazing!!! Thank you so much 💓

[@susanarodriguez9830]

Marvelous tutorial 😘 thank you 😊

[@cherspann]

Wow! I almost had a heart attack when you started cutting... How informative! Thank you for sharing!

[@Serenity-fu8xz]

That was so cool beautiful beautiful beautiful

[@SusanShriverHowell]

Very god tutorial :) Thank you for posting.

[@lizabethtaylor3178]

Great video tutorial

[@BarbBarra908]

Brilliant!!

[@chfknits]

Can I then pick up stitches for a button band? It seems like it might be awkward to pick up through all the layers. Thank you for the video, I've watched it several times and I'm kind of delighted every time to see how nicely the edge looks.

[@sokirasden6278]

Maybe you can pick up at the edge of the gray? No need to go through all the layers

[@eveseif]

this technique makes steeks less scary , thanks

[@yumagirl55]

Is the end result of this a flat piece of fabric? Perhaps a scarf. Is this a swatch or an actual pattern? Thank you

[@KAR-5011]

Can this be done with acrylic yarn? Boy that is amazing? Thanks for sharing this??

[@MirellaDiFazio]

Buongiorno 💋 Bravissima 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@telephonesnow]

What are the scissors used in this tutorial? They look amazing.

[@lillyofthevalley2289]

Hello, I have discovered your video just today and I must say, it is EXTRAORDINARY, WONDERFUL! What a very tricky version to do the steek!👏👍 I've never seen that before. And no more thousands of yarn pieces all over😆. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!💞 Then in autumn I will knit a jacket in Fair Isle technic with your so amazing method! By rhe way, there is another thing. If I have finished one or two colours in one row and I need them no more - what to do to be sure NOT to have thousands of yarn ends sewing invisibly??? I'-ve learned to weave them in directly but the result is not ever very nice. Perhaps you have an idea. Thank you so much, have a good time and all the best ever! Heartly GittaLloreley from Germany🍀😇😇🍀🌷🌷 Sorry, where did YOU come from, UK or USA?☺

[@kitomad7357]

How would I apply this to a 6 foot long tube? I haven't started this panel of the blanket yet but I'm making a king size blanket.

[@carolynpounsett7377]

Ooh how exciting. I have a piece of colourwork that I want to knit in the round and then open up to put in a frame. I am guessing this technique would be how to do it.

[@PurlSoho]

That sounds like a great idea!

[@NarakuHater132]

This technique is amazing! Thank you so much for posting this. I have a question though; I know many steeks are usually (an traditionally) done with wool fiber yarn since wool's molecular structure is built to grab and felt to itself so it wouldn't unravel so easily or at all when cut, would this technique is okay to use with any fiber yarn. By looking at how it is secured down at the fold there before the "almost three-needle bind-off" styled technique with the facing yarn and the folded column, I would think it would hold either way but I just wanted to see if you all or anyone had any feedback or an opinion on this topic. Thank you!

[@NarakuHater132]

Thank you so much for writing me back! Your insight is very much appreciated and I have been trying to figure out how I would like to try this technique out for myself. It's genius! :D I may just have to try experimenting with the technique using slipperier/non-wool yarns. I just wanted to see if you had any insight before I did so. When I get to trying it, I will post back on here to share what I did and how it looked! Thanks again, Laura! Have a nice day!

[@Ravencall]

I have never steeked before. The only method I have read about is the Norwegian method using a sewing machine. Yours is a very attractive method but certainly must require forethought and the addition of stitches to your design.

[@PurlSoho]

Hi Alison, thanks for writing in! Yes, this method of steeking does require some planning beforehand, but we think the finished look makes it all worthwhile!

[@lamerazure1617]

Brilliant! How do you add button holes now?

[@MrsAChery]

I imagine you would have to pick up stitches and knit a button band on after what is done on the video.

[@runaaufbrennen7593]

Hi there! Great technique here 😍 when you say to use a smaller needle for the facings, how much smaller would you suggest in comparison to the project needle? One size smaller? Two?

[@PurlSoho]

Hello, that's a great question, and it actually depends! The most important thing to consider is that you'll need to use a facing yarn and needle that create a stitch gauge equal to the row gauge of the main fabric. This will take some swatching to figure out, as it will be different between different knitters!

[@soniaguzman762]

What if you have a pullover that you bought in a store but think it would look better as a cardigan. Can it be steeked?

[@martasullivan3261]

If this is for a sweater front and you want to be able to button it up, how would you add buttonholes?

[@sokirasden6278]

I'd imagine that you need to create buttonholes twice on the steek on each side, and once on the knitted facing on each side. At this point, maybe a loop + button closure, a sewn zipper, or snaps would be better options?

[@sokirasden6278]

Actually, another comment mentions picking up a separate button band at the edge after you finish all this. That would make way more sense for buttonholes haha! Also it would be possible to only do the side with the button holes, since the other one is stable enough to sew buttons onto

[@bowdencable7094]

Been searching and searching, are there any adjustments to steeking garter stitch?

[@PurlSoho]

Hello! I've never heard of steeking garter stitch, since it's easier to just knit garter stitch flat in the first place, rather than knitting it in the round and then steeking. I'd recommend seeing if there's a way to knit your project flat to start, but if steeking is the only way forward, then you can likely use the same process as you would for stockinette!

[@connienewbold6520]

Too bad I hate purling so much (my reason for steeking in the first place) that the thought of purling four rows the length of my sweater for the facing makes me resist this beautiful method. I'll try it for a baby sweater though.

[@PurlSoho]

Hi Connie! Glad you're willing to give this technique a try!

[@AD-uw3xs]

Is this recommended with synthetic yarns, too?

[@PurlSoho]

Yes, this will work with synthetic yarns!

[@AD-uw3xs]

@@PurlSoho thanks for your feedback!

[@judyoneal7887]

I’ve heard steering can only be done with wool. Is this true?

[@PurlSoho]

Animal proteins like wool are best suited for steeking because the fibers have the ability to bind together, making the process a bit smoother. It's not impossible to steek with other fibers, like linen or cotton, but certain additional finishing steps have to be used to prevent unraveling. A healthy curiosity and a good swatch never stopped any of us from trying!

[@charleskuehne8916]

but what about button holes?

[@PurlSoho]

Hi Charles! Can you clarify if you mean how to steek for button holes are how to steek if your garment already has button holes? Typically a pattern that includes a steek should provide instruction for how to manage the button holes - we're happy to help with either case!