For the longest time I’ve been fascinated with steeking, when you cut knits that were knit in the round and turn a pullover into a cardigan. It was one of those things that secretly terrified me and yet intrigued me, so of course I signed up for the hour long virtual class that Fibre Space offered. Why not try it out first on a small project?
Ann Budd was our teacher and we were tasked with making a little cup cozy ahead of class with seven additional stitches in the middle for steeking.
You reinforce the outer steek stitches with slip stitch crochet and then you cut!
Your remaining steek stitches fall to the inside and you can just let them hang (that seems to weird to me just having frayed yarn hanging). Then you pick up stitches in the slip stitch crochet row and knit a button band.
Obviously this is the cliff notes version but it was kind of cool to actually do it on such a small swatch. It made it feel that much more accessible. I try to take one class a year to learn a new skill and to push myself out of my comfort zone. It’s always easier when you have someone there to guide you step-by-step.
I have been knitting, just finished up a project I can’t share until next year and I have a preview knit to cast on. I also dug into my stash this weekend and cast on some very fun cotton rainbow yarn to make my first summer piece of the season. This is also my crazy time of year, the semester is wrapping up. My inbox is always full and I’ve got grading to do and my own papers to write. I’ve got some fun things planned though to share here, so I’ll be back to regular posting soon.
Yards of Happiness 
Thanks for the encouragement to try steeking. I too have been afraid to try. Doing a cup cozy for the first time makes a lot of sense. It will go on my 2022 goals plan.
Wow! My heart was racing just reading about it. I like the cup cozy to start with; not quite as intimidating. Beautiful color combo!
WOW that was a great post. So cool you did a virtual steeking class. I love your swatch. I😍 the color combo you chose too. GOOD luck with the rest of school 📚💻⌨🖱📝📥📤
That’s awesome! Way to go! Woohhooo!!!
Yeah, I have been too intimidated to try but I will sooner or later when I am overall a more experienced knitter. Your photos are super helpful!
I LOVE steeking! I, too, was initially fearful, but when I simply trusted the guidance of a good teacher (Kate Davies, in my case, who has excellent visual tutorials on her website), it worked like magic! Even with my pretty marginal crochet skills, it works like a charm.
I’ve gone on to continue steeking, and encourage everyone to try it. Glad it worked out for you. Hope the semester wrap-up goes smoothly.
And now you have a….cup cozy cardigan! 😉
Thanks for staying in touch! xoxo
You are brave! I’ve always just rejected any pattern that calls for steeking.
I used to do that too but now I am excited to try a pattern now.
Fun! I’ve been playing with steek options: slip stitch crochet vs single crochet (which makes a prettier turning edge), and how much selvage to have (how bulky will it be?). I’ve been doing a double turn, picking up for my edging a row or two away from my crochet reinforcement. All of these work; they’re just all a little different. Have fun on the steeking train! I love all your pullovers; I’ve found I don’t wear cardigans as often.
I was always intimidated by steeking. Then I learned about needle felting my steek stitches and then cutting. No sewing or crocheting required. It’s VERY cool!!!
I’m really intimidated by the idea of steeking and have converted a cardigan pattern into a pullover just to avoid it. I love the idea of starting small with a cup cozy to take a lot of the pressure off.
One of these days I will become as brave as you. Congratulations on learning to steek. Linda
On Mon, Apr 12, 2021 at 9:25 AM Yards of Happiness wrote:
> IamDWJ posted: ” For the longest time I’ve been fascinated with steeking, > when you cut knits that were knit in the round and turn a pullover into a > cardigan. It was one of those things that secretly terrified me and yet > intrigued me, so of course I signed up for the hou” >
Keep steering!
You are so brave! I keep telling myself that I’m going to make a cardigan by steeking, but never happens. Maybe I need to start small with a wrist warmer or something. Thanks for the inspiration!