A beginner's guide to perfect armholes.
Hello friends,
Many of us dream of creating beautiful, polished hand-knitted pieces we can proudly show off from every angle. But those pesky underarm holes in top-down garments can be a real challenge! It's a common issue, and trust me, it's not your fault.
Last year, on a knitting book adventure on Amazon, I stumbled upon a gem – Patty Lyons' bestseller, "Knitting Bag of Tricks." Through this fantastic book, I discovered Patty Lyons, a highly regarded knitting teacher!
Now, when picking up stitches for the armhole came up, Patty immediately came to mind as a great resource. In her popular blog post "Ask Patty: Seamless sweater, no holes" she tackles this common frustration and shows you exactly how to achieve a flawless armhole finish.
Here's the key: knitting instructions in the pattern typically tell you to pick up a specific number of stitches for the armhole, say 5. But following that instruction precisely can lead to holes or gaps at the edges. This happens because the body stitches run in one direction, and the sleeve stitches go in another. Where they meet, there's a potential for gaps.
There's a simple solution! Pick up 1-2 extra stitches on each side of the armhole. Then, in the next row, decrease those extra stitches to match the pattern count. It's a small change that makes a big difference!
💡 Put these tips to the test in your next project and see the difference for yourself!
My personal trick: I pick up all the stitches I see in the underarm, without even counting. My goal is to avoid any holes at all. Then, I go back and recount, decreasing the extras in the next round.
🎥 Want to see it in action? There's a video tutorial “Avoiding Holes in Top-Down Sweater Underarms / Technique Tuesday” by Roxanne Richardson that demonstrates a great way to pick up stitches neatly.
Looking back, I wish I had known these tricks when I was first starting out. Sometimes, as beginners, we just want to knit and not get bogged down in the details. But trust me, learning these little things early on will save you frustration in the long run!
📔 Pattern of the Week: I'd like to introduce you to the Montaria Top by Rosa Pomar. While designed as a stylish top, I personally love it as a vest!
Why You'll Love It:
Relaxed & Drapey: The Montaria boasts a relaxed, boxy silhouette that drapes beautifully.
Versatile Style: Layer it over a crisp white shirt for a put-together look, or pair it with high-waisted pants for a touch of modern chic. This top is a reminder that fashion is ageless, and you can absolutely rock a cropped silhouette with confidence! Check out projects on Ravelry for inspiration (Tip: You can easily add additional length for a classic look).
Beginner-Friendly (with a Note): I reviewed the pattern, and while it uses simple stockinette stitch with worsted weight yarn and is knit from the top-down, it's not necessarily the best project for complete beginners. You'll love this project if you have some basic knitting experience, especially with German short rows.
Rosa Pomar and her test knitters show off their stunning creations. These happy faces make us want to knit one up right away!
The talented Rosa Pomar is more than just a gifted knitwear designer; she's also the passionate owner of a haberdashery in Lisbon, Portugal. She generously shares her expertise by teaching her own knitting classes. But Rosa's dedication extends beyond the shop. She actively engages in field research of Portuguese textiles, preserving the rich textile traditions of her country.
🧶 Recommended Yarn: For this top, she and her test knitters used a handspun cotton-merino blend yarn called Mungo by Rosa Pomar.
Mungo is a recycled wool and cotton yarn. It is entirely spun from pre-consumer waste generated by portuguese spinning mills.
Weight: worsted
Unit weight: 100g
Yardage: 240 yd (220 meters)
Needle size: 4-5mm | USA 6-8
Fibers: 50% recycled wool and 50% recycled cotton
Texture: 4 ply
Curious to see what Mungo looks like in ready garments? Here's a link to Ravelry projects featuring it (over 1,700!) The good news is, you can get your hands on Mungo too! Rosa's store offers it on their website and even ships internationally.
📌 I wanted to share an additional valuable resource for knitters: yarnsub.com. They offer yarn substitutions with detailed explanations on why specific yarns are good matches. They consider many crucial factors beyond weight and length, like texture, fiber content, drape, and stitch definition, to ensure a successful project.
I was surprised to see 40 substitutions for my beloved Drops Nepal – it's a very handy resource.
⭐ What's new in the Esenique world
I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your incredible support of the Mellow Mood top. The day I release a new design is always filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness. I always wonder if my designs will resonate with you, my fellow knitters.
So, when I saw you using the exclusive promo code I shared with you, a big smile spread across my face. I knew then that my Esenique community was there to cheer me on. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I'm already working on my next design, and I can't wait to share it with you soon.
❤️ I hope this Esenote was useful and inspiring.
Warm regards,
Julia Piro
Knitwear Designer & Esenotes Curator
P.S. Looking for even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram or Facebook!
