Tips for a More Professional Finish on Knitted Objects

[warthog]

i'd really like my knitted things to look better than homemade iyswim. there are a few clunky things i'm sure i could improve on.

a friend suggested casting off using a larger needle, rather than casting off loosely which always (for me) yields uneven, wonky edges. now my casting off is ace, and not too tight.

does anyone else have any good tips?

sorry no tips, but I am interested in the answers! Also in any tips for picking up stitches from the edges of sections.

Apologies for hijacking warthog!

always slip the first stitch of every row (ie don't knit or purl it, just slip it across to the other needle)

makes for a very nice straight edge, v useful when sewing pieces together

When I pick up from edges, I don't pick up all of the stitches, just 3 out of every 4 iyswim. (Read that somewhere and it works)

Mattress stitch all the way....

cheers!

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Does that knitting the ends in, stop you getting holes in intarsia? No matter how carefully I twist my wool round each other, I ALWAYS get some holes

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I do have a cuple of tips as well. When casting on knit between the stitches rather than through an actual stitch.

And I think someone told me to knit thhrough back of stitch in the first row as it makes for a firmer edging

fizzbuzz, yes it does stop holes, because you've woven the thread in so there's no surplus thread to make a hole iyswim.