I found your awesome video since I’m a novice steeker and wanted to try steeking arms so I could keep knitting in the round. I’m going for it now! Thanks for sharing! I didn’t know “the rule “ regarding only steeking wool, so my first attempt was a silk/linen blend and it’s just fine!
Your video just popped up on my UA-cam feed….2 years after you posted it. Happy to have watched it, thank you so much for your easy conversation and helpful information. Question, what are your thoughts on needle felting for steeking?
Karen, Thank you so much for your note. I am sorry to have not answered sooner. I have been away from my computer for the last month. To answer your question, when I first saw a demnstration of needle felting a steek, I wondered where my brain was to have not thought of it myself. So genius! The truth is, I want to do some experiementing with the technique myself. I have questions. Does the steek strink when felted? Does felting the entire steek panel affect the ability to pick up stitches for sleeves or a front rib if working on a caridgan? If you only felt the very middle stitches, leaving the stitches closest to the body unfelted so you can pick up sts, what affect does that have? Is a felted steek stiffer than unfelted steek? Does that affect the drape of the garment? I have a friend who does beautiful felting projects and obvioulsy has needle felting equiptment. We have talked about geting together for experiements, but so far not have not been able to make that happen. She lives 45 minutes away. I know this probably not answered your question. Sorry. If you do some experiemnts, lease let me know your results...and I will try to get together with my friend and try some things myself. Thanks again for asking. V
Thank you so much for these two videos! I have learned a lot from you and am excited to try it! I'm wondering... Can you use steeking with really chunky wool? I like working with thick roving wool for heavy outdoor sweaters and wonder if I could add a steek and a zipper. What do you think? (For instance, Briggs and Little country roving in a Cowichan sweater style.)
Thank you, Katy. I am so glad they were a help. To answer your question, there is no reason you cannot use steek stitches with chunky wool. I would make sure your gauge is not overly loose….tight enough so the floats in the back do not park through. If you have any concernés, you might want to consider securing the steek stitches by using the crochet chain method…or maybe by using a sewing machine. Good luck with the project. Let me know if you have any issues with the chunky wool steek.. I’m here to help.. V
Hazel.. The common thought is steeks should only be done in wool...specifically non-superwash wool. However, I have used steeks in superwash, blends, and even cotton. I would guess the "only wool" rule appplied to a steek where you just cut and do not secure either before or afterward... when you are using rustic wools...like Shetland yarn or any of the stickier yarns. With other types of yarns, my advice would be to secure the steeks stitches with either a crochet secure or stitching on either side of the column to be cut with sewing machine stitches before you cut...or any other method wheere the stitches are secured before you cut. With the possible exception of realy slippery silks or synthetics, you should be fine. Even then, a good before cut secure goes a long way. As I've said, I have used steeks in a number of non-wool cases and have not had a problem. I teach classes on using steek stitches using cotton with a crochet secure....and no one has had a problem. Does that help? V
Is there a reason to not pick up stitches around the armhole *before* you cut? I'm a novice...doing Fair Isle on US 1 needle with teensy stitches 46/4". I cut my first armhole (not fun) and was happy I had picked up stitches ahead of time so I wasn't picking up stitches with all that fragile fabric flopping around.
Not at all...with the exception of convenience of gettng a better angle to pick up the stitches. I am usually working with rustic yarn that usally does not run anywhere. I also use a 10 stitch steek so the cut sttek flap is pretty wide. But that is just what I do. I certainly can understand having concerns with the small gauge you were working with.
@@VarianBrandonBKD Thanks. I'm trying the crochet method of securing instead of the backstitch specified in the pattern. I'll be filming my second cut to compare with my first cut.
I found your awesome video since I’m a novice steeker and wanted to try steeking arms so I could keep knitting in the round. I’m going for it now! Thanks for sharing! I didn’t know “the rule “ regarding only steeking wool, so my first attempt was a silk/linen blend and it’s just fine!
I have always said those that are afraid of steeks have never done them. So glad you went for it! I'm here if you have any questions. V
I love the bright colours you've used for the little example! :) So cheery. Today is so grey in the UK!
Very interesred 👍🍀🌞 all the best from Bavaria
Thanks, Barbara. Using steeks is really a game changer. I would guess you have seen something similar in Bavaria, thi.
Fabulous video, thank you! You make it seem to easy, I am almost excited about finishing my first cardigan so I can give all your tricks a go!
I am sure you will do fine...and get in touch if you need any help. V
Your video just popped up on my UA-cam feed….2 years after you posted it. Happy to have watched it, thank you so much for your easy conversation and helpful information. Question, what are your thoughts on needle felting for steeking?
Karen, Thank you so much for your note. I am sorry to have not answered sooner. I have been away from my computer for the last month.
To answer your question, when I first saw a demnstration of needle felting a steek, I wondered where my brain was to have not thought of it myself. So genius! The truth is, I want to do some experiementing with the technique myself. I have questions. Does the steek strink when felted? Does felting the entire steek panel affect the ability to pick up stitches for sleeves or a front rib if working on a caridgan? If you only felt the very middle stitches, leaving the stitches closest to the body unfelted so you can pick up sts, what affect does that have? Is a felted steek stiffer than unfelted steek? Does that affect the drape of the garment?
I have a friend who does beautiful felting projects and obvioulsy has needle felting equiptment. We have talked about geting together for experiements, but so far not have not been able to make that happen. She lives 45 minutes away.
I know this probably not answered your question. Sorry. If you do some experiemnts, lease let me know your results...and I will try to get together with my friend and try some things myself.
Thanks again for asking.
V
WOW 🥰
Thank you so much for these two videos! I have learned a lot from you and am excited to try it!
I'm wondering... Can you use steeking with really chunky wool? I like working with thick roving wool for heavy outdoor sweaters and wonder if I could add a steek and a zipper. What do you think? (For instance, Briggs and Little country roving in a Cowichan sweater style.)
Thank you, Katy. I am so glad they were a help.
To answer your question, there is no reason you cannot use steek stitches with chunky wool. I would make sure your gauge is not overly loose….tight enough so the floats in the back do not park through. If you have any concernés, you might want to consider securing the steek stitches by using the crochet chain method…or maybe by using a sewing machine.
Good luck with the project. Let me know if you have any issues with the chunky wool steek.. I’m here to help.. V
Can you only use a steel when you’re knitting with wool or are you able to do it with any yarn? Thank you
Hazel..
The common thought is steeks should only be done in wool...specifically non-superwash wool. However, I have used steeks in superwash, blends, and even cotton.
I would guess the "only wool" rule appplied to a steek where you just cut and do not secure either before or afterward... when you are using rustic wools...like Shetland yarn or any of the stickier yarns.
With other types of yarns, my advice would be to secure the steeks stitches with either a crochet secure or stitching on either side of the column to be cut with sewing machine stitches before you cut...or any other method wheere the stitches are secured before you cut. With the possible exception of realy slippery silks or synthetics, you should be fine. Even then, a good before cut secure goes a long way.
As I've said, I have used steeks in a number of non-wool cases and have not had a problem. I teach classes on using steek stitches using cotton with a crochet secure....and no one has had a problem.
Does that help?
V
That’s fabulous thank you so much x
Is there a reason to not pick up stitches around the armhole *before* you cut? I'm a novice...doing Fair Isle on US 1 needle with teensy stitches 46/4". I cut my first armhole (not fun) and was happy I had picked up stitches ahead of time so I wasn't picking up stitches with all that fragile fabric flopping around.
Not at all...with the exception of convenience of gettng a better angle to pick up the stitches. I am usually working with rustic yarn that usally does not run anywhere. I also use a 10 stitch steek so the cut sttek flap is pretty wide. But that is just what I do. I certainly can understand having concerns with the small gauge you were working with.
@@VarianBrandonBKD Thanks. I'm trying the crochet method of securing instead of the backstitch specified in the pattern. I'll be filming my second cut to compare with my first cut.
@@ShowandTellknitting Sounds like a plan. I'll try to keep an eye out for that video.