• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • TikTok
    • YouTube

How to Knit Neat Linen Stitch Edges / Funkasonic KAL

January 14, 2016 12 Comments

Learn one simple trick to knit neat linen stitch edges. Take your knitting to the next level with this easy video tutorial that helps SO MUCH when knitting socks, scarves and cowls.

I was originally going to do our second knit along post this week about how to work a short row heel turn, but I realized there was one more linen stitch tutorial I really want to share, in addition to Monday’s basic overview of how to work linen stitch. Today’s Funkasonic post is just for the knitters out there working on the Funkasonic Mukluks pattern, so if you’re only making the mittens, keep plugging away on those jogless stripes – we’ll get back to you in a minute! :)

For a list of all knit along posts so far, scroll to the bottom of this post. For an overview of what’s going on with our knit along in the first place, read this.

How to Knit Neat Linen Stitch Edges

When you knit a flat piece of fabric that switches colors, uses garter stitch, or any number of other things, it’s hard to get a clean edge. Many beginning knitters, once they’ve gotten the hang of juggling the needles and yarn and understand how to form a knit stitch, realize they have an issue with the stitches on the ends of their rows. Mainly, budding knitters with a good eye wonder why the ends of their rows are too loose and/or look like they’re covered in knots. (I was for sure in this boat myself as a baby knitter!) There are many ways to neaten sloppy knit edges, but forming a chained edge is my favorite. Even if I’m not just working garter stitch, slipping the first (or last) stitch of a row while knitting flat forms a lovely chained edge that is useful in knitting at all skill levels.

How does this apply to the Funkasonic Mukluks? Knit mostly in the round, this literally only applies to the heel flap section of the socks, which is worked flat. As you’ll see in this new tutorial video, slipping a stitch at the beginning of each row of the heel flap forms a gorgeous chained edge that alternates colors, forming a pretty braid. Later on, after you’ve worked your heel turn, that pretty edge makes picking up stitches along your heel flap to form the gusset a breeze because you’ll simply pick up stitches through each V of the chained edge, making your life SO MUCH easier!

Bonus: The point in your sock heels where the heel flap and foot of the sock meet will be much prettier if you use this slipped stitch trick – check out the video for a side-by-side visual of what I’m talking about.

Double Bonus: Even if you’re not knitting the mukluks, and want to try my Faux Woven Cowl pattern, you can take that to the next level with this trick. By slipping that first stitch of the row as shown in the video, your edges are neat, chained and squared off, rather than knotted. Who knew how much a slipped stitch could do? 

Learn one simple trick to knit neat linen stitch edges. Take your knitting to the next level with this easy video tutorial that helps SO MUCH when knitting socks, scarves and cowls.

Past Funkasonic Knit Along entries

  • announcing the KAL (+giveaway!)
  • Old Norwegian Sock Cast On tutorial
  • how to knit two color brioche in the round
  • jogless stripes & linen stitch tutorials

Filed Under: Knit Along, Knitting, Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: cuff down socks, ewe ewe yarns, funkasonic, funkasonic mukluks, funkasonickal, gusset, heel flap, kal, knit along, linen stitch, mittens, mukluks, neat edges, poststitch, sock knitting, socks

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

Previous Post: « Jogless Stripes & Linen Stitch / Funkasonic KAL
Next Post: Picks of the Week »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • How to Knit a Short Row Heel Turn / Funkasonic KALHow to Knit a Short Row Heel Turn / Funkasonic KAL
  • Funkasonic Knit Along Wrap UpFunkasonic Knit Along Wrap Up
  • How to Bind Off with Kitchener StitchHow to Bind Off with Kitchener Stitch
  • Jogless Stripes & Linen Stitch / Funkasonic KALJogless Stripes & Linen Stitch / Funkasonic KAL

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Comments

  1. Mary from MN

    January 16, 2016 at 11:06 am

    Your teaching skills wre excellent as is the quality of your video. I knew the edge trick but not the linen stitch. Thanks for teaching me as I have a difficult time reading knitting instructions.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      January 17, 2016 at 7:48 pm

      Thank you! Glad to hear whenever someone appreciates my videos!

      PS: My grandma, also a Mary from MN, is the woman who taught me to knit. :)

      Reply
  2. Mary V.

    April 9, 2016 at 1:46 pm

    Beautiful work! I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a long time and you’ve given me the best explanation of how to do it. Thank you so very much!

    Reply
  3. Dayana

    April 23, 2016 at 3:13 am

    Thank you, that looks really good! I didn’t like how loose my edges look, can’t wait to try this for a scarf I’m starting on.

    Reply
  4. Pam

    September 15, 2017 at 3:13 pm

    I enjoy your blog and appreciate your attention to detail I have been having more than my share of trouble with the linen stitch…after about 8 rows a ‘ridge’ starts to form. I have no idea what I am doing wrong. Any thoughts?

    Reply
    • Heidi

      September 16, 2017 at 7:28 pm

      Can you send me a photo? I’ll be glad to take a look: heidi @ handsoccupied.com

      Reply
  5. Kathy Evans

    December 5, 2019 at 11:53 am

    Love your video about clean edges but how does one join the second colour of yarn when the first stitch is slipped.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      December 5, 2019 at 4:52 pm

      Just like joining a second color at the end of the row. The difference will be that your end to weave in will be hanging from the second stitch of the row instead of the first.

      Reply
      • Kathy Evans

        December 6, 2019 at 11:53 am

        Thank you very much for your reply it it a great help

        Reply
      • Kathy Evans

        December 6, 2019 at 11:56 am

        Thank you for your prompt reply it is of a great help to me.
        Kind Regards
        Kathy

        Reply
  6. Lori

    July 24, 2021 at 11:51 pm

    This is exactly what I was looking for! I’ve made a test swatch and my RS left edge looks beautiful, but the braid up the RS right edge where the color changes happen is tight. Any tips for making the right edge slipped stitches the correct tension?

    Reply
    • Heidi

      August 9, 2021 at 1:06 pm

      That’s a great question! You can compensate by manually working looser when you’re slipping stitches on the other end, but it’s an imperfect solution. I haven’t tried this myself (because i think it could be annoying to actually do 😅), but you could experiment with using a cable needle or use a double wrap to address the tension. I hope this is helpful!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Never miss a tutorial with these short & sweet monthly updates.

Find Me on Social Media

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi GustadDiscover Unique Items

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
❤️ Email preferred

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Learn how to do the magic loop method for knitting Learn how to do the magic loop method for knitting in the round in 90 seconds. / Using the magic loop allows knitters to work in the round with a single, long circular needle at a range of circumferences. 
.
For a longer, full-width & more detailed overview of magic loop knitting, check out my u2be & b1og, the 🔗🔗 are where you’d think. 🧶
.
#handsoccupied #magicloop #knitting #howtoknit #learntoknit #knitter #knittinginspiration #knittinginstagram #knittingintheround
Since it won’t be clean for long, swipe to see w Since it won’t be clean for long, swipe to see what my home studio looks like these days. Nothing will ever quite be like the old Hands Occupied Studio, but I’m pretty pleased with how I shoehorned everything in this space. Function over form + a layer of yarn cuteness-meets-chaos is how I’d describe my creative space needs. 😆 When I was still renting the studio, those needs included “doesn’t rain suspicious brown water from a crack in the ceiling for a year,” so this is an improvement! 😆
.
For a time lapse of the studio organizing and tszuj-ing process, scroll down a couple posts on my feed. (There’s also a video or two featuring the old studio if you’re curious.) Happy June, friends! 
.
#handsoccupied #handsoccupiedstudio #knitdesigner #craftdesign #yarncrafts #latchhook #makerlife #heidigustad #chicagocrafter
Who doesn’t love magic loop knitting? Who doesn’t know what it is? How about when circular needles were invented?
.
In todays new bl0g post + video tutorial, you’ll learn about the magic loop method for knitting in the round, how to do it and why to use it, and when it came to be. The 🔗 is in my b1o. 🧶 
.
#handsoccupied #magicloop #knitting #howtoknit #knittinginspiration #knittingintheround
Finally organizing & putting the finishing touches Finally organizing & putting the finishing touches on my home studio. After losing my studio space last fall, it’s feels really great to *occupy* this new space all the way. 😉
.
I started by removing general clutter & returning straggler supplies from various WIPs, videos & design deadlines to their homes. Next, I hung a third peg board in the space - this one is mostly for display and less for organizing tools or projects. For the first time ever, I’m displaying projects from my book, plus a couple other faves. (The best thing about designing more yarn crafts besides knit & crochet is that I have some really fun -and delightfully pettable 😆- samples around.) I finished by adding a square dowel to my small supply storage tower to keep it from tipping over, plus re-arranging and de-cluttering the closet. 
.
This cleaner space already has me feeling so much more creative and less overwhelmed. Now to find a safe spot in the basement for the tower of project samples in Rubbermaid tubs I liberated from my WIPs closet. Also why are there five?! 
.
Here’s to keeping it clean for a few weeks! 🧶 
.
#handsocupied #handsoccupiedstudio #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #yarncraft #knitter #crocheter #latchhook #latchhookbook
It’s a disaster in here and my video microphone It’s a disaster in here and my video microphone isn’t cooperating, but it could be worse! How’s your day? 
.
(If we haven’t yet met, I’m Heidi and I’m a pattern designer and tutorial creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting & latch hook. You can learn more about my work and regularly find new tutorials in my profile. ☺️👋🏻)
.
#handsoccupied #craftstudio #knitter #yarncrafter
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy