Knitting a rounded neckline involves shaping the fabric by strategically decreasing stitches along the neck edge to create a gentle curve before finishing at the shoulders.
Creating a smooth, rounded neckline in your knitting requires careful planning and execution of decreases on both sides of the front opening. Based on the standard techniques outlined, here's how you approach it:
1. Plan Your Neckline Dimensions
The first step is crucial for successful shaping.
- Count stitches for neckline opening and desired height in rows. Determine the total number of stitches intended for the neckline opening across your row, and the number of rows you will knit from the start of the neck shaping up to the shoulder line.
2. Prepare the Neckline Opening
You begin by establishing the central part of the neckline opening.
- Leave in the middle NOT LESS than 1/3 of the neckline stitches. These stitches form the base of the neckline and are typically placed on a holder or bound off directly. Binding off here creates the initial straight part of the neck opening. Leaving them live on a holder allows for adding a neckband later.
- Split those stitches in 2 for each side. The remaining stitches on your needle (after setting aside the central ones) are divided into two equal or near-equal groups – one for the left side of the neckline and one for the right. You will now work on each side independently.
3. Shape the Curve with Decreases
This is where the rounded shape is created by decreasing stitches along the neck edge over several rows. You'll work one side completely, then attach yarn to work the other side symmetrically.
- Split in 3 equal parts stitches on each side. (Interpretation: This likely refers to dividing the total stitches remaining on each side after the centre bind-off into sections to help plan the shaping, or possibly dividing the decrease stitches into groups).
- Split in groups of 3, 2 and 1. (Interpretation: This describes a common sequence of decreases used to create a smooth curve). On the neck edge of each side, you will decrease a certain number of stitches over several subsequent rows. A frequent and effective sequence to create a good curve involves decreasing stitches in decreasing amounts on consecutive shaping rows. For example:
- On the first shaping row (typically a right-side row at the neck edge), decrease 3 stitches.
- On the next shaping row (again, at the neck edge), decrease 2 stitches.
- On subsequent shaping rows, decrease 1 stitch at a time until you have made the required total number of decreases for the curve portion of the neckline.
This gradual reduction (3, then 2, then 1, then 1, etc.) pulls the fabric inward more sharply at first and then more gently, forming the rounded shape.
Example Decrease Schedule (per side):
If you had 10 stitches per side to decrease before reaching the shoulder, you might use a sequence like:
| Decrease Row | Stitches Decreased at Neck Edge | Total Decreased |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 5 | 1 | 8 |
| 6 | 1 | 9 |
| 7 | 1 | 10 |
- Work Each Side Separately: You will work one side of the neckline up to the shoulder, then bind off the remaining shoulder stitches or place them on a holder. Then, you re-attach your yarn to the other side of the central neckline stitches and work the shaping symmetrically.
4. Finish the Neckline Height
Once all the shaping decreases are complete, you knit straight up to the shoulder.
- Knit without decreasing the rest of the rows. After completing all the necessary decreases for the rounded curve, you continue knitting the remaining rows for that side of the front without any further decreases at the neck edge. This brings the fabric straight up to the final shoulder height determined in your initial planning. The stitches remaining on your needle at this point are the shoulder stitches, ready to be joined to the back or bound off.
By following these steps, measuring carefully, and keeping track of your decreases, you can successfully knit a smooth, rounded neckline for your garment.
