Last week, the online preview of the newest Interweave Knits (Winter 2014) went live; the print issue is on sale November 19.
I have a design, the Nunavut Pullover, in the "Out by the Woodpile" story. I get a secret chuckle out of that title because I do, in fact, have my own woodpile, but I no longer have the stove it was intended for. But that's another story for another time.
The Nunavut Pullover started life in my sketchbook with a heathered blue for the main color and gray for the contrast, but I love the colors IK chose for the sample knit (I sooooooo wish I could wear them!). I also love textured stitches in any design, so I may just have to knit one up for myself--it's COLD here in Maine!
There's another knitting detail that I love almost as much as textured stitches--and that's a folded hem. I know, I know, they tend to flip up, and it's nothing short of annoying when they do. But, I tried something on this sweater (and another design I have in progress) that helps curtail flipup.
It's really simple: I used a provisional cast-on, and after joining to work in the round, I purled (instead of knitted) the first round; then I knitted the remaining number of rounds for the facing before purling the round that becomes the hem's turning ridge. Then, once the hem facing (the live sts of the provisional cast-on that have been placed on a spare needle) is joined to the live sts of the main body by working k2tog (one st from each needle), that first round that was purled helps the facing's edge to lean toward the WS of the main body rather than pull away from it. And it's that pulling away that causes the hem to--you guessed it--flip up, and causes us knitters to flip out!