Why Stockinette Curls and How to Stop It

[@1943sumrallgirl]

Barbara, you are an excellent teacher. You talk in detail and are very clear on everything you are saying. I am new to knitting and these clear instructions are really helpful.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I am so glad that they are clicking with you. I thoroughly enjoy teaching, but on the video it is tough because so much of teaching is responding to what you get from students, both verbally and non-verbally.

[@cherylshelton1997]

This video helped me soooo much to understand how stitches work. Thank you, Barbara. 👍🏻

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

That is exactly what I wanted to hear!

[@paNdaLaNd311]

Your explanations are always so clear and easy to digest. My understanding of knitting keeps growing with your guidance. Thank you so much!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I am so glad I can be helpful.

[@Smashleigh137]

That dropped stitch trick..!! wow, its like magic

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

It really is!

[@giuliaconcato3747]

Thank you for your wonderful videos! I really appreciate how well you express yourself every time! Thanks again from Italy 😊 ... sometimes I listen to your videos just to hear you talk 😅 ...but I end up learning something new every time😊

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a kind and supportive message. I hope my videos continue to entertain and educate!

[@clvanaken]

I learn something new every time I listen to you. :)

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Yay! That's my goal!

[@cherricarr67]

I just love your channel! You explain everything so thoroughly & you make me understand, so that I'm not afraid to try new things! 😊

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

You can do it! I really hope I can help people realize it's JUST YARN LOL.

[@claragowin2604]

Oh !! That you so much !!. I had made a scarf and put k.p.k.p on edge and it did curl. I now know I should've put a drop st in between. !! Thank you !!! Love your tutorials!!!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

That may work, or maybe you needed it a bit wider. Good luck!

[@witchinthewool9990]

What an eloquent breakdown, thank you!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Glad it was helpful!

[@maggiecoughenour4799]

When I was learning to knit these answers were not available to us of course we are talking the 60’s, this is amazing Maybe I Can learn to love knitting! Thank you!!!!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I hope you can learn to love knitting!

[@virginiawilliams9998]

Now I get it. Thank you, Barbara!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Yay! It is a weird thing about knitting.

[@laurenbeckerle7977]

Love your videos! I've been knitting a while, an advanced knitter I guess, but I always still learn something from your videos! I never thought of dropping stitches at the end to make a ladder! I'm a huge drop stitch fan. Gonna have to put that in a design somewhere.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Let me know how it works for you. It's one of those things I've heard of but haven't tried myself.

[@laurenbeckerle7977]

@@WatchBarbaraKnit I feel like somewhere I saw a picture, maybe on instagram, of a longer cowl/shorter infinity scarf. With a dropped ladder down the middle, then a large button that fit thru the dropped stitches. Looked super cute.

[@ConnyNordlicht]

Dear! Thx! Very well xplained! There are seaaeral kinds to beware from curling, yours is so fine! Be blessed! Yours, Gonny

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Thank you!

[@ooohlaa13]

I love all your ideas for eyelets, drop st, cable and it really helps to have a grasp of the physics involved, your comments are so great and intelligent ... grateful to find you. About 5 years ago I bought some $$$ yarn with sequins, bamboo, acrylic and I put I think 3 sts each side of seed border on st st 10 or 12" and I wanted a knockout fashion statement, made it VERY long, down to the ground. I wasn't paying any attention to it as it grew in length it turned into a tube. When I was done, it was a total small tube. The sparkles made it quirky but I didn't like wearing this snake. Well maybe someone on eBay would like it? No one. I donated it to the local homeless shelter reluctant to let go of my yarn or all that work. SO all your points are well taken and I will experiment gladly now that I understand it better. I love the simplicity of st st but also it shows every tension variance and surely every mistake.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I hope you at least had fun knitting it LOL! I'm happy that you have found this video useful and would love to see your experiments.

[@robertajehn9721]

Thank you for this video. I now understand the curling issue of stockinette.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Lmlmcg]

You are an excellent teacher. Thank you

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Thank you! 😃

[@barbaramorrissey3657]

thank you for the simple answer to a complicated problem

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I'm relieved that you don't feel I made it more complicated LOL!

[@jkerman45]

Oh my. Wonderful lace shawl, the only pattern I ever paid money for, all done and the long edges curl like crazy. Blocking failed. I think I used sock yarn - probably has nylon in it. The ends have seed stitch borders, so they’re fine, but the sides don’t. I can crochet a little, but the style doesn’t seem suited for more than one row of crochet. I’ll have to search for a way to crochet a straight edge with multiple rows, if there is such a thing. Thanks for your clear explanation!

[@lpj7589]

I love your tutorials ! Thank you very, very much.! I saw & I can’t remember where, the knitter crocheted a very narrow border alternating, FP & BP, either sc or FPdc.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Crocheting edges on knitting is a fantastic look and it definitely can weight down the edges enough to prevent curling.

[@dogsinolga]

Wow, thanks for explaining why. Wow! [By the way, I love your hair pulled up/back.] ~Marie

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Thank you!

[@BBaxterSwank]

In addition to the main information thanks for the carpet tip

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Yay! I figure if I keep talking enough there will be something useful.

[@agnesadyana7344]

Thank you for your sharing. I learn a lot from your explanation. 🙏❤️

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sherryb6652]

Hi Barbara, thank you for this video. It's very informative. I am in the process of knitting in the round a poncho. I am going to use the garter St. For the bottom. I am glad to know that this will work. Also adding some garter ridges throughout the body of poncho , to tie in with the ending garter stitches. Thank you so much for all your videos. They are very helpful to me.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Sounds like you have a lovely poncho planned. Keep in mind that garter, by nature, is wider than stockinette, so you will get some flare at the bottom. Which could be lovely on a poncho.

[@sherryb6652]

@@WatchBarbaraKnit Thank you. I think it will work well.

[@sandygrogg1203]

Good information...as always. I’ve been knitting and crocheting off snd on...definitelON now, and I had no clue about the different sizes of the two sides created by Good Gruef! Who would have guessed?

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

It's kinda crazy isn't it?

[@jennifermassello8670]

No wonder!!!!!! Thanks, Barbara! Now I know what to look for in patterns as well. Or if I see curl, I now know I need to add a little edging so it doesn’t! 👍🏻🧶

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Yes, look for the edges in patterns!

[@marianneknapp4846]

Design is right I'm doing a doll dress 2 Garter rows already curled I can't stand it what cast on is the best a crochet cast on? Thanks 😊💜

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Crochet cast on is not one I use with any frequency so I am afraid I have no opinion on that.

[@catlady743]

My very first knitting project ever was a scarf in just stockinette stitch. Of course it curled. I thought I did something wrong and ripped the whole thing out and, naturally, did it again. Now, 20 years later I like to think I know what I'm doing. :D

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I'm sure you do know what you're doing!

[@ladycrafts1885]

Great information. Thank you.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Glad to be helpful.

[@paulagrnsy]

I'd never heard of dropping a stitch. I'll have to give it a try sometimes.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Let me know how it goes!

[@lynettewykes9923]

Thank you for all this useful information. I like the idea of the cabled edging. Talking about cables have I missed you making a podcast about how to avoid cable flare on the bottom of say a sweater?

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Hmmm, that is not something I have ever encountered so no, I haven't done a video on that. I'll have to look into it. The problem is I don't do sweaters LOL!

[@lynettewykes9923]

It could be at the start of a blanket or scarf. Thank you.

[@ooohlaa13]

@@lynettewykes9923 I think I know what you mean and I once repaired this look by starting with the twist row because I was not planning to have an edging ... because of the twist a few rows above it splays out the plain rows like they go boingo from the tension above, if you get what I mean. Hope this helps.

[@ginnylynn1]

Thank you for your excellent explanations🧶💥💓

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I'm glad it made sens to you!

[@RitaPsych1]

Thanks for this helpful discussion, Barbara. I have a sister who’s been knitting over 50 years and she eonce told me to slip the first stitch of every row when doing stockinette to reduce rolling. Have you ever heard that suggestion?

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Slipping the edge stitches creates a nice edge, but I don't know that a single stitch is going to do much to prevent rolling. But that's one of those things that you can experiment and see!

[@kj-sf4md]

QUestion. Am knitting a sweater in the round. Even witth the ribbing, it wants to curl. So i have decided remove the ribbing. So, is there a way to, limit the curl? Should i do a few rows on a larger or smaller needle. I don't want it to roll all the way up like a cartoon skit. How to limit the curl edge.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

The ribbing should have solved the problem, that's a big reason it is there. Sometimes people go down a needle size for the ribbing to help it lay flat. If you are working in a blockable fiber - blocking should help. Another option is to do a couple of rounds/rows of reverse stockinette or garter between ribbing and stockinette. But if you have no ribbing, seed stitch, or other stitch pattern with evenly distributed knits and purls - stockinette is going to curl and there's nothing to be done for it.

[@kj-sf4md]

@@WatchBarbaraKnit thank you for the advise. Will try going down a needle size.

[@facts4life897]

Thanks Barbara!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ileanaleah2545]

I am an intermediate knitter. I have a question: Can you offer a kit with KAL video, I will be the first to purchase it. Following a pattern and not making mistakes is the challenge for me

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

This is not something I have really figured out how to do. Could you possibly provide some input as to how you would see something like this working out and how much you would be willing to pay for it. I have looked at the online class websites and considered doing something like this - but it would take a lot of time and investment on my part, which means it wouldn't be inexpensive like my regular knitting PDFs.

[@ileanaleah2545]

@@WatchBarbaraKnit Just to put it in simple terms Sell the pdf pattern and knit along video. This way the knitter finishes the project without mistakes and learns in detail to finish the project. You can also include options of yarns to do the project. Just like a yarn club but to include in-class training. Yarn clubs are good for people that are experienced knitters. There is a great group of struggling un experience knitters like me. Just my view !

[@jenniferelliott2085]

Thank you this is so helpful.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I am so glad it was!

[@cherylkettner4035]

Thanks Barbara 😊 Very informative! Cheryl

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Yay!

[@rolandgonzales3343]

Love this thanks

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

You are so welcome!

[@TrickyNight24]

I’m a sponge! Love learning how other ppl knit and their thought processes. As a left handed knitter, I’ve come to the conclusion that the angle of my stitches is just not the same as right handed knitters. So learning new things is not always cut and dry. I’ve definitely learned more about the construction itself of each stitch, taking it apart, turning it around in my head and most of all, lol, putting yarn to needle and trying to make things work for me. I enjoy your clear cut matter of fact approach to teaching, so thank you!

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

When you say "left handed knitter" does that mean that you reverse everything? I've heard that referred to as Mirror knitting, where your old stitches are on the Right Hand needles and you make new stitches onto the Left Hand needle. I have one friend who knits like that and yes, everything has to be adjusted.

[@TrickyNight24]

Exactly, yes lol i struggled most w the brioche yo slips, still figuring lace, and knitting along with ppl in the round on say socks... when they pick up stitches they may be picking up one side going up as I’m on the other side going down. Just makes for more interesting figuring on things

[@KLD521]

Still being very new to knitting, thank you so much for clarifying between the stockinette stitch and the garter stitch (flat vs round). It completely makes sense now. The selvedge edge is another matter, I have heard and seen the term before but never really quite grasp to the technical portion of it. I will have to do research and read up on this. By chance have you covered selvedge edge stitches in a video? Thank you so much for educational experience, this is most helpful.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Hmm, I haven't specifically done a video on selvedge, I'll have to think if there's enough there for a whole video LOL.

[@KLD521]

@@WatchBarbaraKnit Most appreciative, thank you.😊👍

[@janedaniel7288]

Very interesting video, thank you. Super useful. xxJane

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I'm so glad you liked it!

[@marilyngropper2453]

Why aren’t i getting notices from you

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I'm afraid that's a question for KZbin. If it helps any, I try my very best to post every Thursday at 12:30 pm ET. Except for the last Thurs of the month, that's when I do a live at 7:00 pm ET.

[@monicabuch3827]

Thank you for sharing😊

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Thank you for watching!

[@marciaperesargenton5306]

Lindo seus trabalhos😍

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Obrigado ☺

[@opalynbrenger1621]

Thank you! For your viewers who want to learn about different fabrics, check out Barbara Walker’s Knit an Afghan. She describes how each fabric reacts and gives the reader lots of information on many different stitch patterns.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Great idea!

[@eastlynburkholder3559]

You can experiment with just using the fact that stockinette curls and have a curled edge. My first scarfs curl and I just wear them and enjoy them. I also use the curling of stockenette stitch when constructing hats. If a band or bit of fabric is knit flat and then joined, if the band or bit of fabric is joined going against the curve, the hat can have a nicer shape.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Totally. If you want it then it can be a beautiful feature. This is for people who want to stop it LOL.

[@nancykeate]

Wow now I get it👍

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Yay yay yay!

[@margarethealey8698]

Wished this video was around years ago.

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

I hope it was at least a little better late than never!

[@annetteratliffclark]

Thank you! Looks like I'm ripping out my scarf! Ugh! At least now I know.....

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Aw man, that sucks!

[@sarahbenson5337]

Wish I had watched this months ago! I have some hopeless items. 😕

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Well, you could always pull them out and then you would have more yarn to knit!

[@sarahbenson5337]

@@WatchBarbaraKnit Maybe a couple of the scarves could be lined with a light fabric.

[@larrygreen3988]

You are an excellent teacher. Thank you😘❤

[@WatchBarbaraKnit]

Thank you for your kind words.