The Knitting Fiend

Susanne, a knitter writing to the knitlist, presented a problem, and proposed a shocking, shameful solution. Knitters with weak stomachs are cautioned to read no further. I will quote her in enterity so those with stronger stomachs can witness the horrifying suggestion:

OK. I finished both the fronts and the back of this jacket. Somehow I blew it when figuring out the size or gauge, or the pattern is off. The thing is SO wide I would need to gain about 20 pounds to wear it, which I certainly DON’t want to do. It is made out of Lion bulky chenille in a seed stitch.

I have this weird idea so that I won’t have to rip it all out. Is it possible to use fabric stabilizer on the seams and then machine sew them using a double or even triple row of slightly zigzagged stitching, and then CUT (yes, you pure knitters out there – I’m discussing sewing and cutting my fabric!) the extra seam edging off?

I would then have to reconfigure the sleeve instructions to fit the new pieces.

What do you think? I’m willing to try an experiment.

Susanne

Dear Susanne,
I am schocked, schocked that you would be willing experiment on your own and cut and sew a hand knit garment knit from Lion Brand bulky chenille. Worse yet, to solve a fitting problem this way. For shame!

Knitting purists know that beginning hand knitters who use inexpensive yarn are forbidden cut and sew. Knitting instructors are morally obligated to teach beginners that the popular “cut and sew” is “shameful” and only done by lazy uncaring machine knitters who create “el cheapo” looking machine knit garments.

After all, who will the Knitting Knazi’s look down on if beginning hand knitters start imitating some machine knitters?

Now, as is often the case, the full truth is only revealed to true devotees who have advanced enough to appreciate and understand it. Those who will use the technique wisely. Hand knitters who take special classes, learn the secret hand shake and obtain advanced degrees in knitting may enter the the inner sanctum of “real knitters”. There, if sufficiently graced by the knitting authorities, a card carrying member of “the knitteratti” may learn the holy secret techniques.

One of these is called steeking.

Advanced knitters are also taught the technique is becomes non-shameful when planned in advance and applied to sweaters knit in the round using high quality, preferably exhorbitantly expensive yarn. To avoid any taint of shame the knitter should knit this garment in some very complicated stitch pattern that can only be worked by the truly accomplished knitter.

When cut and sew is applied to very complicated patterns knit in expensive yarns, it proves you are a brave, bold knitter willing to experiment and try new things, not just some beginner who screwed up, used her own brains and thought up a solution.

I think it is also understood this secret, venerated technique should only be learned under the guidance of a certified knitting instructor who you pay!

In contrast, using this technique to fix a sweater you knit using Lion Brand yarn, or any yarn purchase at a big box store is shameful. It is even more shameful to think you are intelligent enough to dream up an advanced technique yourself and experiment! You, a mere beginner or intermediate who has not entered the inner sanctum, and experienced a gauge problem, has the temerity to suggest you have a brain and can learn things yourself?

Shameful, I say!!!

So, in answer to your question, “What do you think?” I say, “Do not teach yourself how to cut and sew by doing the following:

• Knit a swatch using any inexpensive left over yarn you have at home.
• If you feel like it, steam block the piece flat. (If this is acrylic be careful not to over heat and kill the fabric. Don’t let the iron touch the fabric, just hold it close and hit the steam jets.)
• Mark seam lines on the fabric.
• With ordinary thread and a plain ol’ sewing machine set to stitch straight, carefully 1/2 to 1 stitch away from the seam line, in the area that will be your selvage. Sew another parallel line further inside the selvedge.
• Now, when you sew your garment together, just sew along the seam line and do something to make those cut edges look sort of nice.

Remember, should you even consider doing this this to fix a mistake, as you propose to do, it is shameful! And I swear that I did not do this 20 years ago when I goofed up and forgot to start shaping the underarm on a pink mohair vest. I would never, ever, ever do such a thing. And if I had done it, I would have done a better job.