Okie dokie, so I have gotten to a point of frustration with the knitting. I love the way the stockinette stitch looks, all those little parallel Vs really appeal to my OCD side. The problem I’m having is the bottom curls. Like REALLY curls. I’m trying to find information online, and I’m getting different answers from different sites. Some say it just curls and to get used to it. Others say if you add an edge with a different stitch, it won’t curl. I tried adding an edge of ribs, and then garter, and then straight crochet, and what happened was it just curled AFTER the edge. And I don’t want to believe that it just curls because the knitting book I have, DomiKNITrix, uses that stitch all the time, with no special edge, and no curls. Unfortunately, she doesn’t address the curling issue in the book (that I’ve been able to find).
So, in short, does anyone know of a way to get the stockinette stitch to not curl, or is there a stitch out there that I just don’t know about that makes those wonderful little V’s?
on Oct 29th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Stockinette always curls. The different-stitch border thing does work, but you’ll have to do several rows (4-10 depending on gauge, fiber, etc) in order for it to help. If you’re working with an animal fiber (wool, alpaca, silk), blocking can help settle the curl down temporarily, too.
on Oct 29th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Yeah. What she said.
The reason it curls is because the stitches are taller than they are wide (or wider than they are tall I can’t think right now), and it pulls the stitches in such a way that the fabric curls.
Yeah that was a horrible explanation. Sorry.
I recommend Stitch N Bitch by Debbie Stoller. It’s WAY awesome and it’s how I learned how to knit. I think you’d really dig it. Most libraries have it if you want to “check it out” (haha) before you buy it.
Actually when’s you’re birthday? I have some free Amazon money coming and it would make me happy to get it for you.
This is a very long comment.
on Oct 29th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Blocking is your friend. I am so bad about this because I luuuurve instant gratification, but (pardon my French) that shit will curl. I made a stockinette neck warmer with garter stitch hems and even threw in a purl on knit rows/knit on purl rows edge and the curl was craziness. I steam-pressed the heck out of it with my iron then pinned it to my blocking board.
My dad made me a blocking board with the remnants of a foam camping pad glued to a piece of peg board. Works like a charm.
on Feb 12th, 2009 at 2:00 am
I absolutely love your site. Your blog makes me happy! I am sorry for commenting on something that is over and done with, but I just wanted to add my advice. Blocking only helps, really, for things larger than a scarf, like a sweater or a blanket. Something relatively narrow, you could block the crap out of it, and flatten it completely, and it will still roll on you. Starting and ending each purl row with 5 or so knit stitches will help, but it gives you a garter stitch edging, that you may, or may not want. A moss stitch, or something that has a slight pattern to it will give you a very flat scarf. Or, just go with the rolling because that means it’s awesome and handmade.