SHORT-ROW CURVED HUNG HEM
by
SANDIE BLOUNT

(Demonstrated on PASSAP E-6000)

This technique is used on straight skirts to eliminate the sagging look these hems might have at the sides. The curved shaping is performed at both sides in the first ten rows after the hem is knit and hung.

FIRST, knit and hang the hem: (yarn used is English 4-ply acrylic)
For this sample, set up 40 needles for 1 x 1 rib. Handle up. Orange strippers. RC 000.

• N/N, SS 1½/1½, knit 1 row. Zig-zag row is complete. Lock is at left.
• On the Front Bed, bring up all remaining needles and all pushers to Working Position.
• Remove strippers. Set lock to GX/LX. SS 3. Knit 1 row. The Back Bed needles will hold the loops to be hung later, while the Front Bed will knit the hem.
• Increase Front Bed SS to 4½. Insert orange strippers. Knit 1 row.
• Increase Front Bed SS to 6. Change to black strippers. Knit 1 row.
• Continue to knit to RC 10. Lock is at right. Increase Front Bed SS to 8. Knit 1 row. This knits the crease.
• Change Front Bed SS back to 6. Knit to RC 21. Lock is at left.
• Transfer the Back Bed loops to the Front Bed. Increase Front Bed SS to 7. Knit 1 row.
• Change Front Bed SS back to 6 for main knitting.

The hem is now knit and hung.

NOW, Knit the curves:
Determine the number of stitches needed to knit the curve for both sides of the skirt. This will be approximately ¼ the width of the skirt panel for each side. Skirt patterns that include a curved hem will generally inform you of the number of stitches to hold.

Example: This sample is 40 stitches wide. One-fourth of this is 10. Therefore, 10 stitches will be held. then gradually returned to work on each side -- all of this to be completed within 10 rows. On the first 2 rows, the curve stitches are put on hold (one row for each side). The remaining 8 rows return the stitches gradually back to Work Position, 4 rows for each side. (2 sts, 2 sts, 3 sts, 3 sts) Remember that short-rowing is always performed on the side OPPOSITE the lock.

RC 000
SS 6 (Main stitch size for garment piece.) All pushers in Work Position. GX/LX

• Row 1: Lock at right. Place 10 pushers at the left out of work. Knit 1 row.
• Row 2: Wrap yarn (lay the yarn in the hook of the held stitch needle that is adjacent to the last stitch knitted. Place 10 pushers at the right out of work. Knit 1 row.
• Row 3: Wrap yarn. Bring up 2 pushers to work position at left. Knit 1 row.
• Row 4: Wrap yarn. Bring up 2 pushers to work position at right. Knit 1 row.
• Row 5: Wrap yarn. Bring up 2 pushers to work position at left. Knit 1 row.
• Row 6: Wrap yarn. Bring up 2 pushers to work position at right. Knit 1 row.
• Row 7: Wrap yarn. Bring up 3 pushers to work position at left. Knit 1 row.
• Row 8: Wrap yarn. Bring up 3 pushers to work position at right. Knit 1 row.
• Row 9: Wrap yarn. Bring up the final 3 pushers to work position at left. Knit 1 row.
• Row 10: Bring up the final 3 pushers to work position at right. Knit 1 row.

The curves are now complete. The remainder of the skirt panel can now be knitted.

Back to top