finishing....

All the pieces are knit...it's time to put it together.

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Finishing isn't something I really mind doing.  It wasn't always that way, but now, I'm really OK with it.   I've taken oodles of classes over the years, and even did a couple levels of the master knitters course when that title meant more to me than it does now.  But most of this stuff I've learned from the proverbial school of hard knocks...all those mistakes I've made over the years are really the very best teachers!!  So, a couple of lessons I've learned along the way.  I bet you know them already, but I thought I'd share some of them, anyway....

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LESSON #1:  "Finishing" really starts before you cast on your first stitch.

:: are you making a scarf where both ends are going to be hanging next to each other???  Then you will want your cast on and bind off to 'match', right?   If you usually use a long-tail cast on, you'll want to remember to use a sewn bind-off (wasn't Elizabeth Zimmerman the smartest woman EVER????); if you do a traditional bind-off, then you might want to start with a crocheted cast on.  It's all in the details.

:: if you are substituting yarn in a pattern, you want to remember that not all worsted..dk..fingering..whatever...are created equal.  Just because you 'get gauge' doesn't mean you will 'get drape'.

:: think ahead for possible short-cuts:  just because a pattern doesn't tell you to knit-in ends as you go, doesn't mean you can't (OH!! the time and headache you can save here!!); just because a pattern calls for sewing a turned hem, doesn't mean you can't pick up and knit it in as you go.  (there are a gazillion short-cuts...just think a few steps ahead!)

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LESSON #2:  GAUGE

My friends call me the gauge Nazi, (but I'm really not).  I always check my gauge, but I rarely make a gauge swatch.  I'm one of those goofy people who have no problem with ripping out large amounts of knitting, and (for me) I've learned that I can only get a good idea of my gauge over a really large piece of knitting.  A sleeve is always a good indicator. You also get a good idea of how the 'fabric' you are making is going to drape or show up cables or color-pool. I learn so much from a sleeve--or half a back of a sweater!!!  (I doubt if many of you will adopt this lesson of mine, but it works pretty well for me most of the time!--sometimes, though, I get the entire sweater knit and put together before I decide that the color-pooling-thing is something I just can't live with.  sigh. I hate when that happens. )

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LESSON #3:  

Your ruler/tape measure is NOT your friend.  It's actually out to mess up your finishing most of the time.  Sure, it's OK to measure where to start the armholes on the back of the sweater....but don't trust it on the front....count those rows!!!  (same goes for getting the sleeve holes the same size!!!)  A side seam sews much better if you are matching the same number of rows, instead of approximately the 'same' number of inches.

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LESSON #4

When the pattern says 'pick up x-number of stitches' for the neck, button band, whatever---use that number as a guide, not the gospel.  The pattern really doesn't know what YOUR row gauge is, so pick up the number YOU need to make it happen.  Chances are you won't be off by many stitches.  (If you are, there might be another problem going on!!)  And....it's totally OK to not get that beautiful, smooth button band (or sleeve, or neckband) on the first try...or even the second try.  (One instructor I had for a finishing class once said.....oh, heck--sometimes it takes me 5-6 tries to get it the way I want it.  I found that mighty liberating!)  (yes, I'm sort of a perfectionist, and I want it right on the first try!  I don't usually get what I want!)

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Do you have any "tried and true" finishing lessons????  

 Please share!!!  Finishing can be fun!!!  (Yeah, I know.  I just went too far with that one!!!  Hello! Today my name is Pollyanna!!....) 

Comments

[Katrine]

This is great information. Thanks for taking the time to give those of us who are nervous about finishing some helpful tips. Your knitting is beautiful.

[Wanda]

These are all great! Like you, I am not a swatcher. But most of the time I am right on for gauge. Truth be told, I try to stay away from things that need guage!

[Lisa @ HappyinDoleValley]

Such a wonderful collection of tips! Thanks so much for taking the time to type them all out for us!!

[Tracy]

Oh, these are GOOD lessons, Steph! I learned some the hard way... I think that may be part of the reason why I've left garment knitting behind for a while...LOL! LOVE the deNim-blue color of that sweater nearing completion... MANY thanks for your lovely comment at my place. I'm doing OK, hanging in there, as they say! :o) ((HUGS))

[Annie @ knitsofacto]

You are not alone m'dear ... I do all these things, and I love finishing too.

So much of what you've written here can only be learnt from a very good teacher or, more often, a lot of experience ... you clearly have the experience and reading this I'd say you're a darn good teacher too. Great post Steph :)

[tanna]

Great lessons, Steph. Experience is the best teacher of all, but it sure helps to listen to "those who have gone before". The one "tip" I have, and I'd LOVE to remember to apply myself, is to check the helpful notes on Ravelry BEFORE you do the project. I don't know why, but I tend to do that AFTER things have gone awry. ;) Great tips. Thank you! blessings ~ tanna
ps LOVED your comment on creativity. LOL! Me, too. Me, too.

[karen]

we are so much alike, I do gauge swatches the same way! also I use locking clip markers on armhole shaping so I can count the rows to make my knitting identical to the front and back.

[Tracey]

Well Pollyanna, thank you for the lesson, I needed it. Gauge is something I usually wing and have ripped out more than I care to admit. I love all the knitting, it's the finishing I detest. I really should have Mike learn how to do all the finishing and then I could just pass the items on to him!

[Tien]

Great tips! I need a little bit of an attitude adjustment when it comes to finishing. It is probably my least favorite part of a project.