How to Make Shoulder Seams Without Seaming, Finish the Neckline and Improve the Look of the Project
This is the final part of the Everyday Tee Knit-Along. This time, we’ll do very little knitting. Instead, we’ll use a number of techniques to make sure the project is well-finished and ready to become a part of your summer outfit.
First, we’ll use the Russian grafting technique to make shoulder seams. The beauty of this technique is that it does not require actual seaming. No long yarn tails and wool needles. We’ll use a crochet hook to join stitches of the front to the corresponding stitches of the back.
This way, the seam will be flat and nice-looking with enough stretch to shape a pleasant shoulder line but not too stretchy to form droopy shoulders.
As we finish each seam, we’ll cross the last stitches of the seam to prevent the holes at the sides of the neckline. Remember not to drop the stitches. Keep them safe on the needles.
Once the stitches are crossed, we’ll move on to making the neckline. We’ll use the yarn in a contrasting colour (the same yarn we used to make narrow stripes in the first part of the knit-along).
After you bind off all stitches, follow instructions in step 6.2 of the pattern to make sure the neckline is not too loose or too tight. Then cut the yarn and neaten the join between the first and the last bound off stitches.
Now it is time to beautify the tee. First, we’ll hide all tails. If you notice any imperfections, accidental holes or loose stitches, now is a perfect time to fix all those issues.
Click here to watch this part of the knit-along as a detailed video tutorial.
At the end of this tutorial, we’ll discuss a simple way to improve the look of the project – blocking. That would be the last step in making this project. Once the tee is blocked, you can put it on and wear it with joy.
I hope you enjoyed making this summer top with me. If you missed any part of this knit-along, you can find them all in the Everyday Tee Knit-Along playlist. The pattern is available as an instant download right here.
If you enjoyed this tutorial,
here’s something else you might find helpful:
“Neat Side Edges” Book
Learn twelve ways to make side edges of a knitted project nice and tidy. Plus, ways to fix side edges, and a way to improve edges of finished projects.
Happy knitting!
