The Knitting Fiend

Every now and then, a beginning knitter (or non-knitter) sees roll trim on a sweater and asks, “Wow, how do you knit that?”

Well, it’s pretty easy!

The first time any knitter cast on 20 stitches and started knitting stockinette, they noticed the cast on edge rolled toward the knit side; the other two edges roll to the purl side. That’s just what stockinette does.

Since stockinette always does this, it did when I knit my raglan hoodie sideways in stockinette. Since it’s sideways knit, the hem wanted to roll in. A lot. It would have rolled up 4″ and created a spare tire at my waist if I’d let it.

Not the look I wanted.

How to cure this? Remember that bound off rows of stockinette want to roll the other way. So, I hung the hem on the machine and knit a few rows in stockinette and bound off. The trim wants to roll out, preventing the whole hem from rolling in.

Here’s some good news for machine knitters who love their Ultimate Sweater Machines (aka USM or Bond): you don’t need a ribber or a garter bar. This trim is easier than ribbing or garter stitch, which also cure the rolling edges. It’s an equally easy trim for hand knitters: just pick up stitches along the hem and knit a few rows of stockinette and bind off.

Voila! Roll trim for everyone.