I don’t comment often but I have learned so much from your technique videos. Thanks for sharing your expertise and helping us all become better knitters. 🌸
This is by far the best video I have watched on how to avoid armhole gaps. Really useful and makes so much sense. I wouldn't even have thought to do a ssk on the otherside, I have just been doing ktog on both sides. Thank you so much for this.
Brilliant! I've been knitting for over 50 years but have only recently started knitting top down sweaters and this technique will improve my projects! Thanks, Roxanne.
Thank you for this. I love the analytics section of your technique videos, they really help me to understand the knitted fabric and its construction better. Overall your technique videos really help to elevate my knitting to a more polished finish. Your videos and the work you put into them are very much appreciated and I hope that you yourself are keeping well also :)
I cannot believe how easy and simple this technique is!!! I used another technique to close up the gaps on one sleeve, however, could not duplicate it on the other sleeve and had a ginormous gaping hole. I tinked back and used your technique and it was absolutely flawless. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. A good teacher is absolutely priceless!
This tutorial was so easy to understand. Thank you for using the diagram, it helped! And showing how you weave in your yarn tail to help close any gaps.
I'm working my first knitted garment, a sweater tee, and had the holes in the first underarm. Your video is so clear and concise, you are a life saver!
Thank you for this. I have tried many ways, but never this one. I can’t wait to try this method. It looks great and as an accountant, I love your analytical explanations to knitting techniques. 🤓
This video was exactly what I needed to see today; I began work on a top-down sweater just this morning, and this topic was my only concern. Thank you!
Thank you for this wonderful video. I'm working on my first sweater; I followed the pattern instructions for the first attempt. I wasn't happy with the results; I knew I could turn to you for a better way!!! Amazing success following your recipe! Thank you!!!!
Thank you so much for your instructional videos, this one in particular. I knit one sleeve and worried that I wouldn’t be able to close up the gaps. I ripped it out and started again trying to use the method I use to close the gaps in socks, it worked a bit better but not completely. I ripped out again and after watching your video I was able to follow your instructions, no gaps. 🎉. Thank you again!
This was sooooo helpful! I was just winging it when it comes to picking up stitches. Wow, did I have it wrong! Your demonstration was super clear. Many thanks 🙏
I'm always thankful for your tutorials...whether I need them this minute or not...yours is my most visited knitting site because if there's some explanation / demonstration I need for any project I can almost always find it on your channel. 🤗 Thank you for this one.
I'm soooo grateful! You have such a delightful way of teaching... I'm a teacher myself and I learn a lot from you... Not only from your wonderfully clear explanations, but also the easygoing way of transfering knowledge. Thanks a lot. Greetings from Argentina
I'm almost finished with my first top down sweater. I noticed while picking up the underarm stitches that there were holes left, so I added extra stitches to fill those gaps. Not knowing better, I didn't remove those added stitches. I think it will be okay and anyway, I've finished the sweater except for weaving in the ends and closing the small remaining gaps under the arms. In looking for a tutorial on closing gaps, I came across your brilliant video. So for my next sweater, I'll follow your directions. I've never learned the duplicate stitches, so I will be sure to check out your other videos. Thank you for sharing these techniques with us!
You likely decreased sts for the sleeve as you worked your way toward the cuff, so it's all good. If you're happy with the result, then you should pat yourself on the back for figuring out a solution on your own! :-)
Thank you so much for your clear explanation and demonstration. I’m working up the courage to attempt my first sweater, and this is something I’ve been concerned about.
Oh my goodness!!!! You just made my day! Your explanation for the why helped me to finally understand how to avoid holes. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I wished I could have seen this before I finished knitting my sleeves. Now I have to figure out how to fix the holes that I have. Thanks so much, I will use this the next time I knit sleeves.
Many thank for your video. I'm knitting my first sweater with bulky wool and was horrified by the size of the gaps under the sleeves. Didn't know what to do. Your video answered me. Wish me luck!
Thank you for such an informative tutorial. One day I will knit a top down sweater and I will look at this again. Thank you for sharing the technical information for screen changes, I didn't know that either. Very clever to cover everything. Take care.
Every new knitting project or languishing WIP calls for a refresher in some technique or the other and of course… … it’s time for a revisit with Rox’s tutorials. I’ve said it before … but I’ll say it again and again Thanks Rox! You definitely rock.😅❤❤❤
Thanks Roxanne! This was so clearly explained and comes at just the right time for me as I work on my first sweater with the type of construction you’ve described.
Thank you! I love your Technique Tuesday videos, have a number of them saved for easy reference, and have been known to send links to them to my sister. But THIS ONE, oh wow! It's so simple it makes me wonder why I never thought of it, and so well explained (the drawing of the Vs is PERFECT) that I know this will be the way I handle this type of underarm from here on out. Thanks again!
So brilliant! How did you know that (coincidentally) I just purchased this pattern as I have a new granddaughter who will be supplied with lovely things for years-related to my name as well. This is a keeper! Thank you Roxanne
Thank you! This has been helpful! I was able to have no gaps on my first sleeve using this technique. I have a question though. My join is visible for sleeves. I am knitting in the round but it looks like i did not and I have a seam. I do not know the right term, is it a jog? Or it was just not an invisible join? I do not know how to search the mistake on the internet to improve.
I would suggest posting your question in my Ravelry group. There's a link to the group at the bottom of the video description. Start a new topic in the group, and upload a photo that shows the issue (you might find it easier to create a project in your Ravelry notebook and upload the photos there, first. You can then link to those photos from the discussion topic in the Ravelry group. It's "easier" because it's free. Uploading photos directly to the forums carries a cost of $5 per year.) Seeing a photo will allow us to see what the issue might be. It's possible that you just pulled your grafting thread too tight, which ends up reading like a seam in the fabric.
Amazing technique--thank you Roxanne!! BTW, did you use the 2-ply or the 4-ply MCN yarn, and could you explain the difference? I'm not confident when buying yarn on the internet. Looking for a top-down sweater yarn, and would appreciate your explanation.
I don't care for 2-ply yarns, and this one was a 4-ply. 2-ply yarns are flatter, and are good if you like to work lace that you're going to stretch when blocking (like for shawls), because the YOs will open up nicely. I tend to like rounder yarns, with 3 or 4 plies, just because of the sorts of stitch patterns I prefer (cables and knit/purl textures), so rounder yarns provide more stitch definition.
Ok, I am so confused. After picking up that stitch "in the fabric, right before the decreases title card, have you knit around and come back to that first column of stitches that were held from when you separated the sleeves from the body?
Most patterns aren't going to instruct to use this technique. That's because they are either just calling for the most basic method of accomplishing the task in order simplify the instructions, or because the designer doesn't know a more refined method of doing it. You're always free as the knitter to modify or replace techniques the pattern tells you to use.
This is a fantastic tutorial! Thank you very much. I would love to see the corollary for a bottom up sweater. Is anything significantly different? I finished my vet first sweater last year, and it was a bottom up that ended up with small gaps - not enough that anytime else would really notice, but enough to bug me!
Did the sweater have some sort of yoke construction, like raglan or circular yoke? There are a couple of ways those might be joined, but typically, you're going to graft two sets of live sts together. I would use the yarn tails at either end of the graft to duplicate stitch across the opening, which will also weave in those tails.
I like learning the technical aspects of knitting which you explain so well. But a question. Have you ever tried a provisional underarm CO? I am intrigued by this technique bc it eliminates the seam and supposedly the gaps aren’t any more difficult to close.
You'd have live sts rather than having to create live sts from picking them up along the CO edge, but that doesn't eliminate needing to PU extra sts to mitigate the gap. A CO edge made of backwards loops has very little bulk, and adds a small amount of stability at the underarm. A provisional CO is a bit more futzy than just doing a few backwards loops, so it really comes down to knowing what your choices are, how to get a good result, and which method you personally prefer doing.
I usually get around this by doing a provisional cast on in a different colour yarn (along with picking up a stitch either side to remove the issues with holes on either side of the cast on stitches.. I also normally start my round somewhere else (for instance, I rejoin the work 4 stitches or so before the instruction to pick up the initial stitches so that the looseness caused by rejoining won't be in this area). I've never seen this method before though (I'll admit I'm an amateur knitter but I have some techniques that I tend to edit patterns with when I find them when I feel like a different way to do it that I think will make something look more polished or I think I know a way to avoid sewing a seam- although I'll admit I was going about picking up stitches entirely the wrong way and this video is very useful) Would you have any input as to the pros/cons of my method (to clarify- I do the provisional cast on in the other colour, and treat the first row in the working colour as if it was the cast on row)?
Hi By any chance you have the patter of this leaves yoke pattern. I have wanted to knit a sweater like this but can’t find any pattern just like this cardigan . Thanks for your help.
I don’t comment often but I have learned so much from your technique videos. Thanks for sharing your expertise and helping us all become better knitters. 🌸
You are like a mechanic who understands how a car works, and I am merely a driver! Thank you for another fantastic video.
Definitely saving this to watch later as I learn better by doing it. This is my main problem making my favorite - top down sweaters
You are such a gift to the fiber community. Thank you for all the work that goes into these excellent videos!
Thanks, Marce! :-)
This is by far the best video I have watched on how to avoid armhole gaps. Really useful and makes so much sense. I wouldn't even have thought to do a ssk on the otherside, I have just been doing ktog on both sides. Thank you so much for this.
Brilliant! I've been knitting for over 50 years but have only recently started knitting top down sweaters and this technique will improve my projects! Thanks, Roxanne.
Thank you for this. I love the analytics section of your technique videos, they really help me to understand the knitted fabric and its construction better. Overall your technique videos really help to elevate my knitting to a more polished finish. Your videos and the work you put into them are very much appreciated and I hope that you yourself are keeping well also :)
I love the freeze frame with the graphics showing were to change settings and the chapter links. Also, thanks for the explanation in "Why Here".
I cannot believe how easy and simple this technique is!!! I used another technique to close up the gaps on one sleeve, however, could not duplicate it on the other sleeve and had a ginormous gaping hole. I tinked back and used your technique and it was absolutely flawless. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. A good teacher is absolutely priceless!
This tutorial was so easy to understand. Thank you for using the diagram, it helped! And showing how you weave in your yarn tail to help close any gaps.
I'm working my first knitted garment, a sweater tee, and had the holes in the first underarm. Your video is so clear and concise, you are a life saver!
Thank you for this. I have tried many ways, but never this one. I can’t wait to try this method. It looks great and as an accountant, I love your analytical explanations to knitting techniques. 🤓
I totally share your comment❣️ Thks from 🎌 where I would be lost 🥰
Thank you so much for this video. So clear, simple and well-explained. For the first time no under arm holes! 🎉
This video was exactly what I needed to see today; I began work on a top-down sweater just this morning, and this topic was my only concern. Thank you!
You are so welcome!
I'm knitting my first sweater and had gaping holes in the pits. This fixed my issue. Thanks!!
Thank you for showing what you are doing super close up!
Thank you. The underarm can be a tricky area. This technique seems so much better than just sewing the holes together. 🇬🇧
Thank you for this wonderful video. I'm working on my first sweater; I followed the pattern instructions for the first attempt. I wasn't happy with the results; I knew I could turn to you for a better way!!! Amazing success following your recipe! Thank you!!!!
Your videos are invaluable to the knitting community! Thank you so much. When you miss a week, I really miss you and your video.
How are you Lesley
Thank you so much! That diagram of where to pick up stitches is pure gold! My two daughters are knitters and they recommended your channel to me.
Do you have a Technique video for closing the hole when knitting bottom up yoked sweater? Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful expertise!
Thank you so much for your instructional videos, this one in particular. I knit one sleeve and worried that I wouldn’t be able to close up the gaps. I ripped it out and started again trying to use the method I use to close the gaps in socks, it worked a bit better but not completely. I ripped out again and after watching your video I was able to follow your instructions, no gaps. 🎉. Thank you again!
Thank you for the wonderful tutorial. I now use your method all the time for the underarm, and it comes out beautiful, no more holes.
Thank you
Roxanne, I've been knitting for many years, but I always learn something new from you. Thanks.
Thank you so much for this wonderful instruction. It has given me new confidence with underarms.
the best explanation and resolution I've seen. Thank you!
This was sooooo helpful! I was just winging it when it comes to picking up stitches. Wow, did I have it wrong! Your demonstration was super clear. Many thanks 🙏
This was an awesome demonstration of closing the arm gap. Thank you so much. ❤️
I'm always thankful for your tutorials...whether I need them this minute or not...yours is my most visited knitting site because if there's some
explanation / demonstration I need for any project I can almost always find it on your channel.
🤗 Thank you for this one.
I'm soooo grateful! You have such a delightful way of teaching... I'm a teacher myself and I learn a lot from you... Not only from your wonderfully clear explanations, but also the easygoing way of transfering knowledge. Thanks a lot. Greetings from Argentina
This is such an easy method that works. I’m so glad to not have gaps in my sweater sleeves anymore!
Wow. Thank you so much for the explanation along with the demonstration. So helpful and interesting!
You are such a great teacher, I value your input, and will be back to binge this winter😘♥️🦋
Wowwwww it’s amazing. Thank you very much. You always have nice explanations and it is so easy to easy to understand. Thank’s again. Happy knitting 🧶
I'm almost finished with my first top down sweater. I noticed while picking up the underarm stitches that there were holes left, so I added extra stitches to fill those gaps. Not knowing better, I didn't remove those added stitches. I think it will be okay and anyway, I've finished the sweater except for weaving in the ends and closing the small remaining gaps under the arms. In looking for a tutorial on closing gaps, I came across your brilliant video. So for my next sweater, I'll follow your directions. I've never learned the duplicate stitches, so I will be sure to check out your other videos. Thank you for sharing these techniques with us!
You likely decreased sts for the sleeve as you worked your way toward the cuff, so it's all good. If you're happy with the result, then you should pat yourself on the back for figuring out a solution on your own! :-)
Thank you so much for your clear explanation and demonstration. I’m working up the courage to attempt my first sweater, and this is something I’ve been concerned about.
This technique works brilliantly. Thank you for your wonderful videos.
Oh my goodness!!!! You just made my day! Your explanation for the why helped me to finally understand how to avoid holes. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I wished I could have seen this before I finished knitting my sleeves. Now I have to figure out how to fix the holes that I have. Thanks so much, I will use this the next time I knit sleeves.
Good morning from Japan. Thks so much for this visual analytical EASY UNDERSTANDABLE VIDEO. YOU ARE FAB ❣️
Good night Roxanne❣️ My day Jun 15 starting over here❣️
Many thank for your video. I'm knitting my first sweater with bulky wool and was horrified by the size of the gaps under the sleeves. Didn't know what to do. Your video answered me. Wish me luck!
Thank you for such an informative tutorial. One day I will knit a top down sweater and I will look at this again. Thank you for sharing the technical information for screen changes, I didn't know that either. Very clever to cover everything. Take care.
Your videos are Amazing! Your explanations are just perfect xx Thank you
Wish I could post a picture. Your instructions yielded perfect results. Thanks so much!
Extremely clear instructions. Thank you
Just what I needed, as I am doing my first top down sweater and finishing up the body, so I will be ready for this step soon!
Every new knitting project or languishing WIP calls for a refresher in some technique or the other and of course… … it’s time for a revisit with Rox’s tutorials. I’ve said it before … but I’ll say it again and again Thanks Rox! You definitely rock.😅❤❤❤
Thanks!
Welcome!
thank you for that demo. It's very clear and easy to understand the process.
You are wonderful 🥰Thanks, Roxanne! ❤️
Thanks Roxanne! This was so clearly explained and comes at just the right time for me as I work on my first sweater with the type of construction you’ve described.
Thank you! I love your Technique Tuesday videos, have a number of them saved for easy reference, and have been known to send links to them to my sister. But THIS ONE, oh wow! It's so simple it makes me wonder why I never thought of it, and so well explained (the drawing of the Vs is PERFECT) that I know this will be the way I handle this type of underarm from here on out. Thanks again!
You are an amazing teacher. Thanks for the detailed explanation.
Sending prayers and thoughts your way. Please take all the time you need. Your health is more important. Thank you for letting us know your situation.
Thank you Roxanne for teaching us God bless you
Thank you for the great video. I have not made a sweater or sleeves. This instruction was informative!
Fantastic timing I’m on the yoke of my first top down raglan. Thank you so much
Wow! You are and awesome instructor! Thank you so much for this!
Thank you So much!! Best video on picking up stitches on the underarm- maybe I can do it!!
Just when you think you know it all, Ya gotta love technique Tuesdays.
Such a clear explanation - thank you!
Wow, your videos are so thoughtful and thorough! Just discovered your channel, but I'm excited to watch more as I plan my first sweater!
This video is brilliant.....just what I needed. Thank you!
I did the first arm and it turned out perfectly. Doing the other today.
Thank you for this demonstration.
Thank you. So easy, so clearly demonstrated.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us! Greetings from Austria 🙂
Thanks for another great tutorial Roxanne!🤗😊
Thank you!!! These gaos have been bugging me for ages!!!
So brilliant! How did you know that (coincidentally) I just purchased this pattern as I have a new granddaughter who will be supplied with lovely things for years-related to my name as well. This is a keeper! Thank you Roxanne
You are BRILLIANT this is so helpful. Thank you!!🩷
Thank you for your clear instructions
Knitting sweaters from the top down has it's perks and some minor hiccups. Thank you for sharing this technique with all of us.
great tip. Thank you so much
Thanks so much! This video helps so much.
Thank you! This has been helpful! I was able to have no gaps on my first sleeve using this technique. I have a question though. My join is visible for sleeves. I am knitting in the round but it looks like i did not and I have a seam. I do not know the right term, is it a jog? Or it was just not an invisible join? I do not know how to search the mistake on the internet to improve.
I would suggest posting your question in my Ravelry group. There's a link to the group at the bottom of the video description. Start a new topic in the group, and upload a photo that shows the issue (you might find it easier to create a project in your Ravelry notebook and upload the photos there, first. You can then link to those photos from the discussion topic in the Ravelry group. It's "easier" because it's free. Uploading photos directly to the forums carries a cost of $5 per year.) Seeing a photo will allow us to see what the issue might be. It's possible that you just pulled your grafting thread too tight, which ends up reading like a seam in the fabric.
Works great for thumbs on mittens or gloves, too!
Great explanation! It really helped me!
Amazing technique--thank you Roxanne!! BTW, did you use the 2-ply or the 4-ply MCN yarn, and could you explain the difference? I'm not confident when buying yarn on the internet. Looking for a top-down sweater yarn, and would appreciate your explanation.
I don't care for 2-ply yarns, and this one was a 4-ply. 2-ply yarns are flatter, and are good if you like to work lace that you're going to stretch when blocking (like for shawls), because the YOs will open up nicely. I tend to like rounder yarns, with 3 or 4 plies, just because of the sorts of stitch patterns I prefer (cables and knit/purl textures), so rounder yarns provide more stitch definition.
Great episode!
Thank you 😊
Roxanne, thank you from São Paulo,Brasil
How’s life there in Brazil 🇧🇷
Ok, I am so confused. After picking up that stitch "in the fabric, right before the decreases title card, have you knit around and come back to that first column of stitches that were held from when you separated the sleeves from the body?
Hello. Do you have a sweater knit along? Thank you for the excellent content!
I'm so glad you like my content! I do not have a sweater KAL.
Thanks for the awesome video
Thank you for explaining so clearly this technique , the pattern I’m using however doesn’t tell you to make those extra stitches under arm
Most patterns aren't going to instruct to use this technique. That's because they are either just calling for the most basic method of accomplishing the task in order simplify the instructions, or because the designer doesn't know a more refined method of doing it. You're always free as the knitter to modify or replace techniques the pattern tells you to use.
Fabulous techniques, thank you!
This is a fantastic tutorial! Thank you very much. I would love to see the corollary for a bottom up sweater. Is anything significantly different? I finished my vet first sweater last year, and it was a bottom up that ended up with small gaps - not enough that anytime else would really notice, but enough to bug me!
Did the sweater have some sort of yoke construction, like raglan or circular yoke? There are a couple of ways those might be joined, but typically, you're going to graft two sets of live sts together. I would use the yarn tails at either end of the graft to duplicate stitch across the opening, which will also weave in those tails.
I like learning the technical aspects of knitting which you explain so well. But a question. Have you ever tried a provisional underarm CO? I am intrigued by this technique bc it eliminates the seam and supposedly the gaps aren’t any more difficult to close.
You'd have live sts rather than having to create live sts from picking them up along the CO edge, but that doesn't eliminate needing to PU extra sts to mitigate the gap. A CO edge made of backwards loops has very little bulk, and adds a small amount of stability at the underarm. A provisional CO is a bit more futzy than just doing a few backwards loops, so it really comes down to knowing what your choices are, how to get a good result, and which method you personally prefer doing.
I usually get around this by doing a provisional cast on in a different colour yarn (along with picking up a stitch either side to remove the issues with holes on either side of the cast on stitches.. I also normally start my round somewhere else (for instance, I rejoin the work 4 stitches or so before the instruction to pick up the initial stitches so that the looseness caused by rejoining won't be in this area). I've never seen this method before though (I'll admit I'm an amateur knitter but I have some techniques that I tend to edit patterns with when I find them when I feel like a different way to do it that I think will make something look more polished or I think I know a way to avoid sewing a seam- although I'll admit I was going about picking up stitches entirely the wrong way and this video is very useful) Would you have any input as to the pros/cons of my method (to clarify- I do the provisional cast on in the other colour, and treat the first row in the working colour as if it was the cast on row)?
So when we are working the other sleeve, the stitches are in the reverse order. Does this mean we reverse the knit 2 together and the SSK?
I have a top down pattern that doesn’t pick up stitches it just goes back to the sleeve stitches. Does this method work for that?
Brilliant! And so clearly explained! Thank you so much!
Hope you learn from your watch
Muchas gracias
Wonderful video. Is there a reason you choose the slip knit wise, slip knit wise, knit version of the ssk rather than another variation?
You mean rather than a variation that twists one of the sts? Personal preference. I don't like twisted sts in my untwisted decreases.
I always wound up picking up 2 extra sts at each edge for fear of gaps 🤔will try this next time!
Thank you an excellent explanation
Lovely, thank you so much!
Hi I love your tech videos. Would you mind teaching embroidery on knitting. It would be really appreciated. Thank you
I do have a video on using duplicate stitch to embellish knitting: th-cam.com/video/B07yz_kuU8Q/w-d-xo.html
Hi By any chance you have the patter of this leaves yoke pattern. I have wanted to knit a sweater like this but can’t find any pattern just like this cardigan . Thanks for your help.
I put a link to the Ravelry pattern page in the description.
Thank you.