Scoop du Blueberries Finishing Details

Scout de Jour was finished just minutes before we left to have Thanksgiving Dinner with Anne's family.   I didn't rush, didn't push just so I could wear it, it just happened that way.  The perfect buttons were found on Wednesday and the perfect buttonholes executed on Thursday.   

I know you're just dying  to see the finished project, but every time I knit a sweater I'm asked how I get them to fit...so, don't you want to know my secret?  I'm also going to share with you how to make a good button band the first time.  I'm no expert, it's just that I really don't like doing things twice, if I can avoid it at all.  My methods aren't fool proof, but they will improve your success rate.

First, do the gauge thing folks...just do it.  Knit a 4 to 6 inch square and treat it the way you would your finished sweater.  I like to wash my sweaters on delicate, cold water, in the washer and lay them flat to dry.  That's what I do with all swatches.  It tells me how a yarn will react and helps in judging what size to knit.  Knitting math is as easy as basic math...you can do it, if I can, you can. 

Take your favorite fitting piece of clothing and measure it.  That will give you a good idea of what size sweater to knit.  Claudia used an already finished sweater as a template when she knit Thermal...that's a perfect way to insure your sweater will fit. While knitting I check my gauge often, to make sure the stresses of life (or the extra relaxing times) aren't taking a toll. I also try the pieces on if I can.  Every piece is measured when finished and, I block as I go, which is a good way to to make sure all pieces are the size they should be.  Measure, measure, measure...it can't be done too often.  Count rows to make sure you sleeves, and the pieces of the body are the same length, so that everything will sew together smoothly.  All in all, that's pretty basic knitting advise...Knitting 101.

(I deleted my math as several people let me know it was wrong. It was messed it up...I can't do math, evidently...but, some how I did get the right number of stitches picked up and the sweater looks great.)

The way I placed the buttonholes is a little less scientific. One button is in the neck band and the last button is 2" from the bottom edge.  With the 2x2 rib it was easy to space the rest by counting the ribs. I can't tell you how much I love this sweater, but I'll try (on Friday). Nancie Wiseman's book, Finishing Techniques, has been my go to book when it comes to finishing details and her one row buttonholes can't be beat.  Don't skimp on knowledge when it comes to doing a good job of knitting and finishing.  That's Basic Knitting Advice, Knitting 101.

Comments

[Lisa]

Great info although I do need to think through that bit on the buttonbands a little more so that I understand it.

[Manise]

Nice info and advice. Had I read this this spring, I wouldn't be having to frog my KP&S top down in Beaverslide- too big despite the weight gain. Can't wait for the reveal!

[Laurie]

Makes perfect sense. I'm just finishing my tea, and I'm kickstarting the cognitive processes. This is a post to bookmark.

Okay. Wash the swatch.

[Sarah HB]

Looks great so far!

Love the buttons. They match perfectly.

[Carole]

I'm not that scientific about the buttonholes. I divide the front into equal, small sections and then figure out how many stitches to pick up in each section. This has worked well for me. And Nancie Wiseman's book is my bible for finishing!

[eyeleen]

Wonderful post, thanks for all the great info.

[Kim]

You are tempting me with too many pretty projects. The Scoop pattern has been sitting on my desk now for a year.....hmmmm.

Fabulous post on button bands!

[gale (she shoots sheep shots)]

so what you're saying is..it's the process? (Great post, Margene, thanks!)

[Teresa C]

Hey, nice looking buttonhole, how'd you do that? And the buttons are perfect!

[Kathleen]

omg luv the buttons!

[knitnana]

You know, I love hearing how good knitters calculate and trust the math (and I know it's not foolproof, but still...). It never ceases to amaze me that completely competent knitters scream that they can't do the math and they don't understand gauge (or how one extra stitch per 4 inches can throw off the sizing of an entire sweater - "but it's just ONE stitch, how can that matter?").

I won't deny it's not as much fun as the knitting...but you're absolutely right - it's NOT hard. It's basic math. So thank you for the tutorial!

I'm adding Wiseman's book to my library on the strength of your recommendation alone!
(((hugs)))

[bellamoden]

It always shocks me when people say they don't swatch. Or they do, but they don't wash the swatch. Huh? Washing can make a tremendous difference.

I happen to want successful sweaters, though.

I love the nancie wiseman book! Any other favorite finishing books?

[Cheryl]

Great post! And I agree completely about Nanci Wiseman's book, I find myself referring to it all the time. Her provisional cast-on is the best too!

[Marcia Cooke]

Very helpful post! One thing I do on sleeves is to knit them at the same time, on the same needle, one of the few times now I go back to straights. It seems to take forever, but you can be sure they are exactly the same size! Now, if I ever get to the Lupine Cardigan, the pickup rate will be easy: I have the Meg Swansen video that shows just how to do it!

[Jean]

Great tips, Margene! Love the buttons! Perfect match.

[Chris]

Obviously I should be using that book for more than collecting dust on my shelf! ;) Is this the new winter color scheme at Zeneedle? Looks good.

[deb]

Yes - it's basic advice. But coming from you it sounds so friendly. I can almost feel you whispering it over my shoulder, kind of coaching me along with a warm pat of encouragement. And a martini on a job well done of course!

[michelle]

Thank you so much for your timely tips. I have now attempted to pick up the button band stitches on my tangled yoke at least 3 times and still don't have it right. Later today I'm going to do some counting and multiplying and figure out how many stitches per inch I actually need! :) So often it's the simple things that totally throw me.

And I love those buttons! So looking forward to the big reveal :)

[Vicki]

Perfect advice -- and very timely. I have a new sweater on my brain.

Could you have found better buttons?! (I don't think so.)

[Birdsong]

Fancy finishing touch! I think that basic Knitting 101 can't be stressed enough; when people are first learning to knit, they are too frantic about it to absorb this kind of advice, and later think they already learned it but truly aren't putting it into practice until mistakes force them to re-evaluate. What you offered today was not basic Knitting 101 but Knitting Wisdom 33YP (for years plus!).

[Zarah]

Thanks for the tips! Good finishing really "makes" a knitting project. I'm still perfecting my button band skills... I'm going to have to check out that book your recommended!

[Margaret]

Thanks Margene! Nancie's is my go-to book for finishing tips and seldom used techniques as well. Very straightforward, and easy to follow the illustrations. I particularly like that she lists the mirror cast-on bind-off combos.

[Margaret]

And, the buttons and pink thread are Perfect!

[Danielle]

I *heart* Nancie Wiseman!

[elizabeth]

I agree, finishing is SO important! That's what I'll be doing tonight, with luck and a really bright light! (black yarn)

[Cheryl S.]

I feel privileged to have gotten a sneak preview - so I already KNOW how great it looks.

[Tonia]

Wonderful info. It looks great. I love the buttons, they look like smashed blueberries. ;)

[Ruth]

I too am a firm believer in the power of math! (Though it took me a couple of years to get a grip on the exact dimensions I want my sweaters to be - but math will get you there once that hurdle is past.) I love the Nancie Wiseman book.

[Wool Winder]

My eyes did glaze over a little when I got to the part with all the numbers. I use Carole's less scientific method, though I think I might give your way a try next time. And I guess I really should wash my swatch. So far I haven't had any mishaps by omitting this step, but I may have just been lucky.

[Rachel]

Waiting patiently, Friday is coming soon!
Great advice and instructions, thank you :)

[Heather Joins The Round]

I love learning all your tricks! It's great to know it's not such a mystery after all.

Can't wait to see the sweater!

[Kim D.]

So, now can we see you wear it?

[Peg]

Thanks for Knitting 101, Margene. I bought myself a copy of Nancie's book. I know it will come in handy!

[Beth S.]

That is a GREAT button. :-)

I use that finishing book all the time! It doesn't live on the shelf, it lives in my knitting bag.

[Kelly]

Thank your for the tips! I'll be putting them to use when I knit my next sweater. Although I really hate making swatches and try to avoid them at all costs. I know someday this will come back to bite me on the butt but until then.... Can't wait to see your finished sweater!

[Anne]

And you obviously DID measure, measure, measure, because it looked fantastic on you!

[Norma]

Ooh, I love it already. The buttons (especially with the pink thread) are PERFECT!

[KarenJoSeattle]

Hey, Margene, I just sent you a reeeally long e-mail with questions and discussion. Just warning you.

Really nice looking teeny peek of band, there.

[Andrea (noricum)]

You're missing part of the equation, or you have the decimal in the wrong place, when you say "140 x 6.75 = 94.5"... ;)

[Wanda]

This is good knitting advice. Especially the knitting maths!