Zimmermania

Friday, May 04, 2007

Norwegian Sweater Anxiety

I've finished knitting the body and sleeves of the Norwegian Sweater in Knitting Around. I knit using Peace Fleece so I'm sure the sweater will be wonderfully warm and this was a fun knit since it was my biggest stranded project.

However, now that it's time to put the sweater together I don't want to! I am very nervous about cutting the sweater for the sleeve holes and I even feel unsure about sewing up the top. Does anyone out there have tips on completing a Norwegian sweater? I would love to have this project finished before next winter.

Thanks!

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posted by Anonymous at 6:59 AM

11 Comments:

  • WOW! It looks beautiful so far. I've never done steeks, but you might read Eunny's blog entries on steeks.
    http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/

    Links on the right side.

    From what I've read anxiety is rite of passage in learning how to do steeks.

    Another link to Brooklyn Tweed. He just finished a sweater which he steeked and blogged about:

    http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/

    By Blogger Freda, at 8:02 AM  

  • This comment has been removed by the author.

    By Blogger luv2knit, at 8:52 AM  

  • The best way to get over steek anxiety is to take a deep breath and just do it. Maybe sew an extra line on the sewing machine just for good measure. Once you've cut, you'll see that nothing unravels and all the fear will be gone. Eunny does have a very good tutorial. Some of the Dale of Norway pattern booklets also have good explanations of cutting steeks for Norwegian sweaters.

    By Blogger Emily, at 8:58 AM  

  • I made my boyfriend a seamless hybrid with a high stand-up collar, and steeked the neck and a bit down the chest so that it could zipper-up, and used Eunny Jang's tutorials (I hand-sewed). It really was easy. It's very intimidating, but once you do it, it's extremely exhilirating and empowering. If you're really scared, knit up a swatch and steek that first!

    By Blogger Eat Knit Explore Grow, at 9:43 AM  

  • I use the crochet steek method. It has never fallen apart for me and it doesn't require I haul out my dusty old sewing machine. If you google "crochet steeks" there are several good sites that can help you.

    By Blogger becky c., at 9:53 AM  

  • i made two sweaters like this in 1982. to my knowledge they are both still alive and i never got any complaints about it unraveling. it was a machine stitch steek and i still remember cutting. much fun. don't worry. i added cross-stiches in the contrastcolour on the ribbings. that was a nice detail i got from a vintage norwegian sweater owned by my italian friend here in copenhagen. and funnily enough it was the exact same colours as yours.

    By Blogger knititch, at 10:44 AM  

  • http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/2006/01/the_steeking_chronicles_part_i.html

    As mentioned in the last note - eunny has a great tutorial.

    By Blogger Kivy, at 11:25 AM  

  • Several years ago I steeked the armholes of a Finnish sweater with very fine wool yarn I bought from Schoolhouse Press. Even though I machine stitched it, it unraveled, and I had to perform microsurgery with sewing thread to fix it. In retrospect, with the technical knowlege I had at the time, I should have really had a more thorough go at with the sewing machine. If I ever steek again, I will try the crochet method, and try it out on a swatch first.

    By Blogger Katie K, at 11:38 AM  

  • Thanks everyone. I'll check out Eunny and do as much reading about it as I can. I hope to finish this by Monday so wish me luck!

    By Blogger Unknown, at 12:35 PM  

  • Eunny's tutorial is wonderful. I hand-sewed my first armhole steeks. Took my time stitiching them. Made quite a ritual out of it. Peace Fleece is nice and wooly, and absolutely the right stuff to use. You won't have a problem, but there's not much you can do about butterflies from your first steek. If it would make you feel better, try knitting an in-the-round swatch, and practice your real first steek on that! I don't think anybody would consider that cheating!

    By Blogger Julie, at 3:20 PM  

  • I would say have a glass of wine but maybe do that AFTER you cut the sweater??
    I think these knitters gave you some great advice ~ thats what I love about this website ~ Everyone is so helpful!
    Your sweater is stunning and the colors are exactly something I would pick, I LOVE IT!

    By Blogger luv2knit, at 5:46 PM  

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