lather, rinse, repeat

The neckband on the Gilmore vest is endless 1x1 knitting.

The pattern states that you knit the neckband separately and then sew it on. Gee, that sounds like a bad idea. I opted to pick up stitches instead. What is the utility in knitting the neckband separately? Discuss please.

Comments

[Rose]

Perhaps to increase your cursing vocabulary count for the week?

[Jennifer]

Can't think of a reason unless you made it detachable and I can't think why you'd want to do that either.

[KERaven]

I'm certainly no expert, but I was reading something recently that mentioned binding off and picking up vs just keeping the stitches live on a holder. This source stated that without the bind off to provide support & structure, the stitches can stretch and sag especially on neck lines. Therefore it recommended binding off and then picking up. Sorry, I can't remember what I was reading. However, sewing a collar on after the fact....I can't come up with anything.

[erin]

I think skinny rabbit is a proponent of the sewn on neckband but I can't quite remember why... maybe a cleaner or flatter seam? I'd definitely do what you're doing now- the idea of miles and miles of ribbing and *then* miles and miles of seaming is enough to make a girl cry.

[June]

Stability is the main reason to use a sewn-in neckline - a bind off is less flexible than live stitches. It doesn't make much of a difference in normal necklines, but if you have something wide and deep, it helps prevent it from stretching into the Flashdance look. (It can actually be a hindrance in children's sweaters if the neckline is high and the child's skull is large - sometimes sweaters don't fit over their heads!)

[reluctantmango]

Ugh. I'm with you on the picking up rather than sewing on later... the Yarn Harlot discussed this several weeks ago (I believe that's where I read it...) and concluded that the structure given by the seam can be replicated by adding a crochet reinforcement. Sounds much less painful to me!

[stacey]

I really see no reason for it! Anytime a pattern calls for a move like this I just do what you did - pick up stitches and go! Maybe the structure does help a little with the seaming, but I have never had a problem....

[Muriel]

Definitely crochet a chain for reinforcement as opposed to binding off/sewing. Bleh.

[nova]

I have no idea, but I wouldn't have knit it separately either. That just seems silly.