Bonus Step-by-step Technique: Gathered Woven Closure

The Gathered Woven Closure results in a tidy, snug finish for circularly knitted items that decrease to a few stitches. These step-by-step photos show how.

Last month I mentioned that you could do a Gathered Woven Closure for securing the last few stitches at the top of the preemie hat in a circular manner. It is a technique that results in a tidy, snug closure. It wasn’t something that was critical to do for the preemie hat, but I threw it out there as a possibility to try if you wanted to.

This is a technique you might also want to use on the Pretty Awesome Yarn Pouch. I took the opportunity to take photos while completing the Yarn Pouch that I have been knitting along with you this month. If the description of how to do the Gathered Woven Closure on my HeartStringsFiberArts site is too pithy for you, this detailed photo step-by-step is for you.

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Here’s how —

Setting-up

Cut yarn, leaving a tail about 12″. Thread a tapestry needle or other blunt sewing needle with the yarn tail.

Divide your remaining stitches between 2 double point needles (or 2 cables if using circular needle(s)).

Divide stitches on 2 needles

First Pass: Run Yarn Through All Stitches Right to Left

Starting at beginning of round, insert tapestry needle from right to left through all stitches on nearer knitting needle.

Insert tapestry needle right to left through first stitch …

… and all remaining stitch on the nearer knitting needle

Tip: It helps to pull the stitches down a bit and insert the tapestry needle on the underside of the stitch in the little bit of space that is made when you pull the stitches down.

Pull yarn through. Important: DO NOT remove stitches from knitting needle.

Pull yarn through, leaving stitches on the knitting needle

Flip the work over to the other side and do the same thing with the stitches on the other knitting needle.

Flip to the other side and do the same thing

I.e. Insert tapestry needle through the remaining stitches and pull yarn through. Again, it is important to leave the stitches on the knitting needle during this first pass.

Second Pass: Insert Yarn Left to Right (i.e. knit-wise) and Drop Stitch off Knitting Needle

Starting at beginning of round again, insert tapestry needle into first stitch as if to knit.

Insert tapestry needle knit-wise (i.e. left to right)

Pull yarn through and slide stitch off the knitting needle. Repeat this for each remaining stitch on the nearer knitting needle; i.e. insert tapestry needle into next stitch knitwise, pull the yarn through and slide the stitch off the knitting needle.

All stitches on nearer knitting needle completed

After all stitches have been removed from the nearer needle, flip the work over to the other side and repeat until all remaining stitches have been removed.

Do the same thing for the remaining stitches

Last stitch

Pull yarn snugly to close the hole, evening out the stitches if necessary.

Pull yarn snugly to close the hole

Bring yarn to WS and secure.

Bottom of Pretty Awesome Yarn Pouch completed

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p.s. The Gathered Woven Closure technique is also wonderful for closing off the last few stitches of round sock toes such as the spiral/swirl decrease. The woven alternation of front vs. back makes the closure stronger and flatter. Something especially important for good wearing socks!