Quite often, we want the side edges of a stockinette stitch fabric to stay flat instead of rolling in as they usually do. But sometimes, the rolled edge can add an interesting touch to a project.
The trick here is to control the curling so that the edge does not roll all the way to the centre of the project. The rolled edging method does just that.
This edging is a variation of the i-cord edging. Unlike the edges formed by the slipped i-cord edging (described on page 60 of the “Neat Side Edges” book), the rolled edging is attached to the fabric only at one side.
It looks like an open i-cord, forming a lovely roll at each side of the fabric, as if the stockinette stitch started to curl in, but then stopped.
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What made it stop? Slipped stitches that we put between our knits and purls.
To add these little bits of rolled fabric to the sides of any project, add eight stitches to the number of stitches you cast on (four stitches at each side of the fabric), and then work two simple rows over and over again.
To help you remember to treat four edge stitches at each side of the work as selvedges, separate them from the main fabric with stitch markers. They will save you from undoing your work later on if you accidentally work the edge stitches in the main pattern.
ROW 1 (RIGHT SIDE)
[ Slip 1 stitch with the yarn at the back of the work, knit 1 stitch ].
Repeat the instructions in the brackets one more time.
Work in the main pattern to the last four stitches of the row (the stitch marker will tell you when to stop).
[ Slip 1 stitch with the yarn at the back of the work, knit 1 stitch ], work the instructions in the brackets twice.
ROW 2 (WRONG SIDE)
[ Slip 1 stitch with the yarn at the front of the work, purl 1 ], work the instructions in the brackets twice.
Work in the main pattern to the last four stitches.
[ Slip 1 stitch with the yarn at the front of the work, purl 1 ], work the instructions in the brackets twice.
Repeat these two rows as you work on your project, and you will see that the sides of the fabric delicately roll in towards the wrong side of the fabric.
If you want the sides to roll towards the right side of your project, work row 1 on the wrong side of the work and row 2 on its right side.
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Rolled edging looks great next to any stitch pattern. Because we slip every other stitch of the edging, the sides of the fabric have a very distinct look that makes a perfect frame to a project made of seed (moss) stitch, garter stitch and other textured stitch pattern, and it also highlights the simple texture of the stockinette stitch itself.
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This and 36 other in-depth tutorials are part of Knitting Collection #7.
