Comments on: how do you make a knitted scarf stop curling at the sides?

By: Dolly O

Dolly O — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:16:33 +0000

If you know how to crochet, you can crochet a nice edge like shell stitch all along the sides. But maybe this still won’t stop the curling. Why not try it out on a small swatch before using it on your scarf. Another idea is you can baste the two sides of the scarf together and steam the edge. Let it dry and then take out the basting.

By: daeve930

daeve930 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:45:03 +0000

Stockinette just does that. You can try to steam it, but it may not stay. Pin it with straight pins to the ironing board. Hold a steamer or steam iron above the finished scarf, and let the steam do its thing. Leave it pinned until it’s totally dry and maybe it will stay flat. Don’t touch the yarn with the iron. You may flatten the yard or even melt it, depending on what it is.

By: thejanith

thejanith — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:00:42 +0000

If you alternate knitted and purled rows, that is called stockinette stitch or stocking stitch. Unfortunately, that stitch curls. Usually, it is used on items that are made in pieces that are sewn together, like sweaters and such. There are other stitches that do not curl. Garter stitch and seed stitch and rib stitch are all great for scarves.

Garter’s the easiest: knit every row.
For rib and seed, you’ll need to be able to tell a copleted knit stitch from a completed purl. Practice a little if needs be, and it’ll be easy.
Rib isn’t hard. For a k1p1 rib, you alternate knit and purl all the way across. On the next row you match your stitches. If it looks like a knit stitch, knit. If it looks like a purl stitch, purl. For a k2p2 rib, you do the same except you knit and purl two instead of one.
For a seed stitch, you alternate knit and purl all the way across (k1p1.) On the next row, you stack a knit on a purl and a purl on a knit. If the stitch is knit, you purl. If it looks like a purl, you knit. You can do seed stitch k2p2, too. It’s prety either way.

If you are doing rib oe seed stitch, do not be dismayed if you discover you have difficulties in counting successfully and repeatedly to two. We all do, occasionally. Knitting is good for the humility.

By: aussie sheila

aussie sheila — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:00:15 +0000

knit 1 row, purl 1 row is stockinette knitting and unfortunately curling on the sides is what stockinette does.

you have 2 choices

1. continue til length required and when finished work a border in either knit or crochet around the whole thing

2. unpick and start again working the first 10 rows in knit only and then on every purl row work the first 8sts and the last 8sts in knit and when the length you want knit another 10 rows before casting off. this should help in stopping the edges from curling