Can I make a stockinette scarf roll less on the edges?
October 28, 2011 4:30 PM Subscribe
A friend gave me a beautiful hand-made knit scarf. The problem is that it's a stockinette stitch and its edges curl up uncomfortably rather than lying flat. As a non-knitter, are there any modifications that I can make to mitigate this curling?
It's a scarf made purely in stockinette stitch and it's just a single layer thick (if it were toilet paper, it would be one ply, although I think knitters use "ply" to mean something different). As I have discovered in my internet research, the edges of a stockinette stitch tend to curl when it's the only stitch used. The second picture is exactly what this scarf is doing, except more so: stockinette/stocking stitch
I was thinking of folding the scarf in half long-wise and sewing the edges together to make it one long tube. Would that work? I can sew pretty well, but I know nothing about sewing knit fabric. Do you need to do anything in particular to make sure it doesn't all stretch out? If there's another more obvious solution, I would be happy to hear that too. It's made out of such nice soft wool that I would hate to exile it to the mitten box at the back of the closet.
It's a scarf made purely in stockinette stitch and it's just a single layer thick (if it were toilet paper, it would be one ply, although I think knitters use "ply" to mean something different). As I have discovered in my internet research, the edges of a stockinette stitch tend to curl when it's the only stitch used. The second picture is exactly what this scarf is doing, except more so: stockinette/stocking stitch
I was thinking of folding the scarf in half long-wise and sewing the edges together to make it one long tube. Would that work? I can sew pretty well, but I know nothing about sewing knit fabric. Do you need to do anything in particular to make sure it doesn't all stretch out? If there's another more obvious solution, I would be happy to hear that too. It's made out of such nice soft wool that I would hate to exile it to the mitten box at the back of the closet.
Best answer: Blocking it will only keep it from curling until the next time it gets wet. If you sew it together, make sure you sew the individual rows together. If you can think of a way to ask, you could even ask your friend to sew the edges together for you.
(For your friend's edification, a k1 p1 scarf LOOKS like it's plain stockinette but won't curl at all.)
posted by Heretical at 4:55 PM on October 28, 2011 [3 favorites]
(For your friend's edification, a k1 p1 scarf LOOKS like it's plain stockinette but won't curl at all.)
posted by Heretical at 4:55 PM on October 28, 2011 [3 favorites]
if you sew it into a tube, the stitch you want to use is called "mattress stitch" and youtube will have about a thousand videos for doing that to knitting.
posted by bilabial at 4:56 PM on October 28, 2011
posted by bilabial at 4:56 PM on October 28, 2011
Best answer: Mattress stitch, yes, if you have the patience to do that.
Can you sew? You can mitigate this by lining the wrong side of the scarf with a rectangle of sturdy fabric cut slightly smaller. Slip-stitch it by hand to the scarf with thread, putting a little tension into it so it "pulls" on the knitting in opposition to its curl (baste it first so it doesn't go all wonky). Bonus lovely wooly scarf on one side, posh woven scarf on the other.
posted by peachfuzz at 5:01 PM on October 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Can you sew? You can mitigate this by lining the wrong side of the scarf with a rectangle of sturdy fabric cut slightly smaller. Slip-stitch it by hand to the scarf with thread, putting a little tension into it so it "pulls" on the knitting in opposition to its curl (baste it first so it doesn't go all wonky). Bonus lovely wooly scarf on one side, posh woven scarf on the other.
posted by peachfuzz at 5:01 PM on October 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
If the scarf was nice and wide, I would probably sandwich it into a tube, then either blanket stitch the entire thing around the outside or discretely follow the knit stitches to flatten it out. I find scarves that are knit into a tube and aren't flattened in some way to be just as annoying as rolled up stockinette.
Another option, have someone can knit try picking some stitches up around the outside and try to flatten it out with some extra rows (complicated)
Another-another option: peachfuzz's idea could work if you were careful about really anchoring the knitting to the fabric. You will be taking all stretch out of the fabric but it'll be flat.
(I'll admit that I just don't even mess with this sort of thing. It's hard to fix elegantly)
posted by Foam Pants at 5:21 PM on October 28, 2011
Another option, have someone can knit try picking some stitches up around the outside and try to flatten it out with some extra rows (complicated)
Another-another option: peachfuzz's idea could work if you were careful about really anchoring the knitting to the fabric. You will be taking all stretch out of the fabric but it'll be flat.
(I'll admit that I just don't even mess with this sort of thing. It's hard to fix elegantly)
posted by Foam Pants at 5:21 PM on October 28, 2011
Best answer: Why, yes!
TECHknitting presents... how to do just that.
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 5:40 PM on October 28, 2011 [7 favorites]
TECHknitting presents... how to do just that.
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 5:40 PM on October 28, 2011 [7 favorites]
If you mean "wool" as in "from sheep" this won't work, but sometimes people use "wool" generically to mean "yarn for knitting" so I'll suggest it just in case: some synthetic (acrylic, mainly) yarns can be "killed", which means smashed flat under a steam iron until the fabric loses its curl. Also its loft and springiness - some fabrics turn out nice and light, others feel limp and dead. It's permanent, so proceed with caution. But if you have nothing to lose (exile to the mitten box sounds dire), you could try it.
Google "killing yarn" for instructions.
posted by Quietgal at 5:41 PM on October 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Google "killing yarn" for instructions.
posted by Quietgal at 5:41 PM on October 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
What if you were to just get funky with the ends? You could use a coordinating yarn to make tassels. Or, you could add buttons, beads or wire at the ends. Make it look funky and interesting. Use a wire to 'sew' the buttons and beads on.
Or, if you are really close to your friend, tell her the rolling is driving you nuts and ask could she add a panel on either end in a different stitch.
posted by myselfasme at 6:24 PM on October 28, 2011
Or, if you are really close to your friend, tell her the rolling is driving you nuts and ask could she add a panel on either end in a different stitch.
posted by myselfasme at 6:24 PM on October 28, 2011
I knitted a scarf and I'm pretty sure Mum just gave it a good (and careful) ironing to flatten it. It's been 2 years and no curling yet.
posted by Saebrial at 10:30 PM on October 28, 2011
posted by Saebrial at 10:30 PM on October 28, 2011
If the curl is unfightable, think about joining the short ends together, either flat or in a moebius. Then wear it wrapped once or twice around your neck, in a permanent loop. At that point, the curl is a feature, not a bug.
Alternatively, learn how to crochet (the basic stitch isn't hard) and use either the same yarn or a complementary colour to give it a small edging. That will help to flatten out the curl as well.
posted by wenat at 9:13 AM on October 29, 2011
Alternatively, learn how to crochet (the basic stitch isn't hard) and use either the same yarn or a complementary colour to give it a small edging. That will help to flatten out the curl as well.
posted by wenat at 9:13 AM on October 29, 2011
Response by poster: Thank you all very much for the ideas! I think it sounds like lining it is the best idea, given my skill set. Is there a way to tell if the yarn is real wool or acrylic before attempting to flatten it, if my attempt at lining doesn't go well? I used "wool" earlier because the yarn doesn't feel very synthetic. I'm not a knitter, but I am very picky about sweaters so my fingers recognize cheap acrylic fabrics at least.
posted by colfax at 2:10 PM on October 29, 2011
posted by colfax at 2:10 PM on October 29, 2011
The test is to burn the yarn. If it's acrylic, it will melt and smell like plastic and if it's wool, it will be ash and smell like hair.
If you don't have any of the source yarn, then give it a bath. If it's a little funky (wool usually smells "natural" when wet), that's a pretty good hint. Acrylic has no smell when wet.
If it's a wool/acrylic blend, then you'll just have to ask the person who gave it to you. Could be as easy as, "One of my co-workers loved it and wants to know what the yarn is so she can make one." Get the name of the yarn and look for it online or on Ravelry's database.
posted by wenat at 8:51 PM on October 29, 2011
If you don't have any of the source yarn, then give it a bath. If it's a little funky (wool usually smells "natural" when wet), that's a pretty good hint. Acrylic has no smell when wet.
If it's a wool/acrylic blend, then you'll just have to ask the person who gave it to you. Could be as easy as, "One of my co-workers loved it and wants to know what the yarn is so she can make one." Get the name of the yarn and look for it online or on Ravelry's database.
posted by wenat at 8:51 PM on October 29, 2011
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You could also try "blocking" it. This would definitely help, but might not keep it from curling completely.
posted by insectosaurus at 4:35 PM on October 28, 2011