This is one of those knitting tasks that most people hate, as evidenced by the growing popularity of top-down, knit-all-in-one-piece sweater patterns out there. No finishing! No seams!
Where's the fun in THAT, I ask? Hand sewing seams is one of those things that is easy to do once you learn to do it properly. It also provides some structure to your sweater, especially if it is knit in a heavy wool yarn. And if you have the right tools, it's a snap. Those clip things do wonders to get things lined up and hold it all together while you are sewing. The brand name of these is Knit Klips, by Susan Bates, you can find them in many knitting and craft shops.
Here's my favorite book for instructions as to how to do a variety of seams.
The other handy tool is a perfect sewing needle.
Mine is a sterling silver handmade needle from Celtic Swan.
It's hard to get a good photo of that, here's another one.
And yes, since you are wondering, I do have a couple sets of the sock needles in silver as well. I covet everything in her shop. And she is local, from nearby Lopez Island.
Back to sewing!
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I love the color of this sweater. And I don’t mind sewing up although I find setting in sleeves challenging. I’ve realized recently that I don’t look good in top-down sweaters so I need to get better at setting in sleeves, I guess. And Celtic Swan is local-ish? Hmmm…
I love seaming, it’s like alchemy. I just finished a Dale of Norway baby sweater … so.much.finishing work, but the end result is worth it.
I love that book. It has saved me more than once. I think you were actually the reason that I bought that book in the first place. 🙂
How nice to sew up your sweater seams with such a lovely needle! I admit to disliking seaming. I can do it and do it well, but I don’t know why I don’t like to do it.
I have to admit – I would rather be knitting than sewing up a seam but there is something very satisfying about finishing a perfect seam!!
I dread seaming, but I DO have that same book. Do you think that if I actually read it, seaming might become less daunting?
I don’t mind the sewing except for the crocheted shawl that took me eight hours to stitch together. An entire day!