knittingthestash Tutorial: Adding Split Hems to Top-Down and Bottom-Up Pullovers

If you're like me, you don't always want ribbing around your waist or hips . . . the best solution? A spit hem! They are easy to add to both top-down and bottom-up pullovers and in this video, I'll show you how I do it! Using just a few simple principles, I'll change the bottom hem of My Lopi Sweater (top-down) and Weatherman (bottom-up) by adding a split hem to both. I'd love to hear your own tips and tricks--and, of course, questions--in the comments! ~Melissa
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[@jane2jensen]

If the pattern calls for downsizing the needle for ribbing as many do, would you still do that or would that “cinch” awkwardly?

[@mickieg4126]

How did you transition from front hem to back hem? Did you cut yarn and rejoin?

[@paulalafontaine8020]

I am wondering this too

[@colleenstoriz5313]

Same question. What did I miss? How did you get to the back hem?

[@Janet-ov7zx]

Perfect timing for this tutorial for me. I was to create a split hem for the sweater I'm knitting. Thanks for a thorough explanation of how to do it. Janet

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks, Janet!

[@Stitchers_Whimsy]

Thank you so much for this!! I have a sweater I’m working on and really wanted to add a split high low hem to add a little punch 😊

[@knittingthestash]

wonderful! Happy knitting!

[@avrilbritten9989]

brilliant! just what I was searching for and *viola* thanks so much :)

[@knittingthestash]

Glad it was helpful :)

[@TrudySchwartzBurrill]

Thanks so much

[@lissyperez4299]

So, top down, you still end up going back and forth on one side until done then the other side, right?

[@isabellahastings7018]

Great tutorial …thank you,…what happens to the 2. Stitches you lost…can you add a stitch in that row…I guess you could.

[@jenniferbarrett3272]

I love your sense of adventure changing up so many design features with such confidence. I get a little anxious thinking about trying it myself, as I have knit lots, but very few sweaters. Thanks for all the great tips!

[@knittingthestash]

[@lonerchicklexie1272]

Tutorial for top down hem split? Bind off and starting the back is missing? Does the yarn get cut to start the back?

[@irmagabbard]

Thanks Melissa for the through explanation. I have your tutorial saved and have used it a few times.

[@knittingthestash]

Awesome!!

[@lindarose712]

Super! I wonder about slipping the hem’s edge stitches to further smooth the split’s “sides” - Thoughts? (…am probably not going to notice that detail once I’m wearing this (cozy/simple) sweater…)

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks, Linda! Yes, you could absolutely slip the stitches for a different look. I would still recommend having the extra "knit" stitches on each edge (depending on your design ideas) for slipping :)

[@lindarose712]

@@knittingthestash doing the slipped-stitch i-cord for the edges of the spikt hem worked nicely; I made a simple garter stitch hem with icelandic bind off😀 Fun to try new things!

[@Sheron1956]

Thank you!!

[@pathowes32]

Hi Melissa, do you find the split hems at least in the front of the sweater flips up when you wear it? Great video, thanks❤

[@knittingthestash]

Great question, Pat! Not at all for me, but I suppose they could if you knit them in the same size needles, or didn't transition to the ribbing well in terms of number of stitches vs the body of the garment.

[@ellenlafouge6427]

Great tutorial! Just what I needed to know. Beautiful yoke sweater btw

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks on both counts!

[@Stitchers_Whimsy]

Thank you so much for this! I used this to add to a sweater I’m making cuz yeah I don’t like how tight it seems to get at the waist. I like the freedom of movement it seems to give me.

[@mrscraftalot]

Thanks for this tutorial. I am trying it out on my Aphra sweater that I just finished,. I'm not happy with the full hem and am hoping the split hem will do the trick!

[@monicahoger]

I used single crochet to reinforce my edges :) Great idea here as well!

[@metaspencer]

I love those split hems! such a nice, small detail. Good stuff

[@knittingthestash]

thanks, my man!

[@knittingwithsheryl]

Catching the replay of the replay

[@3Dhyana]

Just what I needed to know! Thank you!

[@jenniferbarrett3272]

Great tutorial. I am going to try a split hem on my next sweater. I may have missed something, as I was knitting while watching, but you mentioned knitting the first and last stitches together on both sides of the sweater when joining the bottom up split together. Do you then increase 2stitches on the next round to compensate?

[@knittingthestash]

Hi Jennifer--Great question! I would add those stitches into my cast on calculations. But, yes, you could also increase once you get to your main body, if you were looking for a specific stitch count.

[@kimsechrest2202]

This was perfect for my current project--thank you so much for doing this tutorial.

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks so much!

[@Omaknitta]

Love this!!! Did you use a regular bind off?

[@knittingthestash]

Hi Oma, For the top down sweater, I bound off in pattern. Hope that helps!

[@Enig_Mata]

Excellent tutorial as always. Thanks for sharing.

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks so much!

[@sunnyw4148]

Cool I have always wanted to knit a slit hem

[@knittingthestash]

Go for it, Sunny!

[@valeriecalderon2993]

Good tutorial Melissa.

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks, Valerie!