Lucy Neatby - Tradewind Knitwear Designs

Tradewind Knitwear Designs by Lucy Neatby

Mattress Stitch

This is great way to invisibly join 2 pieces of knitted fabric together, where the columns of sts run parallel to each other. This is usually appropriate for side and underarm seams of conventional sweaters. Once you have mastered it, it no longer matters where your seams are; beware though, people will want to inspect the WS of your work to find the seams! It is worked from the RS of the fabric, which makes matching patterns really easy. It gives you the power to cheat!

Can you find the Mattress Stitch Seam?
Mattress Stitch Sample

Lay two pieces of St.st. side by side, RS facing. (Don't do anything fancy with the outer sts like slipping them or purling them on the RS).
Stretch the first and second sts apart a little; do you see the horizontal bar that lies between them?
Take a darning needle and, from the RS, go under the bar and up to the RS again, with the needle aiming at the top of the swatch.
Do the same between the final st and its neighbour on the other piece of knitting.
Return to the first side stitched and put the needle back into the place it came out from and under the next bar vertically above.... across to the other side and repeat.
After you have completed a few sts, tighten them up a little, and magically the seam should close and then almost disappear!

Next topic - Refinements to Mattress Stitch
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