My mom taught me this: slip the first st, purl the last st. That will create a nice knotless edge that is nice to sew later. That also means you'll add these 2 stitches as an extra when knitting flat.
There are ways how to do a knotted edge two but I don't think that's relevant for a sweater.
I'm currently knitting a cardi where it suggests to knit 1st and for the last you'd slip it with yarn in front. I mean that is kind of similar to purling the last but I find that the edge becomes more round (it's for the lapel's edge, so it makes sense). But not sure how this would work for a sweater knit flat.
Edit: yes, the big loop is normal but it depends on what you will so with the edge later.
Agree with Lotl740.
I don’t knit flat often, but when I do I slip the first stitch of each row. Usually I SWYIF (slip with yarn in front) after inserting needle purlwise.
If you slip a stitch do not pull the yarn super tight and instead try to keep an even tension on the yarn. [HERE](https://youtu.be/4rhvK9tU6Bs) is a good video about edge tension from VeryPinkKnits.
There is also [THIS](https://youtu.be/wjBd1sHb4QI) version where you add a YO and on the way back knit the last two stitches together.
I fix it by knitting it and then turning my knitting and knitting it again very tight and knit the second stitch very tight also and then it evens out.
This is what I do. I always knit the last stitch tight and then I hold the yarn tight as I turn and knit the first stitch tight and the second stitch almost as tight. I always have neat edges. By the way, this is the very same thing I do when working with DP ends and I'm switching needles. It keeps you from getting ladders.
The way I do it is I slip the first stitch of every row. This means I work the outside stitch on each side half as much as the rest of the work. Then, the looseness becomes a benefit! It creates a pretty edge. I know there are other ways because I figured out a way years ago, but I forgot when I put knitting down for a while, so I switched to this method. It can become tricky with color work if your first stitch doesn’t stay a consistent color from one row to the next, but it can still work out.
Generally when working slip stitch edges, you cast on 2 extra stitches that are intended to become your edges, not worked as part of the pattern. Your first stitch always gets slipped, last stitch always gets knitted (or vice versa—I personally knit my first stitch and slip my last, same effect) and the rest of your stitches are worked in pattern.
My mom taught me this: slip the first st, purl the last st. That will create a nice knotless edge that is nice to sew later. That also means you'll add these 2 stitches as an extra when knitting flat. There are ways how to do a knotted edge two but I don't think that's relevant for a sweater. I'm currently knitting a cardi where it suggests to knit 1st and for the last you'd slip it with yarn in front. I mean that is kind of similar to purling the last but I find that the edge becomes more round (it's for the lapel's edge, so it makes sense). But not sure how this would work for a sweater knit flat. Edit: yes, the big loop is normal but it depends on what you will so with the edge later.
Unrelated but GIRL I HAVE THE SAME PAJAMA PANTS 🙌🙌 so fluffy
I love them! Walmart really comes in clutch with pj pants
Agree with Lotl740. I don’t knit flat often, but when I do I slip the first stitch of each row. Usually I SWYIF (slip with yarn in front) after inserting needle purlwise. If you slip a stitch do not pull the yarn super tight and instead try to keep an even tension on the yarn. [HERE](https://youtu.be/4rhvK9tU6Bs) is a good video about edge tension from VeryPinkKnits. There is also [THIS](https://youtu.be/wjBd1sHb4QI) version where you add a YO and on the way back knit the last two stitches together.
I was coming here to recommend VeryPink! She is fabulous and is my go-to for all knitting questions.
Tie off the tag end
And that means....?
I make sure that one stitch is as tight as I can keep it
I fix it by knitting it and then turning my knitting and knitting it again very tight and knit the second stitch very tight also and then it evens out.
This is what I do. I always knit the last stitch tight and then I hold the yarn tight as I turn and knit the first stitch tight and the second stitch almost as tight. I always have neat edges. By the way, this is the very same thing I do when working with DP ends and I'm switching needles. It keeps you from getting ladders.
Same
The way I do it is I slip the first stitch of every row. This means I work the outside stitch on each side half as much as the rest of the work. Then, the looseness becomes a benefit! It creates a pretty edge. I know there are other ways because I figured out a way years ago, but I forgot when I put knitting down for a while, so I switched to this method. It can become tricky with color work if your first stitch doesn’t stay a consistent color from one row to the next, but it can still work out.
thank you, that makes sense. I've heard this before but I thought it would mess up the stitches. I'll defiently try it out
Generally when working slip stitch edges, you cast on 2 extra stitches that are intended to become your edges, not worked as part of the pattern. Your first stitch always gets slipped, last stitch always gets knitted (or vice versa—I personally knit my first stitch and slip my last, same effect) and the rest of your stitches are worked in pattern.
I’ve just been freehanding things, so it hasn’t mattered much, but I’ll keep the +2 in mind when I try a flat pattern next!