Expert: Wendy Beckett - 5/14/2009

Question
I need instructions on how to pick up stitches around a "V" neck sweater opening.  Also, how to pick up stitches around an armhole. I am knitting a child's sweater vest.

Also, if you could give me any helpful hints about sewing seams together using the kitchner stitch.

Thank you.

Carole

Answer
There are a lot of good tutorials online which can help with both these as it's rather difficult to explain in words with out any visual aids!

Also, lots of good books - the best explanation of kitchener stitch I've seen is in "Stitch 'n Bitch Nation".

For picking up stitches try these -

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/FEATwin04TT.html

http://knitting.about.com/od/knittingskills/ss/pick_stitches.htm

http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?q=picking+up+stitches&oe=utf-8&rls=org.moz...

and for Kitchener stitch (as well as the book I mentioned) try

http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer04/FEATtheresasum04.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7jIzwO5Nv4

You should be aware that you can only use kitchener stitch to join seams where the stitches are still "live" so it's generally only useful for shoulder seams where you haven't cast off the stitches.

Hope this helps

Wendy