holes in thumb gussets

[to_love_a_rose]

It seems like every time I knit a pair of mittens or gloves, I end up with a gaping hole in the thumb gusset. Picking up more stitches in surrounding stitches helps, but doesn't solve the problem (maybe I'm not picking up enough?) and sewing it shut looks ugly. Help?

Comments

[james]

This happens to everyone and what most folks do is when you start the thumb by joining your yarn, leave a nice, long tail. Then afterwards you use that tail to weave in around the gaps and close up the holes. There is no secret to avoiding making those gaps in the first place. ;-)

[spuffyduds]

Oh that is highly useful to know!

[wired]

I second this. I also try to pick those stitches up and twist them before knitting, so they're not so loosey-goosey.

[epershand]

Thirded.

[sporky_rat]

That's what I ended up doing on my mittens I just finished and as long as I left a nice long tail, it didn't look terrible at all. Of course, a large yarn needle works way better than a crochet hook, though.

[tephra]

In addition to the long tail and weaving it in I also pick up an extra stitch or two at the "corners" (often one is an M1 from the gap between the picked up and live stitches) and then decrease them out in the next row.

[pinesandmaples]

I don't have that problem.

The solution is two-pronged and damned annoying: practice and keeping the tension right around the opening just a bit tighter.

For the OP: you may want to explore some darning methods. There are several ways to sew holes shut that look like you have actually knit them shut instead.

[to_love_a_rose]

Thanks for the advice!

[evilawyer]

Absolutely. It's the only way to do it if your following an intricate pattern and can't mess with the stitch count.

[to_love_a_rose]

Well, at least it's not just me, then. *g*

[neotoma]

Where I'm picking up between stitches on a thumb gusset, I've found it useful to twist the pick-up stitch, just like when I pick up between the heel flap and instep while knitting socks.

[evilawyer]

Hmm. That's a neat and easy idea. I'll try it on my next pair of knit gloves.

[to_love_a_rose]

Hmm, neat idea. I'll definitely try that.

[ginny_t]

Do you know the increase where you knit into the back of the stitch below the live stitch? I tried that at the corner when picking up thumb stitches on a pair recently. It worked like a dream! I want to knit fingerless mitts forever and ever and ever just to use the awesome pickup that leaves no holes!

(Of course, everyone's different, and results may not be typical. ^_~) Good luck!

[to_love_a_rose]

I'm not familiar with it, no. Do you know what it's usually called? I'll certainly look into it and try it out next time.

[ginny_t]

I don't know that it has a name; I've never come across one. Are you on Ravelry? The technique is used in this pattern and explained quite well with good diagrams.

[ginny_t]

Oh, shoot! I see now that that pattern is no longer free. I hate when they do that. Sorry!