How to Add a Knit Edging to Your Project

Let’s face it.  Sometimes some of the most beautiful knit stitches, like the Stockinette Stitch, simply don’t have the most beautiful edges.  Often times a pattern will accommodate for those imperfect edges, but every once in a while you might end up with something a bit rough.  Adding a knit edging to your project can help give it that more finished or polished look….and it’s actually quite quick and easy!

Check out this step-by-step photo tutorial on how to add a clean edging to your knitting projects.

 

First, find the edge of your project that needs a little sprucing up.  I’m using a plain Stockinette Stitch swatch for my sample project.

Find the edge of your project that needs a little sprucing up.

Next, insert your right needle (from the front side or knit side in this case) through the stitch on the outermost edge.

Insert Needle, from the front side, through your project

Wrap your edging yarn around your needle one time, and pull a loop through your project and onto your right needle.

Pull a loop of edging yarn through project and onto right needle

Insert needle through next stitch.

Insert needle through next stitch

Repeat the process of pulling up a loop of edging yarn.

Repeat process of pulling up loop of edging yarn

Repeat process all the way across project edge.

Repeat process across project edge

This is what your project should look like from the back at this point:

Back of project at this point

Turn your work so back is facing and stitches are now on left needle.  Bind off all stitches as if to purl.

Bind off all stitches as if to purl

You should now have a beautiful knit edging.

knit edging complete

Want to put your new skills to practice?  Check out the Ruffle Shirt Pattern to get started right away!

Want to put your new skills to practice?  Check out the Ruffle Shirt Pattern to get started right away!