We’re kicking off our year-long Confident Knitting journey this month with folded hems, a really fun and achievable technique that gives a lovely polish to your finished knits.
Folded hem in progress. Photo © Jesse Wild.
I have a real fondness for a folded hem … it’s actually not dissimilar to my beloved tubular cast on, which is, essentially, a very small folded hem! It’s a really satisfying little piece of knitting magic to work. There’s lots of reasons to love it:
It’s versatile. The sample of this month’s Confident Knitting pattern, the Flux Hand Warmers, shows off the prettiness of a picot folded hem. But you can totally change a folded hem’s look by simply swapping in a different turning round (this month’s tutorial includes options for a plain purl or knit edge too).
It’s reasonably stretchy. Because a folded hem is just that — a folded bit of knitting — you get a decent amount of stretch, without having to worry that a too-tight cast on edge will cramp your style. This makes it great not only for things like this month’s hand warmers, but also for the cuffs of socks, brims of hats, and necks of sweaters!
There’s no visible cast-on edge. This is the type of edge that’s going to perplex the uninitiated. Is it the start? Is it the end? We won’t tell if you don’t!
There’s no rolling. Stocking stitch is so lovely, but it’s propensity to roll is a bit pesky! A folded hem eliminates this problem, no ribbing or other edging required! (Though you can, of course, work a ribbed folded hem if you’d like!)
And the best thing about a folded hem? It’s really simple to work! A provisional cast on, two equal lengths of knitting, divided by a turning round, and a quick join … and you’re away!
Please don’t be put off by the number of needles in the photo above – you can equally use the magic loop method for knitting in the round, and indeed that’s what I demonstrate in the video tutorial. Today’s video shows you how it’s done: Folded Hem Video Tutorial (YouTube Link)
Ready to give it a try? We’re celebrating all things folded hem over in this month’s knitalong at The Knitalong Hub!
The Flux Hand Warmers by Martina Behm for Confident Knitting. Photo © Jesse Wild.
Any project that uses the featured technique is welcome, but if you’d like to cast on for Martina Behm’s oh-so-perfect for transitional weather Flux Hand Warmers, you’ll find the pattern in Confident Knitting. When you sign up, you’ll instantly receive the Flux Hand Warmers pattern and the folded hem photo tutorial, and you’ll have eleven more accessory patterns from eleven stellar designers, each focused on showcasing a fun new technique, to look forward to over the coming year. And we’ve got plenty of dynamite shades of Zauberball Crazy in the online shop (don’t forget your exclusive code if you have already purchased Confident Knitting!). One ball will make at least two and up to four pairs of hand warmers (depending on the size(s) you knit).