There are projects with edges that look like a line of dew drops. We often see them on shawls and scarves, but there is nothing wrong with adding this edging to cardigans, blankets and other projects with open sides.
You don’t need to be an expert knitter to add these lovely delicate edges to your projects. All you need to do is follow six simple steps described in this tutorial.
If you prefer to learn from a video:
NOTES
1.This edging is formed over two stitches at each side of the work. If you plan to use this method to decorate both side edges of your project, add four stitches to the number of stitches you cast on.
If you are adding this edging to one side edge of your project, cast on two extra stitches.
2.The instructions are different for right-side and wrong-side rows. If you want to add the yarn-over edging to both sides of the project, repeat steps 1-3 in every right-side row and steps 4-6 in every wrong-side row.
To add this edging only to the right side of the fabric, work step 1 in every right-side row and purl the last two stitches of every wrong-side row.
If you plan to decorate only the left side of the fabric, work step 4 in every wrong-side row and knit the last two stitches in every right-side row.
RIGHT-SIDE ROW
STEP 1
1.1. Make a yarn over.
Adding a yarn over at the beginning of a row could seem a bit confusing, but, in fact, it is very simple. The trick is to place the right needle underneath the working yarn that is hanging at the beginning of the row.
1.2. Make a “slip-slip-knit” (SSK) decrease.
It is perfectly fine to make the classic SSK decrease, slipping two stitches one-by-one knitwise to the right needle, then returning them to the left needle and knitting them together through the back loop, but I prefer to use a simplified version of this decrease.
First, I insert the tip of the right needle from left to right into the first stitch on the left needle and take the left needle out of this stitch slipping it to the right needle.
Then I place this stitch back to the left needle. This time, I do it purlwise, without twisting the stitch again. As I do it, I push the tip of the right needle a bit further so that it enters the next stitch on the left needle.
Finally, I wrap the tip of the right needle with the yarn and pull this wrap through knitting these two stitches together through the back loop.
No matter whether you choose the classic or the simplified version of this decrease, make sure you don’t lose the yarn over formed in step 1.1.
STEP 2
Work in a stitch pattern of your choice until you get to the last two stitches of the row.
STEP 3
Knit the last two stitches one by one.
WRONG-SIDE ROW
STEP 4
4.1. Make a yarn over.
We already know how to do it. The process is exactly the same as the one we used in Step 1 – we simply place the right needle underneath the working yarn.
4.2. Purl 2 stitches together. We can do it the classic way, or by using a neater alternative to this popular way to decrease stitches.
Classic “purl 2 together” is easier and faster, so I’ll use this method to make a decrease in my swatch.
Remember to keep an eye on the yarn over – it should sit on the right needle in front of the stitch that resulted from the decrease.
STEP 5
Work in a stitch pattern of your choice until you get to the last two stitches.
STEP 6
Purl the last two stitches one by one.
As you repeat these six steps, you will see that the edges of your project get embellished by tiny yarn-over dew drops accentuated by mirroring slanted stitches formed by decreases.
To open the yarn overs, stretch and pin each yarn over when you block your project, or use a piece of blocking wire to make this process faster.
This edging looks great on both sides of the work, and the decreases give it enough body to keep the edges of the fabric from curling.
Feel free to use this method to treat edges of projects worked in any stitch pattern. I used it to decorate edges of a swatch made in ribbing, seed stitch, garter stitch and the good old stockinette. As you see from the photo below, the yarn-over edging looks nice with all of them.
If you want to make the “dew-drop effect” more prominent, make each yarn over bigger in steps 1.1 and 4.1. Or, wrap the yarn around the needle twice to make a double yarn over, then unravel one of the wraps in the next row.
Source:
June Hemmons Hiatt. The Principles of Knitting (New York: Touchstone, 2012), 74.
Free Mini-Course for You
To learn about other ways to keep side edges from curling,
take this free mini-course.
Helpful Reference Book
Getting side edges just right can be tricky. Neat Side Edges book describes twelve simple ways to make the process a lot easier for you.
Add it to your collection of helpful reference books.
SAVE IT FOR LATER:
This and 41 other in-depth tutorials are part of Knitting Collection #6.
