How to knit a Tubular Selvedge
The Tubular Selvedge is worked on the first and last stitches of the row. It makes the edges of your garment look neater and more professional, as well as prevents them from curling.
Tubular knitting is quite similar to the 1/1 Rib Stitch, but the stitches look larger and thicker than normal ones.
Watch this Video Tutorial to learn how to make it:
How to knit a Tubular Selvedge
To work your Tubular Selvedge, you can choose the number of stitches that is best for your project. Down below is an example of a 4-stitch wide Tubular Selvedge.
Row 1:
- Knit 1 stitch.
- Pull the yarn towards you (as if to purl) and slip 1 stitch purl-wise.
- Bring the yarn back behind your right needle and knit 1 stitch.
- Pull the yarn towards you again and slip 1 stitch purl-wise.
You just made a 4-stitch Tubular Selvedge on one side of the work. Keep knitting according to your pattern until you have 4 stitches left on the needle, then:
- Pull the yarn towards you (as if to purl) and slip 1 stitch purl-wise.
- Knit 1 stitch.
- Again: yarn towards you, slip 1 stitch purl-wise.
- Bring the yarn back to the front, knit 1 stitch.
Row 2:
The steps you followed on Row 1 are the same for Row 2, but in a different order:
- Holding the yarn towards you, slip 1 stitch purl-wise.
- Bring the yarn back behind your right needle and knit 1 stitch.
- Again: yarn towards you, slip 1 stitch purl-wise.
- Bring the yarn back to the front, knit 1 stitch.
Keep knitting according to your pattern until you have 4 stitches left on the needle, then:
- Knit 1 stitch.
- Yarn towards you, slip 1 stitch purl-wise.
- Bring the yarn back to the front, knit 1 stitch.
- Again: yarn towards you, slip 1 stitch purl-wise.
Continue knitting in pattern alternating Row 1 and Row 2.
Easy, right? :D
When to use it
This technique comes in handy when knitting garments whose edges tend to curl up, such as scarves, blankets, vests and sleeveless tops.
As you go on with your work, you will notice how the stitches on the two sides of the row create a neat and compact edge, which will make your garment stronger and prevent the sides from curling. The external stitches will feel different, firmer and much more stable than normal ones.
For this tutorial, we used our Cool Wool in English Rose. It is 100% made in Italy (find out more about it here) and it’s just perfect to work with our 12 mm / US 17 Beechwood Knitting Needles.
You can practise this technique and try to make your own Holiday Vest, perfect to layer on top of a shirt! Get our free pattern and start right away ;)
If this tutorial was helpful, let us know in the comment section and share your creations on Instagram using the hashtag #bettaknit!