How To Make A Knitting Seam

Normally I don't get a lot of views to this blog.  It is mostly my kind Facebook friends and some family members.  I don't sell ads or use it to make money.  It is mostly a journal of this moment in my life.  We turn the blogs into hard covered books.  I imagine future generations won't believe how primitive ma and pa lived in the 21st century.  The blog I wrote for knitting a Christmas Stocking is the exception.  I have over 10,000 views to that blog.  People have asked some very good questions about knitting the stocking and knitting in general.  I am not an expert, unless knitting for over 50 years makes me one.

I usually knit in the round, if I can.  However, some things need to be knit flat and then sewn up.  One question I had was how to sew a neat looking seam.  In order to demonstrate that, I knit two small sample pieces.

The stitch in this sample is called the Stockinette stitch.  It is knit one row and purl one row when knitting flat.  Looking at it you can see the vertical rows that look like a crochet chain stitch, and the horizontal rows look the same only side by side.  These rows are connected by cross pieces that are created by knitting from stitch to stitch across the row.  I use these cross bars to seam two pieces together.  In the picture below you can see the hidden cross bars between the stitches.

To start seaming, I thread a yarn needle with matching yarn.  In this case I am using a contrasting thread to show how it's done.  It will be easier to see this way.

Put your needle under the first bar on the right side piece.

Under the bar on the right, then the left.

Working under a bar on the right, then under a bar on the left, continue back and forth as pictured.  Pull the the yarn tight to close the piece together as you continue.

Pull the yarn through on each side.

Continue until the seam is closed.

I used contrasting yarn but it can't be seen when finished.

Inside of seam looks like this, but the outside is nearly invisible.

I hope this helps those having trouble creating a smooth seam.  You can also pick up two bars on each side if you want a more relaxed seam.  Just be sure to do both sides the same or you won't come out even when you are finished.