Knitting question about messy edges

[tink774]

First off, let me introduce myself! I'm Anna, and this is my first visit to the Creative Boards! After looking at some threads, I'm so impressed by all of your work. I'm extremely new to knitting and I love learning so many new things and getting to try them out. But I have a question that I'm hoping some of you DISers can help me out with.

I've looked on knittinghelp.com and still need to join ravelry.com, but I wanted to check here too. Right now I'm working on a very simple scarf and while I like how it's coming along, the edges of it are still fairly messy and look loose. I've tried tightening the first couple of stitches on a row and that's helped, but they still don't look as neat or as finished as I'd like.

So I'm curious about any techniques that you use for edges! I've read about slipping the first or last stitch, and that's worked during some of my practice squares (I have so many of those lying around!) but the edges of my rows just don't look finished, if that makes any sense. Maybe it's just something that comes with practice, but I'd love to hear any advice! Thank you in advance!

 

[rlovew]

Welcome to our corner of the boards.

I do more scrapping than knitting these days but here is what I can say about it:
I do slip the first stich in each row to keep things neater. I would say some of it comes with time as you get better at knitting.

Rebecca

 

[ddavis860]

I slip the first stitch. It makes like a braided edge, and doesn't roll as much.

It's really easy to pick up the stitches and do a crochet edging when you slip that first stitch too.

 

[tink774]

Thank you for your replies! Do you slip as if to purl or to knit? I read that unless otherwise specified, it's always best to slip as if to purl but I thought I'd check.

Also, if you are doing a pattern how do you incorporate the slipped stitch? Say if a row starts with P1, do you add an extra stitch to slip and then purl the next one, or just skip the purl and slip instead? I worry that adding the extra stitch would throw off a pattern. Thank you again!

 

[ddavis860]

I slip in whatever stitch I'm doing. If it's a knit row I knit slip it, if it's a pearl row, I pearl slip it. Since this edge is only being worked every other row, the yarn carries up, and is tighter because of that.

And Rebecca is right, time will help with your guage too...

 

[tink774]

Thanks to both of you for the advice! I will definitely be practicing this!

 

[tink774]

Just wanted to pop in and thank you both again for your advice! I've been practicing, and the edges are looking so much better!

 

[rlovew]

So glad it is working!

Rebecca