A steek is the area around a cut in a knitted fabric. This workshop gives you the skills to make your cut with confidence.
Skill level: Intermediate
Tutor: Steve Foreman
Description
A steek is a cut in knitted fabric. Stranded knitting jumpers often use steeks to allow the to be knit in the round and the fabric is then cut to open the arm holes. Steeks can also be used to convert jumpers to cardigans.
This workshop aims to take the fear out of cutting your knitting – and encourage you to think of scissors as your friends. We will explore how to plan your steeks, how to knit your fabric to make cutting a steek easier, several methods of reinforcing the area round the steek, picking up stitches for button bands and sleeves, and wielding the scissors.
Skills required
You will need to be able to cast on, knit and purl, and cast off. Ideally you will be able to knit stranded colour work in the round, but you can still be able to take part if you can only knit flat in a single colour.
Preparation
You will need:
- 4mm knitting needles. Circular or DPNs if you knit in the round.
- DK yarn in four colours (only about 5g of each; two colours if you are knitting flat).
- 4 removeable stitch markers.
- A 2.75mm crochet hook.
- A metre or two of 4 ply yarn.
- Sharp scissors.
- Sewing needle that you would use for seaming.
- Paper and pen/pencil for notes.
Before starting on the workshop, knit two swatches in a single colour. Each swatch should be knit flat and 32 stitches wide and 16 rows high. Bind off one swatch and leave the other on a needle or stitch holder to continue during the workshop.
About the tutor
Steve started knitting when he was working away from home as a way of “turning off” in the evenings. He always has several projects on the go – and always one that contains something new. He learned stranded knitting by tackling a Fair Isle jumper with all-over motifs and, of course, steeks. Not a fan of stranded knitting in the flat (or weaving in ends) he has adapted other patterns to use steeks – including an acrylic cardigan for a grandchild that was worn daily until outgrown.
Workshop notes
Members – login to download the workshop notes.
