Re-Knitting my Aran Cardigan Buttonband

I am constantly amazed at what I manage to forget as I knit things. I was so absorbed, and pleased, with the mitered corners at the top of my buttonband, that I completely forgot to decrease the number of stitches around the neck. The result was an Elizabethan ruffle around my neck between the two lovely mitered corners.

 

So, I ripped out the button band short four rows and started again. This time I kept the mitered corners but remembered to regularly decrease the number of neck stitches over the next few rows. I'm still not completely pleased with the finish.

I love the fit of the neck but the edge of the buttonband feels a bit flimsy to me. Sort of like the edges of the Moderne Baby Blanket when I finish one. So, I'm going to add an i-cord border up the buttonband, around the neck and back down the other side.

I decided not to have buttonholes because I like the way the sweater sits without buttoning it closed. And, I like the popular way of using wooden picks to close cardigans. I will have a photo to show you once I finish the i-cord border.

Comments

[Renee]

I think it looks great! You might want to experiment with the I-cord, because in my experience it pulls things shorter, so you can change needle sizes if you need to.

I am working on a lace cardigan, and am knitting the yoke for the 3rd time. But it's worth it to get it right, no?

Hi Renee,

It is definitely worth getting it right! I will have to watch the i-cord. I want it to pull things together a bit but not too much. Of course, I'm such a ridiculously "relaxed" knitter that the tightness probably won't be a problem. Still, thanks for reminding me. I'm going to go up a size from what I used for the body.

Kelley

[Jane Wolfe]

The video on steeking was great. After seeing it, I am less afraid to try it. Is there a tutorial on the KnitPicks site about mitred corners? It is a great finishing technique. Thanks for being willing to share your mistakes. It is reassuring to know that all of us, even someone with your high level of skill and understanding of the knitting process, make mistakes. Also, would you be willing to show the wooden pick? Any chance KnitPicks would sell them? Jane

Hi Jane,

We don't have a tutorial for the mitered corners yet but I can give you the basics. First, mark the "corners" before you start knitting your button band. I like two stitches in the middle. Then, on the right side, make an increase on each side of the two middle stitches. On the wrong side, just knit like usual.

I had to keep track of my seed stitch pattern and you will have to incorporate the increases into whatever pattern you are using for you button band.

Kelley

[Itinerant Weaver]

I have done all the floppy edges too. Have recently found http://techknitting.blogspot.com/, which has helped with some of the solutions other that I-cord which has its place but I hate doing along very long edges. There are posts from Nov '07 into Dec '07 that give some alternatives. Haven't tried any yet but shall when I do the next garment.
Hope it's of interest.

[Polo Outlet Online]

Having read this post, I have learned for myself a lot of the new. Thanks