Have a Yarn
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
  • PRODUCTS
    • LOCAL YARN
    • SOCK YARN
    • YARN
    • NEEDLES
    • FELTING
    • PATTERNS
    • OTHER
    • NOTIONS
  • PATTERNS
  • CLASSES & EVENTS
  • GALLERY
  • FAQ
  • CONTACT US
  • Product
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
  • PRODUCTS
    • LOCAL YARN
    • SOCK YARN
    • YARN
    • NEEDLES
    • FELTING
    • PATTERNS
    • OTHER
    • NOTIONS
  • PATTERNS
  • CLASSES & EVENTS
  • GALLERY
  • FAQ
  • CONTACT US
  • Product
Picture

 PATTERNS BY HAVE A YARN

SCARVES / SHAWLS
MITTENS / GLOVES
SEASONAL / MISC
HATS
DISH CLOTHS
SOCKS

Mattress Stitch

1/1/2008

0 Comments

 
The Mattress Stitch joins two knitted fabrics neatly together creating an invisible seam. Used for seaming vertical stockinette stitch row by row, this method is best suited for side and sleeve seams. The examples shown below demonstrate how to use the mattress stitch to sew together the side seam of a child's sweater (the "Avery" sweater by Bee's Knees Knits - pattern and yarn are available at the shop).
The first step is to block the knitted pieces so that the edges will not curl making the fabric easier to sew. To block, I soak my knitted pieces in lukewarm water with a small amount of Eucalan (a very mild wool soap) for about 10 minutes or so. After gently removing the excess water by rolling them in a towel, I lie the pieces on foam (use anything flat that you can stick pins into). Then I smooth the pieces out to the measurements specified in the pattern and pin the edges to secure. Once dry, the pieces will lie flat and are ready to sew.
Picture
Blocking the pieces of the sweater will make sewing a much more pleasant experience!
Picture
The blocked sides of the sweater which will be sewn together with the mattress stitch.
Lay the blocked pieces side by side with the right sides facing you (below). The Mattress Stitch is done on the right side of the work making it easy to see where you are going.
Picture
First locate the edge stitches. They are usually rather uneven and appear to almost face sideways. The beauty of the mattress stitch is that it makes these unruly stitches disappear.
Picture
Next, locate the horizontal bar that runs in between the edge stitch and its neighbour. If you pull the edge stitch slightly away from the stitch next to it, you should see the bar running in between. To do the mattress stitch, you weave yarn under a bar from one side and then run it through the corresponding horizontal bar on the other side. This will be explained next.
Picture
Now the seaming begins! Take a blunt needle and thread it with your working yarn. You will need enough yarn to finish your seam. For demonstration purposes, I used a contrast colour so it would be easy to see. Insert your needle under a bar.
Picture
Next, insert the needle under the bar of the corresponding row on the other piece.
Picture
Continue working back and forth, inserting the needle under the bar on one piece, then the other, while trying to work matching rows (as close as you can). Don't worry about tightening up the yarn after each insert. I always work several rows first. Then just gently pull on the yarn and the pieces should join smoothly. Don't pull too tightly or it will pucker.
Picture
Picture
Picture
--Rachel James
0 Comments

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    February 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    October 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    November 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    November 2008
    June 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007
    September 2007
    August 2007
    April 2007
    March 2007
    October 2006
    June 2006
    May 2006
    March 2006
    February 2006
    December 2005
    August 2005

    Categories

    All
    SCARF

    RSS Feed

575 Main St, Mahone Bay, NS B0J 2E0

Monday            Closed
Tuesday           Closed
Wednesday      10-5
Thursday          10-5
Friday               10-5
Saturday          10-5
Sunday             12-5
​

Contact Us

(902) 624-0569
​hello@haveayarn.ca

Please note that beginning October 19th We will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
COPYRIGHT © HAVE A YARN 2021. SITE BY SKYSAIL.