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I've seen this term but....

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Nov 24, 2009
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wizdmzchyld message #1
I've seen this term but....
December 8, 2009 at 10:29:26 AM

Hi, I happened across this term again this morning as I was reading the yahoo knitting lists. What exactly is steeking?, and what is it used for?

Thanks
Charlene

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Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4610

Stitchboard Admin message #2
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 8, 2009 at 4:06:44 PM

Charlene,

I'm not an expert on steeking...I've never had the guts to try it. From what I understand, steeking is generally used when you've knitted, say, a cardigan sweater in the round and in one piece. When you finish knitting the body of the sweater, what you'll have is basically a tube. Then you'll want to open up the front center. First, you reinforce the knitting on either side. (This is the scary part, because you are about to cut. Scream if you must. Wink

) Then you take scissors to your knitting and cut the front opening. This technique is also used to make armholes.

Hope that's clear!

Melanie (cat slave and Official Feline Can Opener) =^.^=
~~~~~
I'm a beading, knitting and crochet addict. If that means I'm admitting I have a problem, then I admit to nothing. Please refrain from helping me.

Member since:
Nov 24, 2009
Posts: 270

wizdmzchyld message #3
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 8, 2009 at 5:03:15 PM

Yep, it's clear. I don't have that much courage. Shucks, I'll just skinny into the tube, well, okay, I'll squeeeeze into it. Wink

Charlene

Quote:

Charlene,

I'm not an expert on steeking...I've never had the guts to try it. From what I understand, steeking is generally used when you've knitted, say, a cardigan sweater in the round and in one piece. When you finish knitting the body of the sweater, what you'll have is basically a tube. Then you'll want to open up the front center. First, you reinforce the knitting on either side. (This is the scary part, because you are about to cut. Scream if you must. Wink

) Then you take scissors to your knitting and cut the front opening. This technique is also used to make armholes.

Hope that's clear!

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4610

Stitchboard Admin message #4
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 8, 2009 at 7:11:36 PM

Quote:

Yep, it's clear. I don't have that much courage. Shucks, I'll just skinny into the tube, well, okay, I'll squeeeeze into it. Wink

ROFL! Sounds like you'll have a lot of lovely knitted tube tops. Wink

Miss Freckles

Member since:
Nov 9, 2009
Posts: 62

knitnknanny message #5
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 9, 2009 at 12:47:27 AM

ROFL! Sounds like you'll have a lot of lovely knitted tube tops. Wink

Or.......make them longer, then they can become skirts. Cheesy

Marilyn

Member since:
Nov 24, 2009
Posts: 270

wizdmzchyld message #6
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 9, 2009 at 8:24:41 AM

There's an idea! If I make them long enough, they can be tube dresses too. I just love improv.

Charlene Cheesy

ROFL! Sounds like you'll have a lot of lovely knitted tube tops. Wink

Or.......make them longer, then they can become skirts. Cheesy

Marilyn

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4610

Stitchboard Admin message #7
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 9, 2009 at 10:39:05 AM

Marilyn & Charlene,

I love both ideas! I've always wanted to make a bunch of skirts and dresses and never thought of knitting a bunch of tubes...duh! Tongue

It sure would negate the need for joining seams. I despise joining seams. I hate the idea of joining seams so much, I used a three-needle bindoff for a doll hood (I'll attach pics). I'm sorry the hood itself isn't terribly visible...but the three-needle bindoff was a dream!

Member since:
Nov 24, 2009
Posts: 270

wizdmzchyld message #8
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 9, 2009 at 11:02:22 AM

That is cute! Thank you for the picture and what is the three needle bind off?

Quote:

Marilyn & Charlene,

I love both ideas! I've always wanted to make a bunch of skirts and dresses and never thought of knitting a bunch of tubes...duh! Tongue

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4610

Stitchboard Admin message #9
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 9, 2009 at 11:19:24 AM

Charlene,

Quote:

That is cute! Thank you for the picture and what is the three needle bind off?

Thank you...glad you like the pic!

A three-needle bind off is used when you want to join two pieces together and have the stitches for both sides of the "seam" on your needles.

The hood, for example, was knit as a rectangle starting from the top of the neckline, and the instructions called for a straight bind off. instead of binding off in one piece, I transferred half of the stitches to another needle - I was using double points to begin with, so it wasn't difficult - and then worked with the two needles held side by side as I would have bound off the stitches on one needle. So when you do the binding off, you pull your yarn through both sets of stitches, instead of only one. Thus, you use three needles.

It's very easy...it sounds far more complicated than it really is!

Member since:
Nov 24, 2009
Posts: 270

wizdmzchyld message #10
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 9, 2009 at 5:54:51 PM

Hmmm, no picture appears in the brain pan. I'll have to read that several more times, better yet, I'll use multimedia and see if I can find it.

Charlene

Quote:

Charlene,

Quote:

That is cute! Thank you for the picture and what is the three needle bind off?

Thank you...glad you like the pic!

It's very easy...it sounds far more complicated than it really is!

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4610

Stitchboard Admin message #11
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 9, 2009 at 9:41:09 PM

Charlene,

Quote:

Hmmm, no picture appears in the brain pan. I'll have to read that several more times, better yet, I'll use multimedia and see if I can find it.

Please let me know if you find something that clears it up. Some of the videos are good, but some don't show the steps clearly enough to see what they're doing, which is kind of disappointing, IMO.

Member since:
Nov 24, 2009
Posts: 270

wizdmzchyld message #12
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 9, 2009 at 11:23:00 PM

Well, you know what they say about that sharp stick and the poke in the eye. Lips sealed

Yes, if I find a video that's clear and instructive, I'll definitely let you know.

Charlene

Please let me know if you find something that clears it up. Some of the videos are good, but some don't show the steps clearly enough to see what they're doing, which is kind of disappointing, IMO.

Miss Freckles

Member since:
Nov 9, 2009
Posts: 62

knitnknanny message #13
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 10, 2009 at 4:17:43 AM

Tube dresses with cute little shrugs to cover the shoulders.... Sounds pretty classy to me. Wink

Marilyn

Quote:

There's an idea! If I make them long enough, they can be tube dresses too. I just love improv.

Charlene Cheesy

ROFL! Sounds like you'll have a lot of lovely knitted tube tops. Wink

Or.......make them longer, then they can become skirts. Cheesy

Marilyn

Member since:
Nov 24, 2009
Posts: 270

wizdmzchyld message #14
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 10, 2009 at 9:07:22 AM

It does sound nice. Being the giant economy size, I don't wear anything tight though. I prefer to believe I'm the right type for flowing garments.

Charlene

Quote:

Tube dresses with cute little shrugs to cover the shoulders.... Sounds pretty classy to me. Wink

Marilyn

Miss Freckles

Member since:
Nov 9, 2009
Posts: 62

knitnknanny message #15
Re: I've seen this term but....
December 11, 2009 at 2:05:48 AM

I don't wear "tight" either. I've reached the age where comfort rules. Wink

Marilyn

Quote:

It does sound nice. Being the giant economy size, I don't wear anything tight though. I prefer to believe I'm the right type for flowing garments.

Charlene

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