I usually prefer to knit in wool as it’s stretchy and forgiving, but the “Liv” shawlette was made in silk/kashmir. I tried the knit together stretchy bind-off, but unsuccessfully. Instead I decided to turn the knit project 90 degrees and knit the edge. Many shawls use this trick and add an extra patterned finish this way. I didn’t want more pattern, just a nice framing.
I’ve knit the top edge with 3 stitches in garter and decided to go for a 4 stitch garter edge at the bottom. I don’t really like the idea of casting on more stitches as in that new part I’d lose the 3 stitches garter edge. Like in this example:
My 4 stitches garter edge:
Knit 6 rows of the 3 stitches which form the top garter edge, leaving the rest of the stitches live on the needles.
Then bind off two stitches.
With 1 live stitch on the right-hand needle pick up 3 stitches from the left-hand side of the garter edge (like you do for a garter tab provisional cast-on).
Turn the project and knit the wrong side of the 4 stitches.
Then repeat the following rows:
- Row 1 (right side): Knit 3, then knit the last stitch together with the first live stitch from the body of the shawl
- Row 2 (wrong side): Knit 4
Repeat the rows until 2 live stitches remains on your left-hand needle. Knit the 2 remaining stitches. Then repeat the following:
- Row 1 (wrong side): Knit 2, knit 2 together
- Row 2 (right side): Knit 3
Continue until only 3 stitches remain and bind off on the right side row.
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