I commented that the “ladder” eyelet header instructions introduced in Lace Edging Building Blocks – The Heading also featured a chain stitch selvedge. This type selvedge, being particularly stretchy, is good for attaching lace edgings to things that themselves are stretchy (like other knit items).
To get maximum stretchiness: How you slip DOES matter. And the type stitch you slip matters.
Here is the formula to make a chain selvedge –
- Begin each row on which you want a stretchy chain selvedge with sl 1 pwise wyif.
- For the return row, end with k1.
It’s as simple as that. But an important formula to know and realize that the nuances of how you work that slipped stitch (both on the row to slip the stitch, and on the return row) WILL matter if your desired result is maximum stretchiness.
p.s. The chain selvedge is also an often-used smooth-looking selvedge for lace articles that are going to be severely stretched during tension blocking.
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Nellie said, “Their opinion was that the chain edge was not suitable for shawls. If I remember correctly, they said something about distorting the edges.”
That’s an interesting attitude they had. When I took Galina Khmeleva’s class on Orenburg lace knitting, this is the edge she said they use there.
I remember when I first started lace knitting and was on a shawl group.
I mentioned that I like knitting the chain edge. I was sharing this with others.
I felt that I was scolded by more experienced lace knitters.
Their opinion was that the chain edge was not suitable for shawls. If I remember correctly, they said something about distorting the edges.
Doesn’t sound like a very friendly group if they scolded you. I think that knitting for pleasure is about doing what is right for you and your project. If you like knitting the chain edge, and if you like the way it looks and behaves on your finished product, do it!
I understand the slip one purlwise but is it with the yarn held in front then moved to the back to knit the next stitch or is the yarn held in back with the stitch slipped purlwise as in the slipped st. heel flap?
The yarn is held in front while slipping the stitch for the chain selvedge. The yarn then may or may not be returned to the back depending on whether the next stitch to be worked is a knit-type or purl-type stitch. For a knit-type stitch, you would move the yarn to the back between the needle points. For a purl-type stitch, you would keep the yarn to the front. For a yarn over after the slipped stitch, you would move the yarn to the back OVER the right-hand needle; then either proceed with the next knit-type stitch; or if it is a purl-type stitch following the yarn over, you would bring the yarn forward again BETWEEN the needle points.
I do a vartiation on this for my sock heels… I slip the first stitch purl wise, but purl the last stitch, and do this every row. I wonder what the change is between purling or knitting that last stitch? Maybe I have to knit a swatch and see!
Kathleen, You are doing just fine on your sock heel flaps by doing what you are doing. Try it and I think you will see that the first slipped stitch gets twisted, thus firming things up a bit since you really don’t want vertical elasticity in you heel flaps. I’ll be covering other selvedge treatments for lace edgings in future posts which are like this, in that you want firmness for better wear and/or don’t want elasticity (such as in attaching a knitted lace edging to a woven inelastic fabric).